Outreach Specialist

POSITION:            Outreach Specialist 

DIVISION:             Programs – Engagement 

WHY JOIN US:

You believe that every person deserves a place to call home. You see that homelessness is a systemic issue and want to be a part of the solution. You are ready to utilize your talent, experience, and creativity towards purpose-driven work. You want to work alongside industry leaders to learn, implement, and pioneer best practices.

LA Family Housing is a leading non-profit agency in Homeless Services and Real Estate Development. With 40 years of experience and 13,000 people’s lives changed each year, we know what it takes to end homelessness. We take tremendous pride in the emergence of our staff as national leaders in innovation, best practices, and policy within housing production and homeless services. Join the fight to end homelessness and make a difference in people’s lives at LA Family Housing!

THE POSITION:

The Outreach Specialist will work within a Street-based Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) to engage, assess, and develop permanent housing plans with individuals experiencing homelessness, utilizing best practices to provide intensive case management services and crisis intervention. This position will collaborate with various community-based organizations to ensure appropriate service connections are obtained and provide follow-up referral/service tracking to individuals experiencing homeless living on the streets.  

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Provides mobile, field-based, outreach to people experiencing homelessness living on the streets and in encampments
• Works within the goals of CES to reduce street homelessness by linking program participants to mental health, health services housing services, and other supportive services for which they are eligible
• Motivates individuals experiencing homelessness to engage in outreach services and associated community referrals that promote well-being by building rapport and providing emotional support to participants
• Works closely with mobile medical team to ensure homeless single adults on the streets are triaged to needed medical care and health care assessment
• Works collaboratively with other outreach entities in the community (LAHSA’s ERT, LAPD, DMH, VA)
• Provides crisis prevention, crisis intervention and de-escalation services as needed
• Provides ongoing street-based housing focused case management services utilizing a Harm Reduction and Housing First approach 
• Provides follow-up services  to ensure that referrals are completed; provide advocacy as needed
• Maintains thorough and accurate records in both written form and through assigned electronic database 
• Attends various, regular staff, agency and community meetings as designated by supervisor
• Drives personal vehicle in and around Los Angeles County and drives agency vehicles periodically to transport clients
• Additional tasks, projects, and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor

WHAT YOU'RE SKILLED AT:

• Demonstrated knowledge of issues facing program participants (e.g. health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse, trauma, immigration, legal)
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and a non-judgmental attitude when engaging with persons experiencing homelessness
• Possess a high level of tolerance and understanding for individuals who present for services with mental health and physical health needs
• Ability to be flexible and work in an environment subject to ongoing change
• Availability to work after hours for crisis calls and/or disaster response
• Knowledge of community social service agencies and resources
• Conflict resolution skills
• Effective time management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to perform extensive charting, electronic data entry, and documentation
• Bilingual: Spanish/English preferred
• Strong experience working within team environments and ability to collaborate 

OTHER:

• Maintain and execute confidential information according to HIPAA standards
• Obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification
• Ability to pass post-offer Tuberculosis (TB) clearances
• Travel is a regular duty for this position and is required 30% of the time
• Use of a personal vehicle to travel between worksites and other locations is required
• Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License and auto insurance in good standing
• Ability to work a 9/80 work schedule

WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED:

• One (1) year of experience working with people experiencing homelessness or have a minimum of two (2) years of experience providing direct health, behavioral health, substance use counseling or ICMS-SBE.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 403B Retirement Plan, 529 Education Savings Plan, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Legal Access Plan, Employee Appreciation Program, Company Sponsored Employee Events, Staff Development, 9/80 Alternative Work Schedule, Paid Sick, Vacation and 13 Observed Holidays, Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Eligibility and more!

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, EQUIPMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Potential physical demands include but are not limited to: walking, climbing stairs, handling, finger/grasp/feel objects and equipment, reaching, communicating, being mobile, repetitive motions, visual activity, driving, and entering buildings. Comfortable working in a pet-friendly environment required. If an accommodation is needed, please inform the Human Resources Department.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

LAFH is committed and proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

FAIR CHANCE ACT

LA Family Housing will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if LA Family Housing is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s Fair Chance Act webpage.