Bilingual / Outreach Specialist at Housing Matters

, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

08 Jun, 26

Salary

31.93

Posted On

10 Mar, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Bilingual, Outreach, Trauma-Informed Care, Person-Centered Model, De-escalation, Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Social Casework, Caseload Management, Interviewing, Record-Keeping, HMIS, Coordination, Confidentiality, Client Engagement

Industry

Individual and Family Services

Description

Outreach Specialist Housing Matters partners with individuals and families to create pathways out of their homelessness into permanent housing. We are a leader in working to end homelessness – and we want you to be part of our team! We are looking for individuals eager to make a difference and willing to enthusiastically commit to join in our vision that homelessness in Santa Cruz County should be rare, brief, and non-recurring. Outreach Specialists will be the first point of contact for participants in the field and unincorporated areas of the county, and will work to engage them in conversations about services and pathways to housing. Outreach Specialists will utilize trauma-informed care to communicate with participants, and remain patient, non-judgmental, and understanding, using a person-centered model. Hours and Benefits * Outreach Specialist is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position, eligible for medical, dental, vision, 403b, and our generous PTO plan. * Regular hours are Monday through Friday. Regular evenings and weekends will be required for some positions. * Benefits Summary: * 6 Medical plans - 100% employee coverage * Dental - 100% employee coverage * Vision - 100% employee coverage * Life insurance (UNUM) - 100% employee coverage * Chiropractic and Acupuncture (for those who elect medical insurance) - 100% employee coverage * 403b Retirement Savings matched up to 3% dollar-for-dollar with no vesting period * Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Travel Assistance * PTO: accrues to 20 days annually, 1 paid floating holiday, 9 paid holidays Starting Wages (Offer is Dependent on Experience): $27.54 $28.37 $29.21 $30.09 $31.00 $31.93 Preferred Experience and Education Requirements Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Typical ways to obtain this knowledge would be: * A minimum of one year of experience performing social service casework services comparable to a Case Manager I at Housing Matters in an exceptional manner exceeding all standards and abilities * A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college with a major in social work, social welfare, human services, or one of the social or behavioral sciences. Special Requirements * Lived experience with homelessness or housing instability * Previous outreach experience with underserved populations required * De-escalation, Harm Reduction, and Motivational Interviewing skills are required (training available upon hire and offered by the facility). * Bilingual Thorough knowledge of: * Social casework objectives, principles, methods, and caseload management and organization. * Principles of human behavior and development and psychological defense mechanisms. * Reactions to stress. * Social and economic factors that lead to homelessness for individuals and households. * Knowledge of local community health, welfare, social, and legal support systems, as well as other resources available to participants. * Interviewing and record-keeping techniques, including the documentation of all actions and contacts in case files. Typical Job Duties: * Provide the first point of contact and engagement for individuals/ families experiencing homelessness. * Effectively engaging potential clients out in the community, e.g. approaching individuals who may be experiencing homelessness off-site and engaging them in a conversation about resources and options for housing. * Build supportive rapport through recurring contacts with households experiencing homelessness before they enter housing programs. * Assess new participants through the HNS (Housing Needs Assessment) and HMIS Standardized Intake * Enter intake and assessment data into HMIS and set up client records by Housing Matters policies and procedures. * Work and efficiently communicate with partner organizations to stay up-to-date on community resources; coordinate with other outreach programs for group outreach and events. * Accept each individual for who they are and where they are; provide options, information, and choices that allow for stimulating change. * Work with households as they begin to think about housing options; engage in problem-solving to access immediate housing, services, and shelter options. * Facilitate client assistance funding to move eligible households into permanent housing in Santa Cruz County as well as other locations. * Coordinate with staff to support entry into programs or shelters when immediate housing is not available. * Meet all administrative requirements including record-keeping, HMIS, staff meetings, etc. * Maintain confidentiality and treat participants with dignity and respect at all times. * Provide coordination and smooth transitions to housing programs. * Review program data monthly and report back to the appropriate Program Manager with statistical highlights, found anomalies, recent trends, etc... Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at Housing Matters without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer-related and genetic characteristics), marital status, sexual orientation, age (over 18), veteran status, gender, pregnancy, or any other non-merit factor unrelated to job duties. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, the following: recruitment; advertising, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training (including apprenticeship), employment, upgrading, demotion, or transfer.

Responsibilities

Outreach Specialists serve as the initial point of contact for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the field, engaging them in conversations about services and pathways to permanent housing using trauma-informed and person-centered approaches. Responsibilities include building rapport, conducting assessments, entering data into HMIS, coordinating with partner organizations, facilitating funding for housing placement, and ensuring smooth transitions into housing programs.