Homeless Outreach Specialist

About Interfaith Community Services:

At Interfaith, we empower individuals and families in need by providing essential resources and services with compassion and integrity. Together, we foster a community of hope, accountability, and dignity. 

Founded in 1979 in direct response to rising rates of hunger and homelessness in North San Diego County, Interfaith Community Services works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by Helping People Help Themselves. Interfaith is the most comprehensive nonprofit social services agency in North County, providing both immediate safety net services and long-term, life-changing programs designed to meet the holistic needs of people in crisis. Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 650 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 200, Interfaith provides a safe haven and pathway towards self-sufficiency for more than 17,000 community members annually. 

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a service-driven environment, we invite you to be part of our mission!

What You'll Do:

In the Clinical Homeless Outreach Specialist role, you’ll provide direct services to those experiencing homelessness within the area designated. Clients may be individuals, couples and families. Direct services will be defined as street outreach and case management to support participant engagement towards client-centered goals addressing housing and stability. The Clinical Homeless Outreach Specialist will also work collaboratively with clients to identify and link to stabilizing resources, encouraging the creation and coordination with multi-disciplinary teams. You will also participate in HMIS and other identified outreach trainings and networking events to support an approach that is aligned with HMIS Outreach Standards, BBS Legal and Ethical Standards and Trauma Informed Care.

• Able to maintain a 40 hour work week, with flexibility as needed for weekends/evenings to support ethical management of case load or crisis scenarios.  Approximately, 80% of work week will be providing services in the field 
• Spend 50-75% of weekly working hours re-engaging and providing case management to Participants previously encountered. 
• May be required to use personal vehicle to meet individuals in the community, with agency reimbursement for mileage available
• Open to engage with individuals in the community at times with the presence of Law Enforcement. If appropriate, Provider, will ride along with Law Enforcement for the best care of the individual need/services
• Maintain a minimum caseload of 10 Participants and a maximum caseload of 25 Participants at any given time. Ensure at least 60% of Participants on the caseload are actively working on activities or goals that directly assist the Participant in progressing toward housing
• Work collaboratively with Oceanside City staff, Oceanside HOT Officers and partners to identify Participants in need of homeless services
• Make and receive referrals from City staff and partners. Work collaboratively with encampment grant partners. 
• Abide by strategies set forth in City's Homelessness Action Plan and any amendments thereto, which takes a community focused and collaborative approach to addressing the needs of those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness within the City of Oceanside
• Support Participant access to shelter network, while continuing to support participant case management goal progress.
• Ensures that clients with ongoing treatment needs are successfully connected with appropriate community-based treatment programs
• Conducts outreach and engages in case management. Provider will collaborate with individual to complete appropriate assessments and create Individualized service plan in order to identify and link to stabilizing resources (e.g. mental health, medical, substance abuse, income, basic needs). Purpose of resources is to support the ability to attain and sustain long term permanent housing
• Screen Participants and complete assessments when appropriate to link to housing resources through Coordinated Entry System (CES). Provide ongoing follow-up and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) updates to maintain Participants on the Coordinated Entry Community Queue
• Develops trusting relationships, modeling and prompting appropriate boundaries with individuals, couples and families experiencing homelessness
• Utilizes motivational interviewing techniques to understand, assess, and shift the individual’s stage of change. Able to utilize progressive engagement, diversion approaches within a trauma informed and person-centered perspective. 
• Completes accurate and thorough documentation in a timely manner for each program participant, and provides required reports
• Enters all participants into data bases as required for documentation and to maintain individual’s engagement in the CoC information system to support housing placement
• Seeks out and develops knowledge regarding best practices including homeless outreach standards identified within the San Diego County CoC. Adhere to standards of practice outlined by Regional Task Force of the Homeless
• Participates in case conferencing meetings, staff meetings, trainings, conferences, collaborative community meetings program evaluation, and program development
• Performs additional duties as assigned 

Who You Are:

You're passionate about making a lasting impact, whether supporting individuals directly or enhancing our organizational effectiveness. To thrive in this role, you'll:  

• High School Diploma, required
• Bachelor's Degree in social work or related field, preferred
• Registered and in good standing as an Associate with the CA BBS and actively working towards licensure (ASW, AMFT, or APCC), preferred
• 4+ years of case management-related experience, preferred
• Experience working with severely mentally ill, medically fragile, and homeless populations, preferred
• Bilingual (English/Spanish), preferred

Location: Onsite/Oceanside

Hourly:

High School Diploma: $23.00-$25.00

Bachelor's Degree: $28.85-$31.25

Master's Degree: $33.65-$38.46

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8a-5pm (after hours flexibility needed)

SIGN ON BONUS: $500.00

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

· Paid Time Off

· Paid Holidays – 13 scheduled

· Flexible Work Schedules

· Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

· AD&D / Group Life Insurance

· Flexible Spending Accounts – Medical and Dependent Care

· Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan

· Early Release Days!

· Work Anniversary Bonuses

· Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

· Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

· Home Ownership Assistance Program

· Casual Work Environment

· Professional Growth and Career Development Opportunities

Interfaith is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, nationality, sex, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Interfaith will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.