Outreach Specialist

Organization Overview

Established in 1993, Operation Dignity is a nonprofit organization providing housing and supportive services for homeless veterans, veteran families, and homeless populations in Oakland, California. Operation Dignity operates emergency, transitional, and permanent housing programs.

Position Overview

Operation Dignity’s Mobile Outreach Program provides field engagement, harm reduction supplies, case management counseling, and service referrals to people who are homeless and unsheltered. Mobile Outreach uses a strengths-based approach, valuing clients’ skills, resilience, and inherent worth.

The Outreach Specialist role is a unique opportunity to learn about homelessness, which is a priority at the state and local grassroots level. The Outreach Specialist position is an entry level position providing opportunities to learn, grow, and develop with a nonprofit at the forefront of this work in Oakland.

Position Responsibilities:

1.

· Provide outreach, support, services at homeless encampments in Oakland.

· Act as the “eyes and ears” for the homeless community, as the liaison between the homeless community and city and county agencies.

· With their assigned team, regularly visit and provide services to encampments in a specific area of Oakland or other cities. Build rapport and relationships with assigned encampments and respond to ad-hoc requests from City liaisons.

· Complete coordinated entry system (CES) assessments and HMIS enrollments for clients, and maintain records for a specific caseload of clients in HMIS. Training is provided.

· Link clients to comprehensive services, including mental health, legal assistance, entitlement benefits, health care, detox programs, substance abuse treatment, and recovery programs. Outreach Workers will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with a clinician and substance use/mental health specialists on the team.

· Provide clients with resource information about immediate shelter options and housing resources, supporting them to transition from the streets into safe and supportive housing. Assist clients in becoming document-ready for housing.

· Participate as needed in coordination activities, including meetings with City agencies and other nonprofits.

· Notify homeless individuals about abatement schedule and advocate for encampment residents, including if they need more time to vacate the area.

· Other duties as assigned.

2.

· Profile the residents at homeless encampments, including the number of homeless individuals and their key characteristics (race, age, disability, income level).

· Help create a positive, productive, and supportive outreach team environment.

· Assist in maintaining clean and operational outreach vehicles.

· Engage in effective communications with community partners.

· Maintain a strict level of confidentiality and discuss clients only in a private setting to support their goals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Relevant experience providing outreach to homeless individuals is preferred but not required.

· Ability to create a compassionate, patient, and empowering connection with highly marginalized and homeless populations, including individuals with mental health and substance abuse concerns.

· Ability to remain calm in crisis situations, think well on one’s feet, and promote solutions in a volatile and ever-changing street environment.

· Team player, able to share resources on behalf of each client and effectively contribute to the outreach team.

· Cultural competency, able to establish effective professional relationships with culturally and racially diverse staff and clients.

· Strong verbal and written communication skills.

· Self-motivated, able to take initiative on behalf of agency and clients.

· Be able to lift 50 lbs, able to lift, bend and be on feet for several hours for clean-up efforts.

· Strong ability to fulfill the documentation and reporting requirements for the program. Training is provided.

· Personal life experience with homelessness, recovery, addiction, or mental health preferred and/or strong understanding of these issues.

· California Driver License with clean driving record, able to drive an outreach vehicle/truck.

Operation Dignity is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Social work: 1 year (Preferred)
• Data collection: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person