Homeless Call Center Outreach Specialist - Here4You

BILL WILSON CENTER•San Jose, CA

12d•$26 - $27•Hybrid

About The Position

The Outreach specialist for the Homeless Call Center has a unique opportunity to help individuals and Families experiencing homelessness by signing them up for shelter, connecting them with resources in Santa Clara county, and transporting them and their belongings to an emergency shelter program that has been pre-arranged when needed. The Outreach Specialist is an important member of a team that is assessing and addressing challenges faced by a caller and providing immediate solutions that ensure their safety and get them off the streets both in the call center and out in encampments. The housing problem solving approach supports the effective implementation of homelessness prevention, diversion, and rapid exit strategies which are part of the coordinated entry process. If needed, the individual or family is also referred and transported to one of the open shelter beds available in the county. When needed, the HPS program will have the financial resource needed to help households avoid entering homelessness. This resource will be available to other community partners. The homeless Services Call Center is in full operation 7 days/week 10 hours/day. It is an integral part of the county’s Continuation of Care and Coordinated Entry System to end homelessness.

Requirements

High school diploma or Equivalent
Must have valid California driver’s license
Must be able to be insured through the company
Ability to read and interpret documents
Ability to write reports
Ability to talk and collaborate with staff, other organizations, and clients
Ability to navigate through Santa Clara county
Ability to stay seated for long periods of time in the office and in vehicles during work hours
Ability to walk through homeless encampments and water ways

Nice To Haves

Personal or lived experience with the criminal/legal system, housing instability, social services, or other systemic challenges is valued.

Responsibilities

Conduct initial screening to assess appropriate service suggestions and facilitate setting appointments for referrals and/or services.
Act as liaison between individuals or families experiencing a housing crisis and supportive services, Shelters and community agencies.
Enter, update and maintain data in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and track and report progress.
Locate, assist, and verify homelessness of clients
Answers daily routine and emergency phone telephone calls related to unstably housed unhoused individuals diverting them from emergency shelter placements.
Supports caller through a strength based approach identifying caller’s own network of support to problem solve towards housing stability.
Completes triage form with caller collecting personal information needed for placement: demographic information, contact information, referring agency contact, health questionnaire.
Refers clients to other service agencies as necessary (ie. Reentry Resource Center, Domestic Violence providers, Social Services Agency).
Escalates critical and time sensitive situations to BWC Management.
Transport Clients and their belongings to pre-assigned homeless shelters
Clean and maintain the interior of all transportation vehicles
Other duties as assigned.