Outreach Worker

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless•Denver, CO

17h•$25 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

The Outreach Worker provides comprehensive engagement and services to people surviving unsheltered in Denver through an established outreach model. Services include providing basic needs such as socks, food, and cold-weather gear, and helping people navigate access to emergency and transitional shelter, non-congregate shelters and micro-communities, healthcare, recovery-focused interventions, treatment, vocational services, public benefits, and permanent housing. The role works collaboratively with homeless-service providers and the Denver Street Outreach Collaborative (DSOC) to engage individuals and households experiencing homelessness in public places and other locations not meant for habitation. The Outreach Worker builds relationships through non-threatening, trauma-informed, and culturally humble interactions, helps clients identify their service needs, and supports access to appropriate resources and longer-term services. The position also documents services and client information in HMIS and other required systems, coordinates referrals and care, and participates in community outreach and collaborative activities. This is an on-site role across offices and outdoor locations, including encampments, parks, street corners, vehicles, overpasses, and riverbeds. Work hours are generally standard but require flexibility to meet client needs. The position typically follows a four-day, 10-hour schedule, Monday–Thursday or Tuesday–Friday, with occasional evening and/or weekend work during the winter season for Emergency Cold Weather Outreach. The work may involve exposure to challenging weather, unpleasant odors, fumes, noise, pests, and direct or vicarious trauma, including escalated behavior, substance use, death, and mental health crises.

Requirements

High school diploma and/or GED.
Colorado driver’s license in good standing within 30 days of hire, maintained in good standing.
Ability to establish trust and rapport through meaningful interactions, including in challenging or sensitive situations.
Understanding of homelessness-related issues, common physical and mental health conditions, evidence-based interventions, service-system complexities, and trauma-informed care.
Awareness of and ongoing commitment to learning and using inclusive language that respects diverse identities, backgrounds, and experiences.
Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and collaborate with partner agencies and Coalition staff.
Basic understanding of recovery-focused interventions and principles.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively through multiple mediums to diverse audiences.
Ability to remain calm, think clearly, and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
Ability to access and interpret information from computer screens and printed materials.
Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders in a dynamic environment and adhere to process protocols.
Ability to meet the physical and work-environment demands of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Flexibility to accommodate client needs and occasional evening and/or weekend shifts during the winter season.
Ability to work on-site in varied outdoor and indoor settings and adapt to working independently and as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.
Previous outreach experience with homeless populations and/or related direct human-services experience working with underserved populations.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Denver-area homeless-service providers to coordinate, communicate, and maintain continuity of services for chronically homeless and vulnerable individuals and households.
Build relationships with clients through non-threatening engagement and provide information, resources, and case-management interventions.
Facilitate access to appropriate shelter options, identification documents, benefits, basic needs, acute medical and behavioral healthcare, longer-term case management, housing, substance-treatment services, and family reunification when appropriate.
Continue helping clients explore ways to improve material and emotional aspects of their lives when appropriate housing is not imminent or available.
Document all client engagements and services, enter HMIS records within two business days of contact, and submit other grant-required information in a timely manner.
Attempt to collect all required HMIS data elements at the first encounter when possible, or gather the information promptly to complete the client record.
Provide face-to-face outreach as a member of DSOC, using trauma-informed and culturally humble approaches to help clients identify their needs and access services.
Transport people experiencing homelessness using a personal or organizational vehicle.
Accept referrals from CCH staff and other agencies, coordinate with referral sources, and report client disposition and additional service needs in a timely manner.
Participate in case conferencing, strategic planning meetings, and huddles to support continuity of care.
Identify people eligible for CCH programs and help connect them with the appropriate intake staff.
Participate in the Point in Time Survey, Client Satisfaction Survey, Street Medicine Outreach, Behavioral Health Outreach, Emergency Cold Weather Outreach, and other collaborative or community efforts as needed.
Respond to outreach engagement requests from HOST and other City entities within two days of contact.
Use company systems accurately and promptly, maintain complete and current records, and follow future system upgrades as directed.
Perform other job duties as assigned.