Outreach & Diversion Specialist

At Friends of the Family, we are committed to maintaining a culture of inclusion. We value diversity and understand that the different backgrounds, skills and experiences of each employee and volunteer help us to succeed at our vision of Everyone Has a Home. We are looking for applicants from all walks of life, including those with lived experience, to help us drive toward our goals. If you are looking for an opportunity to join an organization where you can be your authentic self and make our work your work, we encourage you to apply!

Bilingual candidates strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Summary:

Develop and deliver street outreach, community engagement, housing education and diversion services throughout assigned service areas.

What you will do:

• Deliver progressive engagement services to participants in the identified service area.
• Conduct street outreach in assigned service areas to best understand homeless population and provide intervention.
• Develop and maintain local partnerships with housing service providers, crisis centers, hospitals, and other programs to assist in quick access to these services.
• Coordinate diversion efforts in assigned service area.
• Apply knowledge of landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities to educate participants of their rights and responsibilities.
• Provide service assessment, crisis counseling, and access to housing programs to callers on our crisis line.
• Support the efforts of all programs / services in navigating housing options and resources for those affected by homelessness.
• Comply with data tracking & documentation requirements.
• Represent FOF at community and program development meetings as assigned.
• Conduct follow-up with clients we serve who are currently living on the streets to continuously provide resources.

How You Will Succeed:

• People First- Everyone matters and you regard people's well-being and success as a priority.
• Drive Change- We learn not to fear change but instead embrace it enthusiastically. It is even more important that we encourage and drive it. That keeps us in a healthy state of change readiness. Change is based around humbleness and an understanding that we can always grow and get better.
• Equity and Inclusion-Believe that diversity makes us all better and enjoy working with people of different backgrounds. Work to make every client, colleague and stakeholder feel welcome and understand that we must provide equitable opportunities for all.
• Emotional Intelligence – EQ allows us to step back and review the consequences of a decision using our emotions as a point of reference rather than as a basis for the decision. It is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and those of the people around you.
• Grit - Individuals high in grit can maintain their determination and motivation over long periods despite experiencing failure and adversity. Grit is having the passion, resilience, determination and focus that helps you to be optimistic, persevere and achieve any goals that you may have.
• Understand, align with and practice under the following philosophies/models: Housing First Model, Trauma-Informed Care, Client-Centered Approach, Harm Reduction, and Low-Barrier Shelter.
• Believe in our 10-year vision: Everyone has a home.
• Believe in our mission: To provide safe shelter, confidential services, and housing assistance to individuals in crisis due to homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
• Understand the 6 components of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).