Community Health Worker - Emergency Appointment (Homelessness)

County of Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you. The Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH) is seeking qualified and highly motivated candidates to fill emergency Community Health Worker vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment. During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Community Health Worker positions.

Requirements

Six (6) months of full-time work experience providing direct, client-facing and field-based support to individuals or community groups experiencing homelessness on behalf of Los Angeles County.
Experience must include engaging unhoused or housing-insecure clients, gathering and documenting housing, social, health, or service-related information, responding to questions from unhoused or housing-insecure clients, and providing information or assistance related to housing navigation, coordinated entry, benefits access, or supportive services.
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an agency such as Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) participating on multidisciplinary, integrated, street-based outreach teams delivering homelessness response services on behalf of Los Angeles County, including engagement, housing navigation, coordinated entry, and connection to supportive services.
Experience working in LAHSA’s Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) or Homeless Engagement Teams (HET).
Experience with coordinated service models that align housing, behavioral health, and supportive services across multiple providers in complex, multi-agency environments.
Certification in the following areas of training conducted by LAHSA: Field Safety, De-escalation strategies, Homeless Engagement techniques, Trauma-informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, Cultural Humility, Mental Health 101, Substance Use Disorders, Coordinated Entry System, Accessing system resources / System Navigation.
Experience driving unhoused or housing-insecure clients to supportive service, medical, document, Department of Public Social Services, and interim housing placement appointments.
Experience developing reports for field activities.
Experience establishing ongoing rapport and engagement with challenging personalities during outreach encounters.
Experience working with a dual agency framework (city and county agencies).
Experience participating in various encampment resolution operations, including multi-jurisdictional responses to address encampments, such as RV encampments, in city or county initiated efforts (Encampment protocols or Pathway Home Encampment resolutions).

Responsibilities

Conducts client interviews and collects documentation in the field to assess housing needs, barriers, risk factors impacting client safety and stability, health, mental health, family, social, educational, and employment information, and eligibility for emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and supportive services.
Identifies areas with growing or large encampment sites and conducts encampment resolutions.
Receives and responds to referrals related to homelessness, and related health, mental health, and social service needs from County staff, partner agencies, and community-based organizations.
Collaborates with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to conduct joint outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Assists with coordinating access to emergency shelters, motel vouchers, eviction prevention resources, and other immediate supports for homeless or housing-insecure clients.
Responds to urgent housing needs with a focus on safety, stabilization, and rapid connection to services.
Serves as a liaison between clients, the agency, and community partners as it relates to homelessness and service coordination, by participating in meetings and providing written updates, as needed.
Maintains current and accurate data on county-approved databases, such as the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
Updates spreadsheets containing various client information.
Communicates updates on engagements and outreach efforts through email to upper management and other stakeholders.
Transports clients and their belongings to and from housing and/or medically-related appointments, as needed.