Outreach Specialist - HS045

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

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The CHAT (Coordinated Housing Access Team) Outreach Specialist works independently and collaboratively with the CHAT team, coordinated by Urban League, and NARA staff to assist in the identification and assessment of homeless individuals and families to refer to the appropriate homeless service Coordinated Access systems for adults and families. Assessments will be conducted primarily in the community, at NARA service sites, shelters, and locations where homeless households may be gathered (i.e. encampments, meal programs, etc.) The CHAT Outreach Worker will assist homeless households with gathering necessary documentation for housing applications, which may include verifications of income, disability, and history of homelessness. Hours of work may require occasional evenings and weekends to meet program needs, including severe weather outreach. Hours should be flexible to accommodate these needs. This dynamic position is highly mobile across the county, with a specific focus on serving the Native American community, and requires strong coordination and engagement skills. The CHAT Outreach Specialist will collaborate extensively with other CHAT team members under the direction of Urban League, who will determine caseloads with input from NARA Northwest staff.

Requirements

High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification required
Experience serving homeless adults and/or families, and demonstrated understanding of multiple barriers frequently experienced by homeless households.
Demonstrated ability to quickly and effectively develop rapport and trust with individuals is essential.
Knowledge of local resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, including shelter, housing, food, clothing, behavioral health, and medical resources.
Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
Must pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
Must pass criminal background and DMV checks.

Nice To Haves

QMHA certified, Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) and/or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (CADC-I) preferred.
Experience with data entry into HMIS is a plus.
Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Coordinate referrals from NARA service providers and homeless households in need of housing resources to Urban League and the CHAT team.
Screen and assess homeless households (individuals, couples and families) using the approved tools for the local Continuum of Care Coordinated Access system (currently, MSST tools.)
Ensure homeless households are referred to appropriate housing resources, as well as address any immediate safety concerns.
Coordinate with community partners to place households into available shelter resources (i.e. 211, Do Good Multnomah, TPI, etc)
Assist households on caseload with document readiness, which may include assistance obtaining identification, birth certificates, income verifications, disability verifications, homeless verifications, etc.
Upload documentation into HMIS.
Coordinate referrals and services with the Community Homeless Assessment Team (CHAT), work collaboratively with Transition Projects, Inc., in conjunction with the CHAT team
Attend Coordinated Access for Adults, and Mobile Housing Team meetings to provide information on referrals as needed.
Engage with clients by addressing social, cultural, linguistic and educational barriers to accessing housing and other services.

Benefits

Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
14 Paid Holidays
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