Street Outreach Specialist

Catholic Charities of Spokane Inc•Spokane, WA

1d•$22 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

The Street Outreach Specialist will work closely with Spokane Police Department, (SPD) Code Enforcement (HOT), Spokane Fire Department (SFD), and Community Housing and Human Services (CHHS) in the City of Spokane to assist with outreach to homeless individuals and encampments in the community. This will include traditional street outreach, coordination with housing systems and resources in the community, and responding to requests for service through 311 and officer-initiated calls.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services or related field – or a Peer Support or Community Health Worker certification
At least 3 years of experience in the social services field
At least one year of direct service to unhoused individuals.
Experience working with issues of homelessness, substance abuse/addiction, mental health and/or poverty
High level of professionalism, and ability to navigate sometimes difficult situations with community partners while effectively representing the agency.
Ability to stay calm and work effectively to resolve crisis situations.
High-energy, self-motivated, and self-disciplined team –player.
Ability to easily adapt to change.
Driver’s License and the ability to drive for work use.
Must successfully pass background check as applicable to position.
Frequently sit, stand, climb, walk, lift, pull/push, carry, grasp, reach, talk, hear, taste, or smell.
Adaptability: ability to adapt to changes, delays or unexpected events in the work environment; ability to manage competing demands and prioritize tasks; ability to change approach or method to best fit the situation.
Attendance: ability to consistently arrive and be able to work as scheduled.
Working knowledge of: Word Processing software, Internet software.
Dependability: ability to follow instructions, both in written and verbal format; ability to respond to management direction; ability to complete tasks on time or notify the appropriate person with an alternate plan when necessary.
Interpersonal Skills: ability to maintain satisfactory relationships with others, excellent customer service skills and a good overall understanding of appropriate human relations. Awareness of and sensitivity to the service population’s culture and socioeconomic characteristics.
Judgment: ability to make prudent and timely decisions; ability to exhibit sound and accurate judgment; ability to explain reasoning for decisions.
Language Ability: ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; ability to write routine reports and correspondence; ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Mathematical Ability: ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Problem Solving Ability: ability to identify and/or prevent problems before they occur; ability to formulate alternative solutions to problems when necessary; ability to transfer learning from past experiences to new experiences of similar nature.
Reasoning Ability: ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions; ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience that allows the successful candidate to understand and relate to program clients.

Responsibilities

Provide street outreach services—per CHG best practice guidelines—to assist individuals in unsheltered situations and encampments within the City of Spokane.
Assist street outreach clients in connecting with resources, including the Housing Navigation Center, treatment services, and other individualized services to assist with stabilization.
Coordinate with the City’s Encampment Resolution Program (ERP), including submitting referrals for shelter and housing through HMIS.
Coordinate closely with the Spokane Police Department and Code Enforcement (HOT) on encampment abatement.
Respond to community requests for outreach (through the 311 system) or officer-initiated calls for services.
Providing highly supportive—rather than directive—advocacy and resource triaging through a trauma-informed lens.
Develop and maintain deep partnerships with outreach teams and service from other agencies in the community working with the unhoused population, particularly in housing, recovery, behavioral health, and medical fields.
Represent Catholic Charities regularly in community outreach meetings and with partners in the City of Spokane, including SPD, SFD, and CHHS.
Assist clients with setting goals, developing action plans, and solving problems directly related to recovery, housing, employment, and other stabilization needs.
Partner with local CoC Coordinated Assessment, HNC, ERP, and any other systems in the community to connect households with homeless housing resources.
Enter data into our local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
Prepare monthly and quarterly reporting per grant requirements.
Uses appropriate administrative, fiscal, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of CCEW client protected health information (PHI), per regulations outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Will regularly utilize all forms of communication (email, text, phone, etc.) and database practices necessary for this position and as directed by supervisor.
As a mandated reporter, follows all procedures outlined in agency policies and procedures to report to the proper agency when there is suspicion and/or confirmation that a child or adult has been a victim of abuse or neglect.
Adhere to the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Doctrine.
Perform related functions necessary to support the mission and core values of Catholic Charities.

Benefits

FREE Employee Medical Insurance
FREE Employee Dental Insurance
FREE Employee Vision Insurance
Sick leave (8 hours of paid sick leave per month)
Vacation (Minimum of 2 weeks paid vacation)
Discounted health memberships
Retirement (Employer contribution - 3% contribution and an additional 3% employer match)
FREE Long-Term Disability Insurance
FREE Life Insurance
13 Paid Holidays