Greenville Together: Street Outreach Specialist

United Way of America•Greenville, SC

44d

About The Position

The Crisis Street Outreach & Engagement Specialist plays a key role in Greenville Together's coordinated effort to address unsheltered homelessness through proactive, housing-focused outreach. Working as part of a small, dedicated team, the Specialist will maintain a consistent and visible presence in Greenville's downtown corridor-particularly during nontraditional hours such as evenings, early mornings, and weekends-to engage individuals experiencing homelessness and connect them to shelter, housing, and supportive services. This position emphasizes rapid connection to housing, relationship-based engagement, and strong collaboration with service providers, local law enforcement, health and behavioral health systems, and downtown business partners.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field; or at least three (3) years of equivalent experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or substance use disorders.
Demonstrated experience using trauma-informed, strengths-based, and harm reduction approaches.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and crisis de-escalation skills.
Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive engagement.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to dynamic situations.
Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
Ability to tolerate outdoor conditions and conduct outreach in varying weather environments.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of local social service networks, housing systems, and resources in Greenville County preferred.
Candidates with lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity are strongly encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

Conduct proactive, street-based outreach throughout Greenville's downtown corridor and surrounding areas, including during evening and weekend hours.
Utilize trauma-informed care, crisis-intervention training, motivational interviewing, and person-centered practices to build trust and rapport with individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Provide immediate assistance to meet basic needs (food, water, clothing, hygiene kits) and ensure safety in crisis situations.
Perform housing-focused assessments, including completion of Coordinated Entry intake processes and vulnerability assessments (e.g., VI-SPDAT).
Engage individuals in ongoing conversations about housing and services, offering repeated opportunities for connection and assistance.
Collaborate with partner agencies, shelters, healthcare providers, and outreach teams to coordinate pathways to housing and supportive services.
Conduct warm handoffs and, when appropriate, accompany participants to appointments or housing viewings to ensure continuity of care.
Work collaboratively with Greenville Together partners to identify outreach hotspots and coordinate shared response strategies.
Facilitate access to benefits, healthcare, employment services, and transportation resources as needed.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key community stakeholders, including law enforcement, downtown business owners, behavioral health providers, emergency responders, and faith-based partners.
Respond to outreach requests received through the dedicated Greenville Together homeless outreach call line and coordinate with responding partners for timely follow-up.
Participate in regular team meetings and cross-agency coordination sessions to share updates, trends, and insights that inform outreach strategy.
Represent Greenville Together in a professional and compassionate manner, strengthening community trust and collaboration.
Accurately document all outreach encounters, service connections, and housing outcomes.
Contribute to Greenville Together's shared data reporting, supporting systemwide transparency and continuous improvement.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with all privacy, ethical, and data security requirements.
Track trends, identify gaps, and recommend improvements to outreach and engagement strategies