Homeless Street Outreach

Description

Homeless Street Outreach

Organization Overview:

Community Services League (CSL), founded in 1916, is one of the Kansas City region’s largest social service providers. Through its mission and vision of collaborating on strategies that foster community stability and individual wellbeing, CSL maintains and delivers a variety of innovative anti-poverty programs that help move our community forward. CSL’s programming offers a full suite of case management, supportive coaching, and direct wrap-around services to assist our neighbors in creating stability in their lives and households. We assist individuals and families throughout the metro area, and, largely, our programming is in the areas of basic needs, family stability, workforce development, financial coaching, housing services, and community development.

Position Overview

The Street Outreach Navigator will identify and build rapport with individuals and families experiencing homelessness who may be living on the street or in vehicles.  Navigators will provide individualized client support helping each client to develop their own individualized care plan that addresses barriers, works to increase their income, and helps them to maintain and sustain permanent housing.  As part of the plan, the Navigator will identify each area in which clients will need assistance to accomplish the outlined goals and objectives (i.e., scheduling appointments, applying for public benefits, identifying subsidized housing, etc.) and the Street Outreach Navigator will take full responsibility for their clients’ success.

*This position has multiple openings available for hire.*

PLEASE NOTE:  The positions being offered are temporary and are expected to last for a duration of one year. These roles are designed to fulfill specific short-term needs and will conclude at the end of the one-year period. The positions are funded through a grant, which provides financial support for its duration.  Our intention is to seek additional funding.  While we are committed to making every effort to secure continued funding, we cannot guarantee that the positions will be extended beyond its current term. The continuation of these roles are contingent upon future funding availability and organizational needs.

Responsibilities

The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the task that may be assigned.  Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions:

Client Assistance: helping clients achieve economic stability through needs identification, program assistance, support, referrals, training, or other interventions, initiatives, or efforts using directive and supportive behavior.

1. Assist with the coordination of homeless outreach activities including cold weather assistance.
2. Coordinate intake and individualized needs assessment for all clients utilizing the VISPDAT tool and work with clients to develop an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) that addresses barriers to obtaining housing and/or performing a warm handoff to an internal or external case manager.
3. Assist in the selection, evaluation, and supervision of clients who qualify for services utilizing Coordinated Assessment through the Continuum of Care (CoC).
4. Coordinate continuity of services with collateral agencies and coordinate services in the community.
5. Attend required meetings (community, staff, Housing Placement Team, CoC, etc.)
6. Provide internal referrals as needed for employment and financial coaching.
7. Develop and revise goals plans regularly to ensure clients are maintaining their housing.
8. Perform outreach services 2 -3 times per week, contacting individuals experiencing homelessness in all places where they may congregate in the geographic areas covered in our contracts.
9. Assist clients with procuring necessary documents and services such as identification card, birth certificate, social security cards, proof of disability or social security income, etc.
10. Maintain accurate and up-to date client charts, recording progress made, and services provided and entering clients in our HMIS system Caseworthy in a timely manner, along with internal data collection systems.

Outreach and Relationship Management: establishing relationships, contacts, and memberships in the service area.

1. Establish a plan of ongoing meetings, one-on-one meetings, introductions, lunches, tours for your service area of individuals and groups, and maintain a plan for ongoing interactions.
2. Network with local agencies, service groups, elected officials, community groups, churches, local businesses and others in the service area.  This includes but is not limited to establishing an email contact list to inform the community of programs, information, and events. It might be regular meetings and lunches to keep the community up to date on the agency activities. It might be a partnership with local media or others to exchange information on bulletin boards, websites, links, etc.
3. Outreach to community, business owners, realtors, landlords, housing developers and other service providers to identify new and existing opportunities and to build strong relationships to better assist clients in accessing resources, employment, supportive services, and housing opportunities.

Other: to work as a team with all staff, volunteers, interns, and board members to help CSL achieve its mission “To assist communities in reaching their potential by providing immediate relief to people in need, assessing their situations, and providing solutions that lead to economic stability.”

Preferred Qualifications:

The preferred candidate will have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work or a related field, and will have at least three years of relevant experience.

Hours/Schedule:  The typical hours for this position are 8am-5pm, Monday-Thursday and 8am-12pm on Friday. From time to time, this schedule will vary depending on the needs of clients, partners, or programs.

Salary/Benefits:

Salary will be commensurate with experience with a salary range beginning at $41,200-$50,670.  CSL offers an employee health insurance plan, and a retirement savings plan with company contributions, that is available after the required tenure is met.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and/or hear.  The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle information and work within various accounting systems by computer.  The employee is occasionally required to move throughout the office to assist, to interact with and communicate with staff. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 5 pounds.

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Job Knowledge - Competent in required job skills and knowledge; exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; keeps abreast of current developments; requires minimal supervision; displays understanding of how job relates to others; uses resources effectively.
• Use of Technology - Demonstrates required skills; adapts to new technologies; troubleshoots technological problems; uses technology to increase productivity; keeps technical skills up to date.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
• Communications - Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

• Teamwork  - A team player with a high energy level, strong interpersonal and multi-tasking skills, enthusiasm, initiative and flexibility who will represent Community Services League in a professional and ethical manner at all times.

This position will be expected to uphold the Community Services League Mission, Vision and Core Values as stated below:

Mission: To partner with our neighbors by collaborating on strategies that foster community stability and individual wellbeing.

Vision: We envision communities where all people have equitable voice and choice to meet their basic needs and the resources to pursue their brightest future.

Core Values:

• Creating a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all.
   
• Being present, leading with care and compassion, while delivering on the promise 'nothing about me without me' .
   
• Embracing and promoting the values of trauma-informed care.
   
• Prioritizing people above process, encouraging all voices, and respecting all choices.
   
• Accountability and transparency, acting with courage to build connections across communities, while finding new ways to grow ourselves and those we serve.

Diversity Statement:

All employees must demonstrate a commitment to Community Services League’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging efforts.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

The preferred candidate will have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work or a related field, and will have at least three years of relevant experience.

Salary : $41,200 - $50,670