Street Outreach Specialist

COPE Health Solutions•Los Angeles, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Street Outreach Specialist provides street-based outreach and engagement to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness who are eligible for or enrolled in CalAIM Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports. The specialist is often a client’s first point of contact, meeting people in encampments, parks, transit corridors, vehicles, and other places not meant for human habitation. Through consistent, person-centered engagement, the specialist builds trust, connects clients with medical and behavioral health care, and supports transitions toward interim and permanent housing. The role focuses on reducing barriers to care and housing by identifying resources and helping clients navigate health care and housing systems. Work is guided by Housing First, harm reduction, and trauma-informed approaches, and is coordinated with the Care Team, street medicine teams, behavioral health providers, housing partners, and other community providers. The position is full-time and regular, based in the Los Angeles-area service locations listed in the posting. It involves up to 80% local travel, daily driving to outreach sites, field-based work, and potentially early morning, evening, and occasional weekend shifts. Compensation is $28.00–$32.00 per hour. The position reports to the Program Manager and has no direct reports.

Requirements

High school degree at minimum.
At least two years of experience in street outreach, homeless services, behavioral health, or case management.
Working knowledge of Housing First, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing.
Strong understanding of cultural competency with the target population.
Ability to build relationships with clients who may be hesitant to engage, organization members, and health care providers.
Good communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to speak concisely with clients and Care Team members.
Ability to remain calm and use sound judgment in unpredictable environments, including crisis de-escalation skills.
Organization skills for handling confidential client material and tracking appointments.
Flexibility and adaptability in response to changing client and health care provider needs.
Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of auto insurance.
CPR/First Aid and naloxone administration training, or willingness to obtain training after hire.
Ability to meet physical demands of field outreach, including walking long distances, standing for extended periods, carrying outreach supplies, and working outdoors in varying weather.
Ability to travel locally up to 80% and drive daily to outreach sites throughout the service area.
Willingness to work early morning, evening, and occasional weekend outreach shifts as required.

Nice To Haves

Some college education in social work, human services, public health, or a related field.
Three or more years of experience in street outreach, homeless services, behavioral health, or case management.
Familiarity with the Los Angeles Coordinated Entry System, HMIS, and CalAIM Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.
Computer literacy, including comfort documenting on a mobile device in the field.
Lived experience with homelessness, mental health, or substance use recovery.

Responsibilities

Conduct proactive street outreach in encampments, parks, transit corridors, vehicles, and other locations not meant for human habitation.
Build trust through consistent, person-centered engagement and serve as a point of contact for clients.
Screen clients for Medi-Cal enrollment and eligibility for CalAIM Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports; complete referrals and warm handoffs to the Care Team.
Complete Coordinated Entry System assessments using the Los Angeles Housing Assessment Tool after required training, and support clients through the CES matching process.
Communicate with Care Team members and health care providers to facilitate client care.
Distribute water, food, hygiene kits, harm reduction supplies, and other basic-needs items; provide naloxone education as appropriate.
Identify and connect clients with resources addressing barriers to care, including transportation, shelter, interim housing, replacement identification documents, and benefits enrollment.
Support transitions from the street to interim housing, recuperative care, sobering centers, or permanent housing, coordinating with Housing Transition Navigation Services and other providers.
Provide crisis intervention, de-escalation, and safety planning; connect clients to emergency, psychiatric, or substance use services when needed.
Coordinate with street medicine teams, County behavioral health outreach, CES partners, and other outreach providers, including conducting joint outreach as appropriate.
Respond to outreach referrals within program timeframes and follow up with referral sources.
Stay informed about available mental health, substance use treatment, shelter, housing, and employment services.
Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with agency policies.
Accompany clients to medical, benefits, and housing appointments as needed, and review and update care plans with the Care Coordinator.
Meet with the Care Team to discuss client care issues and needs and facilitate health care.
Document client encounters in HMIS and the organization’s care management platform, and complete required reporting.
Maintain confidential client information, schedules, files, and forms; track client contacts, referrals, and appointment attendance.
Initiate outreach and missed-appointment procedures as necessary, including locating and re-engaging clients who have moved or lost contact.
Attend and represent the organization at conferences, in-service trainings, and meetings when requested or approved by a supervisor.
Follow field safety protocols, including working in pairs or teams and maintaining situational awareness.