Consumer Advocate, Outreach

Breaking Ground • New York, NY

8d • $21 - $21 • Onsite

About The Position

Breaking Ground is dedicated to providing housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Consumer Advocate, Outreach, plays a crucial role in connecting people experiencing street homelessness and living with chronic medical conditions to essential social and medical services. This position focuses on building relationships with clients using motivational interviewing techniques to help them achieve their self-identified goals related to housing and health. The role involves significant time spent in the field, utilizing public transportation and walking to conduct outreach, accompany clients to appointments, and follow up on referrals. Responsibilities also include conducting assessments, facilitating self-directed service planning, and maintaining accurate data in required databases.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• Minimum 2 years of related experience
• Knowledge of local benefit agencies (e.g., Public Assistance) and familiarity with substance abuse, mental health, immigration, and employment resources
• Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams
• Valid NY, NJ, CT, or PA driver’s license with a good driving record, as defined by Breaking Ground, is a condition of employment

Nice To Haves

• Lived experience with homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues, and willingness to appropriately use lived experience as a tool for building client rapport and developing service connection preferred
• Bilingual preferred

Responsibilities

• Engage with identified persons currently experiencing homelessness and living with chronic medical conditions in BOROUGH
• Draw on lived experience of homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues to build rapport with clients and develop appropriate service connections
• Conduct required assessments
• Attend clinical supervision and training
• Maintain record keeping in compliance with agency standards as well as those of City and State agencies
• Collaborate with Parks Dept., NYPD, DSNY, MTA, and other agencies
• Accompany clients to appointments and follow up on service referrals
• Perform other duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED