Outreach Housing Specialist-Valley Water Project

POSITION: Outreach Housing Specialist
PROGRAM/LOCATION: Santa Clara County, CA
SUPERVISOR: Program Manager
STATUS: Regular/Temporary, Full-time, Non-Exempt

COMPENSATION: $29.77/Hourly

Program Summary:

HomeFirst outreach teams are designed to connect homeless individuals in encampments to shelter, interim housing, resources, and permanent housing opportunities. The target population for this position is vulnerable, chronically homeless individuals who are residing in encampments in Santa Clara County. Program staff will provide a consistent presence in the designated service areas to build rapport and trust with unsheltered homeless residents. The goal of the program is to connect participants to services that will result in permanent housing. The Housing Specialist will work in partnership with the outreach team to meet with our program participants and assist them in locating, securing, and maintaining permanent housing in the community. They play a key role in representing agency and program participant interests to landlords and developing strong working relationships with property managers/owners. To this end, the Housing Specialist participates in our collective effort to end and prevent homelessness.

Agency Summary
Established in 1980, with 40+ years of experience, we are the premier Silicon Valley provider of homelessness services. We believe that everyone has the potential to get housed and stay housed. We relentlessly focus on eliminating barriers to housing and creating stability
for everyone we serve. HomeFirst serves more than 6,000 adults, veterans, families, and young adults each year at multiple locations from Gilroy to Menlo Park – all of Santa Clara County as well as southern San Mateo County.

Services include:
• Homelessness prevention
• Emergency and cold-weather shelters
• Comprehensive Veterans’ services
• Rapid Re-Housing programs
• Bridge Housing Communities
• Emergency Interim Housing
• Affordable permanent housing
• Permanent Supportive Housing
• Street-based outreach

Benefits of joining the HomeFirst Team:
• Professional growth opportunities within the organization
• 100% medical coverage for employees with an opportunity to add dependents for a shared cost
• 401k match up to 5%
• 12 observed holidays
• PTO accrual begins with 120 hours annually and increases with tenure
• 4 hours of Community Engagement PTO provided annually
• Access to our Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) services
• Pet insurance options available

Qualification

• One year of paid or volunteer experience in social work or related human
services
• It May be substituted by two years of customer service experience and lived
experience with homelessness
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Valid CA driver’s license and insurance and reliable transportation

Duties/Responsibilities
• Provide comprehensive Housing Specialist services. This may include:

o Landlord outreach and support
o Housing search
o Application assistance
o Advocacy
o Financial assistance administration
o Crisis de-escalation
o Risk assessment and mandated reporting
o Connection to community resources, i.e., eviction prevention
o Other direct service provision
• Meet with participants at a frequency and location determined by their needs
including in an encampment setting.
• Engage in the consistent application of evidence-based practices.
• Support internal case management and program support specialist activities as needed. This may include:
o Street-based or community outreach efforts
o Conducting joint participant meetings
o Workshop coordination
• Participate in case conferencing and collaborative care coordination.
• Maintain compliance with contract, agency, and licensing requirements.
• Achieve identified program and position deliverables.
• Adhere to task completion deadlines.
• Maintain thorough and accurate documentation of participant services in accordance with agency and contractual standards.
• Attend all job-related meetings, including program staff meetings and agencywide meetings.
• Participate in opportunities for learning and skill maintenance/development.
• Utilize supervision appropriately, maintain open lines of communication, and
provide updates on activity.

Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge
• Ability to walk long distances and on rough terrain (such as trails to creek-side
encampments and high traffic areas)
• Ability to lift and carry outreach supplies (usually in a backpack, up to 30 lbs.)
• Understanding of and sensitivity to the needs of the homeless
• Commitment to increasing the housing stability and self-sufficiency of the homeless
• Strong verbal and written skills; knowledge of multiple languages is desirable
• Good problem-solving skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks
• Demonstrated effective communication skills
• Knowledge and understanding of community resources and human services
• Initiative, flexibility, and the capacity to respond effectively in all situations
• Good collaboration skills and the ability to work independently with limited supervision

HomeFirst is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Additionally, HomeFirst participates in the E-Verify program, as required by law.

HomeFirst is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

HomeFirst  takes pride in its safety values, the wellness of our team, and respect for everyone we serve. Due to this commitment, HomeFirst is mandating that all employees be vaccinated or render a religious or medical exemption effective September 13, 2021.