Outreach Coordinator

Purpose:      The Outreach Coordinator will collaborate with other community partners to identify and engage people living in unsheltered locations, such as in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, encampments, and on the streets or other places not meant for human habitation.  The Outreach Coordinator ensures that people’s basic needs are met while supporting them along pathways toward housing stability and supportive services as needed and desired. The Outreach Coordinator will engage and reach people who might not otherwise seek assistance or come to the attention of the homelessness service system in Leavenworth County; connect them with emergency shelter, housing, or critical services; and provide urgent, non-facility-based care to unsheltered homeless people who are unwilling or unable to access emergency shelter, housing, or an appropriate health facility.

Reports To:    Executive Director

Work Schedule:    Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (with flexibility); up to 40 hours/week

FLSA Status:    Non-Exempt

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Social Work, Health and Human Services, Social Services, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred.

• Demonstrated experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, vulnerable populations, those living with mental illness, or within the social services sector.

• Familiarity with the justice system, education, or nonprofit organizations is advantageous.

• Commitment to operating within a trauma-informed mindset that demonstrates a balance of kindness, competence and care toward self, colleagues, and populations served. Ability to assess and respond responsibly in a wide variety of situations and crises. 

• Strong computer skills and proficiency in using relevant software applications.

• Ability to work independently, be trustworthy on a flexible schedule (mostly out of the office), prioritize multiple tasks, and be flexible in job duties & schedule.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with staff, volunteers, and community partners.

• Compassionate and empathetic attitude towards individuals living on the streets, ensuring a supportive and safe environment. 

• Possess a valid driver's license and reliable transportation to get to and from work shifts and have the ability to tolerate extreme weather conditions.  

• Commitment to the mission and values of Leavenworth Interfaith Community of Hope, including promoting dignity, respect, and empowerment for all individuals.

Essential Job Functions

This position is primarily supported through Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Services should only be provided to ‘unsheltered homeless people’ which is defined as an individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning: (i) An individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground;are provided on the street, or in parks, abandoned buildings, bus stations, campgrounds, and other unsheltered settings. Services to be performed include:

• Engagement
  The location, identification and relationship building with unsheltered homeless people and the engagement of them for the purpose of providing immediate support, intervention, and connections with homeless assistance programs and/or mainstream social services and housing programs. Eligible activities include assessment of needs and eligibility; providing crisis counseling; addressing urgent physical needs, and actively connecting and providing information and referrals to programs targeted to homeless people and mainstream social services and housing programs.

• Case Management
  The assessment of housing and service needs and implementing individualized services to meet the needs of the program participant. Eligible services and activities are as follows: using the centralized or coordinated assessment system; conducting the initial evaluation, including verifying and documenting eligibility; counseling; developing, securing and coordinating services; obtaining Federal, State, and local benefits; monitoring and evaluating program participant progress; providing information and referrals to other providers; and developing an individualized housing and service plan, including planning a path to permanent housing stability.

• Emergency Health Services
  Eligible costs are for the direct outpatient treatment of medical conditions and are provided by licensed medical professionals operating in community-based settings, including streets, parks, and other places where unsheltered homeless people are living. Eligible treatment consists of developing a treatment plan; 20 assisting program participants to understand their health needs; providing directly or obtaining emergency medical treatment; and providing medication and follow-up services.

• Emergency Mental Health Services
  Eligible costs are the direct outpatient treatment by licensed professionals of mental health conditions operating in community-based settings, including streets, parks, and other places where unsheltered people are living. of the problem or improved individual or family functioning or circumstances. (iv) Eligible treatment consists of crisis interventions, and the prescription and management of psychotropic medications.

• Transportation
  Transportation provided that this travel takes place during the provision of services eligible under this section including but not limited to unsheltered people to emergency shelters or other service facilities.

• Services for Special Populations
  ESG funds may be used to provide services for homeless youth, victim services, and services for people living with HIV/AIDS, so long as the costs of providing these services are eligible.

• Implementation of Street Outreach
  Street Outreach should be principally focused on one goal: that of supporting homeless households in achieving some form of permanent, sustainable housing. While Street Outreach teams may use incentives to encourage trust and build relationships, or to ensure that homeless households’ emergency needs are met, the awards made should not be used to support other programs that seek to alleviate the burden of living on the streets. Outreach teams will have the most comprehensive knowledge of street-based individuals/ households within the locality. Outreach teams will be responsible for ensuring that a case plan is established for each household that is client centered, realistic and focused towards a goal of permanent housing. Outreach teams will be expected to establish close working relationships with other service providers, not only Emergency Shelters, but other mainstream and housing focused services, such as Rapid Re- Housing. Not every homeless household is expected to need admittance to an emergency shelter and Street Outreach teams should be prepared to implement a variety of interventions in securing permanent housing. Linkages should also be made to applicable mainstream programs such as SOAR, food stamps, TANF, etc. 

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee must be able to hear normal sounds with the presence of background noise, as in hearing using a telephone. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk and sit. The employee will regularly travel to and/or visit off-site locations.

The employee must be able to work harmoniously, cooperatively and courteously with guests, staff, volunteers, the public and all others involved with and/or in contact with the Shelter at all times. The employee must be able to interact with people who are under physical and emotional stress, as well as to maintain a calm manner in stressful and emergency situations. The employee must be able to respond to difficult situations, ease tensions and address disturbances.

Work Environment

The Outreach Coordinator is required to attend meetings, conferences and other functions off site that are related to community, state government, collaborative partners, and other aspects of the Community of Hope. Most work duties will be performed in unsheltered locations, such as in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, encampments, and on the streets or other places not meant for human habitation.