Outreach Specialist

TITLE: Outreach Specialist
DEPARTMENT: Housing
REPORTS TO: Outreach Programs Manager
CLASSIFICATION : 1 (FTE), Non-Exempt, Full-time, 40 hours per week, 8:30 am-5:00 pm Monday through Friday, with some evenings and weekends. Eligible for telecommuting. Local travel required
SALARY: $25.50- $33.50 Per hour (commensurate with education and experience)
SCOPE:
The Outreach Specialist has the responsibility to identify and build rapport with individuals and families who are experiencing chronic homelessness and need intensive services to have access to safe housing. The CHW (Community Health Workers) will assist community members to facilitate a smooth and rapid transition for households prioritized through this system into available housing resources, by working with the community member holistically on a path to stability and safety. The CHW will help connect the community members to necessary social services and act to reduce barriers to rapidly obtaining permanent housing. To achieve housing for all members of our community, the CHW builds trust with everyone, breaks down resistance to services, and remains determinedly focused on identifying appropriate and acceptable placements for our clients. CHW will provide individualized support throughout the entire journey by helping each community member develop a plan to address their barriers, assess their supports, and set achievable long and short-term goals, with an emphasis on healing from trauma, and long-term health promotion.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide supportive services in a culturally responsive, non-judgmental manner.

• Conduct street outreach in designated areas to assist unsheltered community members; outreach will occur in designated neighborhoods at designated times, and in many cases, seek to build rapport with specific individuals identified as being particularly vulnerable.

• Initiate contact and establish regular interactions and engagement with unsheltered community members for the purpose of providing assistance with attaining safety and access to needed services.
• Coordinate individualized needs assessment for all community members and work with community members to develop short and long-term goals that address barriers to obtaining services and/or housing.
• Monitor and evaluate each community member's progression towards their goals, and develop modifications to the plan, as necessary.
• Provide information, "hands-on" referrals, linkages, and personal advocacy to assist community members in accessing services and resources.
• Directly assist a "caseload" of 25 community members with procuring necessary documents and services such as identification cards, birth certificates, income verification, SNAP, or OHP, and other linkages that may help diminish barriers to housing.
• Complete supportive housing assessments (VI-SPDAT) and help match individuals into community-based, subsidized, treatment-focused, shared, or other types of housing.
• Advocate for community members with prospective landlords, working closely with Urban League Housing Specialists and Resiliency Specialists, and partners to ensure that those who do obtain housing can retain it in the long term.
• Promote culturally responsive mediation between community members and the social service system, such as mental health and substance use treatment programs, and other service providers.
• Provide holistic culturally appropriate and accessible health education and information and responsive crisis intervention for community members.
• Provide informal counseling and social support to community members while providing tools and resources focused on improving health and well-being for African Americans through supporting their efforts to find and maintain permanent housing.
• When shelter, housing, or social service linkage is not obtained, continue to engage with unsheltered community members and provide support.
• Work within existing community groups to identify and address the underlying causes of chronic homelessness while working to engage community members in a wide range of system-level, city, region, and statewide policy interventions to reduce disproportionate homelessness and other health disparities for African American
• Maintain all related data tracking systems. Prepare related reports including outcomes, successes, and challenges, including generating community member data for monthly reports.
• Utilizing case management software, to maintain complete and accurate documentation of service objectives and outcomes as well as other services in accordance with federal, state, county, and Urban League policy & guidelines.
• Maintain complete client records, daily activity logs, mileage logs, and other reports as directed.
• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, coordinated access meetings, training workshops, and community meetings as assigned.
• Contribute to the overall agency efforts by completing other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILL / ABILITIES:

• Commitment to and knowledge of social justice issues and the dynamics of social change, the history, and mission of the Urban League of Portland, and expertise in the present scope of Urban League service and advocacy programs.
• Knowledge and understanding of structural racism and Anti-Blackness as it relates to homelessness and housing,
• Knowledge of community resources (both public and private) and awareness of housing issues in the Portland metro region
• Demonstrated computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suites with an emphasis on Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook programs, required. Experience using HMIS (service point), and Apricot is preferred.
• Skills in motivational interviewing, assertive engagement, needs assessment, and coordination of services for unmet needs both by phone and in-person.
• Ability to take initiative and prioritize tasks; good time-management, problem prevention, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others and support the goals and mission of the Urban League of Portland
• Good written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate effectively and project a professional image when giving and taking information in writing, in person, and over the phone.
• Ability to listen and develop rapport and relate well with community members.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ability to work varied days and hours including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others and support the goals and mission of the Urban League of Portland.
• Ability to furnish proof of vaccination for COVID-19
• Possess a valid driver's license and verification of current auto insurance and have full use of automobile during work hours.
• Ability to use basic office equipment, telephone, copy machine, fax machine, and computer.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, drive, talk on the phone and/or use the computer for long periods of time.
• Ability to travel from various locations and worksites during the workday.
• Ability to see and respond to dangerous situations.
• Ability to wear personal protective gear correctly most of the day.
• Ability to occasionally move items weighing up to 50 pounds around the work area.
• Ability to work occasionally in outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• Associate degree or 2+ years of related paid work experience, required.
• Community Health Worker (or other traditional health workers) Certification. preferred but will train.
• Must have a car for daily use, in-state insurance with your name on the policy, and a valid Oregon state license, active for at least one year with an acceptable driving record required.

BENEFITS:
Within your first year of employment the Urban League of Portland is excited to offer the following benefits after 90 days of successful employment:

• HMO plans 100% employer paid medical, dental and vision for qualifying employees and their additional dependents.
• PPO plans starting at $29.89
• 21 days of PTO in your first year
• 12 paid holidays
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Life insurance

Urban League of Portland: Established in 1945, the Urban League of Portland is one of the oldest African American service, civil rights, and advocacy organizations in the region. We are part of a network of over 90 National Urban League Affiliates across the country and are recognized as one of the leading voices for African Americans and others in Oregon and Southwest Washington. We are a key coalition-builder amongst other organizations and work extensively with both traditional and emerging groups, the faith-based community, businesses, and other organizations, including those serving immigrants and refugees. The Urban League of Portland's mission is to empower African Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security, and quality of life. Our programs include a distinctive blend of direct services, organizing, outreach, and advocacy. We offer workforce services, community health services, summer youth programming, senior services, meaningful civic engagement opportunities, and powerful advocacy.
Equal Opportunity Statement: The Urban League of Portland is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified employees and applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.