Outreach Navigation Specialist - Street Outreach

LifeWorks Austin•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

LifeWorks is seeking a full-time Outreach Navigation Specialist to join their Street Outreach team. This role provides community-based outreach and supportive services for youth and young adults (YYA) up to age 24 who are runaways, street-dependent, or experiencing homelessness. The specialist will build trusting relationships with individuals underserved by existing community service systems through engagement and individualized support. Key responsibilities include conducting assessments, developing service plans based on client strengths and goals, and providing ongoing advocacy, crisis intervention, and follow-up to promote stability in areas such as housing, education, employment, and wellness. The position also supports the day-to-day operations and data tracking of drop-in and group services at the Youth Resource Center (YRC), and may schedule, arrange, or conduct workshops and training sessions to help youth develop essential life skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in social or behavior sciences or administrative or marketing field
Minimum 2 years’ experience with at risk youth or young adults
Minimum 1 year of direct experience working with the unhoused population
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook, and other database software
Equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Bilingual Spanish or ASL preferred

Responsibilities

Engage with young individuals seeking assistance, creating an inclusive and supportive environment.
Build trusting relationships with clients through client-centered, strength-based, and trauma-informed approaches.
Perform community-based outreach and respond to community calls to engage with YYA who are runaway youth, street-dependent, experiencing homelessness, or at risk of losing housing.
Distribute basic need items, harm reduction items, and connect YYA to resources that will support their goals and needs.
Conduct assessments to understand the specific needs and circumstances of each youth and young adult in order to develop individualized service plans in collaboration with the client.
Provide or connect clients with a wide range of essential resources and services including food, clothing, hygiene products, medical care, mental health services, educational support, and housing assistance.
Support clients through the housing navigation process by providing information about available housing options, assisting with applications, and advocating on behalf of the youth to access suitable housing opportunities.
Perform targeted outreach when a YYA is pulled for housing and assist in navigation.
Assist Youth and Young Adults experiencing homelessness to attain necessary documents to secure employment or housing (e.g. state ID, birth certificate, social security card, etc.).
Assist client in building daily living and life skills such as budgeting, goal setting, communication, job readiness, and conflict resolution to promote long-term stability.
Effectively manage crisis situations through assessing and acting in accordance with standards and laws in emergency situations involving the health and safety of YYA.
Monitor and document client progress toward goals, providing follow-up support to ensure continuity of care and engagement.
Advocate on behalf of clients, ensuring their needs and rights are addressed within LifeWorks and the community and in accessing necessary services.
Maintain detailed records of files, and complete timely and accurate documentation of interactions, assessments, service plans, referrals, and outcomes to track progress and improve program effectiveness using various software such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and Microsoft Excel.
Collaborate with community partners, service providers, and agencies to ensure a coordinated response to youth homelessness and to expand the range of available resources.
Advocate for clients within the community as well as internally to ensure that client needs are being recognized, represented, and addressed.
Practice professional and ethical boundaries and ensure consistent and equitable service provision.
Attend internal and community meetings regarding clients and community outreach.
Coordinate Impact Specialist, Volunteers, and AmeriCorps shifts and assignments with support from the Program Services Coordinator and the Donor Relations and Engagement Manager.
Engage in regular supervision and team meetings to review client progress, challenges, and service strategies.