Outreach and Housing Placement Specialist - HS088

Native American Rehabilitation Assoc. of the NW•Portland, OR

1d•$23 - $26

About The Position

The Outreach and Housing Placement Specialist provides culturally specific outreach services to homeless individuals staying outside and/or in places not meant for human habitation, including tents and RVS, etc. in Multnomah County. The position works independently and collaboratively with the NARA NW homeless outreach team, and with other outreach teams from partner agencies. Job duties focus on engaging Native American individuals experiencing houselessness and providing housing navigation and barrier mitigation support. The Outreach and Placement Specialist will also work with individuals to become “document ready” and ensure they have necessary paperwork and documents to obtain housing. The Outreach and Placement Specialist will help households identify potential housing resources and create a housing stability plan, utilizing rapid rehousing funds and/or connection to the Coordinated Access system, and will assist households through the process of applying for housing, lease signing, and move-in. The Specialist will also connect households with additional resources including shelter, food and clothing banks, hygiene centers, medical care, behavioral health care, etc.

Requirements

High School Diploma or General Education Diploma required.
QMHA (Qualified Mental Health Associate), PSS (Peer Support Specialist), CRM (Certified Recovery Mentor) and/or CADC-1 (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I) credentialing required within six months of hire.
Professional experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or experiencing severe and persistent mental illness.
Demonstrated effectiveness in presenting ideas, transmitting information, or conveying concepts to individuals or groups of people of varying educational, cultural and experiential levels.
Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients, the community, and other staff members.
Knowledge of housing resources and understanding of recovery-based, holistic approaches to addressing needs.
Knowledge and skill in working in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
Ability to engage and interact positively with individuals and families to promote strengths and improve health and well-being.
Excellent communication skills and initiative to effectively coordinate care.
Ability to work collaboratively with clients and other program staff, and to treat everyone with respect and dignity at all times.
Written and organizational skills to complete all required documentation.
Ability to pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
Ability to pass DHS criminal background and DMV checks.
Must be able to pass a CRIMS finger printing and background check.
Must have a valid driver’s license and personal vehicle and insurance.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within the Native American/Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Engage with individuals and families by eliminating social, cultural, linguistic and educational barriers to develop a culturally competent and creative action plan for housing stability.
Provide supportive services in a culturally responsive, trauma-informed and nonjudgmental manner.
Demonstrate a person-centered approach in working with clients by respecting their self-determination and autonomy and exploring their ambivalence by utilizing Motivational Interviewing principles.
Perform brief screening and assessment as appropriate.
Complete supportive housing assessments (MSST) and help match individuals into community-based, subsidized, treatment focused, shared or other types of housing.
Coordinate with community housing providers, health and behavioral healthcare providers.
Participate in weekly coordinated outreach meetings with other agencies providing outreach. Regular attendance as a NARA NW representative at collaboration meetings will be required.
Actively participate as a member of a care team by providing input and developing creative strategies to address housing, health and psychosocial issues.
Consult with clinical supervisor in complex cases exceeding area of expertise
Facilitate communication and positive relationships between households and other service providers and housing providers.
Engage in street-level outreach to engage Native American individuals and provide access to life-saving resources such as hot and cold weather gear.
Participate in agency and care team meetings to coordinate outreach activities as needed.
Respond to requests for outreach to individuals in the community, which may include homeless service sites, homeless encampments, hospitals, jail, detox centers, and the streets.
Collaborate with auxiliary providers in developing care plans and goals based on identified needs.
Ensure that households get timely access to appropriate services by promoting and modeling advocacy skills.
Help coordinate client transportation and accompaniment as needed.
Ensure adherence to all additional service delivery and reporting requirements outlined in the Multnomah County Outreach Scope of Work.
Provide ongoing feedback to the county and community partners in collaborative work to ensure work expectation are aligned with the needs of the Native American community.

Benefits

14 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, and December 25th!
Employees working 20 hours, or more are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from the 1st of the month following the date of hire.
Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
14 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)
13 Paid Days of Sick Time
13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
$50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D
Short Term and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Account
Health Spending Account
401(k) with 4% Match
Employee Assistance Program
Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)
Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC