Street Outreach Specialist

Brightli • St. Louis, MO

1d

About The Position

Join the collaborative Connection Services team as an Outreach Specialist supporting people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing housing. Working with the QuikTrip Grant, this role provides community and street outreach, addresses immediate needs, connects individuals with stable housing and treatment services, and offers ongoing case management and emotional support. The position is suited to a resourceful, calm, relationship-focused professional committed to meeting people where they are and helping them build stability.

The Outreach Specialist conducts outreach in community and street-based settings, manages assigned grant participants, conducts intake assessments, makes referrals, and supports individuals through housing and treatment services. The role also includes documentation, follow-up, community engagement, and responding to changing demands and crisis situations in accordance with organizational guidelines, professional ethics, and supervisory direction.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in psychology, sociology, social work, behavioral health, or another related human-services field.
• Advanced knowledge of mental health issues.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and current auto liability insurance, including uninsured-motorist coverage.
• Maintain reliable personal transportation and be willing and able to transport clients in a personal vehicle.
• Establish effective professional relationships through telephone and in-person interactions.
• Communicate clearly with clients, families, colleagues, community partners, and groups.
• Read and interpret safety rules, procedure manuals, operating instructions, and maintenance instructions.
• Write routine reports and professional correspondence.
• Apply basic arithmetic using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
• Use sound judgment and common-sense understanding to follow written, verbal, and diagram-based instructions and resolve problems involving multiple variables.
• Manage multiple responsibilities, adapt to changing demands, follow direction, accept supervision, and maintain composure during crisis situations.
• Successfully complete required background screenings, including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint checks.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach at community locations, homeless encampments, and other street-based settings to connect individuals with assistance, housing, treatment, and support.
• Build trusting relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or housing instability by providing consultations, resource information, referrals, and temporary emotional support.
• Manage a caseload of QuikTrip Grant participants, address immediate needs, and help prepare eligible individuals for Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center enrollment.
• Conduct intake assessments to identify available services and refer eligible individuals to Community Support Services.
• Provide case management to individuals housed through Department of Mental Health programs, including Shelter Plus Care and the Rental Assistance Program, who do not qualify for Community Support Services.
• Connect clients with community groups, service providers, and organizations to address their housing, treatment, and recovery needs.
• Enroll QuikTrip Grant participants in the Homeless Management Information System, complete required follow-up, and maintain current referral information.
• Monitor community policies affecting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and participate in relevant city meetings and forums when appropriate.
• Accurately document outreach, case management, referrals, and other grant-funded activities according to funding-agency and organizational requirements.
• Participate in required meetings, professional-development activities, and initiatives supporting client and program goals.
• Follow organizational operating guidelines, professional ethics, and supervisory direction, responding calmly and effectively to changing demands and crisis situations.

Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program with 24/7 counseling, legal assistance, and financial consultation for the employee and household at no cost.
• Mileage reimbursement for work functions requiring travel.
• Employee discounts on hotels, theme parks, attractions, and college tuition.
• Paid time off package for full-time employees.
• Health, dental, vision, retirement, and life benefits for full-time employees.
• Initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive training.
• Advancement opportunities and promotion from within.
• Supportive workplace culture focused on employee wellbeing, humanity, health, and happiness.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time