Homeless Outreach Worker
Description
Location: Mt. Vernon NY
Hours: Mon-Friday 3:00pm to 11:00pm, may include some weekends, hours are flexible based on needs of the program)
Rate of pay: $24.70
Reporting to the Senior Outreach Worker, the Outreach Worker will work within the Westchester community to creatively and effectively engage individuals living on the street through outreach. This position will build relationships with the homeless community, provide advocacy, and assist with connection to benefits and housing.
Responsibilities:
- Support a high-performing culture aligned with TGCW core values and B.A.S.I.C Tenets: Balance, Accountability, Satisfaction, Inclusion, and Communication.
The Homeless Outreach worker will:
- Responsible for conducting outreach activities as part of a comprehensive professional program designed to engage anyone found homeless and living in Mount Vernon on the streets, in a car, or a place not designed for human habitation and linking them to needed services.
- Conduct face-to-face interviews with homeless people on the streets and emergency shelters to document their eligibility for and willingness to participate in the TGCW Outreach program.
- Refer all engaged individuals to a shelter and/or services in collaboration with Westchester County's CoC's Street Outreach Referral Committee and Coordinated Entry.
- Assist individuals in understanding the complex array of specialized emergency, transitional, and permanent housing options available in Westchester County.
- Help individuals gather eligibility documents like birth certificates, VA discharge papers (Form DD214), evidence of disability, and documentation of the length of time homeless.
- Be able to assess individuals using the CoC's Comprehensive Homeless Assessment Tool or (CHAT).
- Enroll individuals into HMIS and Coordinated Entry.
- Upload all supporting documentation into HMIS so individuals can be prioritized for housing options.
- Responsible for engaging and building trusting relationships with individuals affected by homelessness, substance use, and mental health disorders, and other risks.
- Responsible for encouraging homeless individuals to seek help from local support services and advise them on how to minimize risks to their health.
- Identify individuals at various Westchester community-based settings, including shelters and soup kitchens and will conduct program screening and assessment, and correctly complete all paperwork needed to enroll in community services
- Be able to embrace a harm reduction-based approach when engaging individuals.
- Provide homeless persons with transportation to shelter or other services.
- To assess participants' needs and provide referrals, linkages, and wrap-around services as needed to substance use treatment, entitlement benefits, housing, care coordination, and other appropriate community resources. Conduct appropriate follow-up as needed.
- Monthly participation in Westchester's CoC's Permanent Supportive Housing Coordinated Entry Referral Conference (PSHCERC), Patriot Meeting and its Street Homeless Workgroup.
- Participate in Westchester's Point in Time (PIT) Homeless Count
- Maintain confidential information within guidelines established by HIPPA and TGCW's Confidentiality Policy.
- Daily completion of progress notes and individual contact logs.
- Maintain complete records, daily activity logs, mileage logs, and other reports as required.
- Participate in professional development activities such as trainings, webinars, and continuing education services.
- Complete all other assignments.
Qualifications: BA/BS in Social Work or related field (Human Services, Psychology, etc.). CASAC a plus. Bilingual (Spanish), a plus. 2+ years of experience working within the Mental Health and/or Substance Use field with a diverse population. Excellent communication, interpersonal, writing and computer skills. Knowledge of community health and social service resources. Ability to exercise good judgment and take initiative. Ability to collaborate with other providers. Knowledge of Housing First practice. Knowledge of the HMIS (Homeless Management Information Systems). Have Motivational Interviewing techniques and methods.
Travel Requirements: The above stated programs are community-based programs that could require the Homeless Outreach Program Coordinator to travel 85% of the time between company sites, homeless sites in the community, or participant homes depending on the program need.
Physical Requirements: Homeless Outreach worker must have a valid driver’s license with the ability to drive the company van or car. Must be able to ambulate up apartment building stairs. Will need to be able to walk from residential or commercial parking to various properties in the communities that TGCW serves. Must be able to sit at an office desk for several hours while utilizing various databases, data entry, running reports and other program activities that are completed electronically with the use of hands and fingers.
These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to perform the job's essential functions successfully. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the position, which are reviewed in each case.
While performing the responsibilities of the role, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use his or her hands and fingers to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Access offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage; an array of voluntary benefits (term life, whole life, identity theft protection and pet insurance); Healthcare and Daycare Flexible Spending Accounts; employer paid Short Term Disability, LTD and AD&D; a matching 403(b) retirement plan, generous paid time off, paid holidays, accelerated holiday pay and tuition assistance.
To see all career opportunities with Access visit http://accessrealjobs.org. To learn more about Access and our services visit http://accesssupports.org. Like us on Facebook and connect with us on LinkedIn.
ALL POSITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, FINGERPRINTING AND MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT CHECK.
EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability
IND2024