Community Outreach Worker

Health Care for the Homeless; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & vision coverage

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Parental leave

Loan repayment opportunities

Job summary

Health Care for the Homeless seeks an Outreach Worker to engage homeless adults, assess health needs, and connect them with clinic and community services.

You will provide health education, assist with accessing care, and support navigation across street medicine and outreach settings in Baltimore.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED or equivalent required.
• Associate’s degree in Human Services preferred.
• Personal vehicle available and Maryland driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Engage homeless individuals on streets, shelters, and sites to connect them with services.
• Assess high-risk behavior and refer to appropriate agencies; maintain updated resource lists.
• Escort clients to medical appointments and support adherence to care plans.
• Build relationships with individuals, community organizations, and stakeholders.
• Educate clients on health and risk reduction, including naloxone use.

Skills

Patient engagement

Trauma-informed care

De-escalation

Interpersonal skills

Resource navigation

EHR proficiency

Education

High school diploma/GED

Associate’s degree in Human Services (preferred)

Tools

Maryland driver’s license

Job description

Bring Your Purpose to Work at Health Care for the Homeless

Join a mission-driven team working to end homelessness through racially equitable health care, housing, and advocacy.

At Health Care for the Homeless, your work changes lives.

Each year, we help thousands of people in Baltimore move toward health, stability, and home. We are looking for compassionate, skilled professionals who believe everyone deserves high-quality care, dignity, and a safe place to call home.

Here, you will do meaningful work alongside colleagues who are collaborative, equity-centered, and deeply committed to community wellness. Whether you provide direct care, support operations, lead programs, or advocate for change, your contribution helps build a more just and healthier Baltimore.

Why HCH Is The Best Choice For Purpose-driven Professionals

• Mission with impact: Be part of a team working every day to end homelessness in Baltimore and beyond.
• People-first culture: Work in a collaborative environment grounded in compassion, authenticity, hope, racial equity, and social justice.
• Room to grow: Access training, professional development, and support that help you strengthen your skills and advance your career.
• Meaningful benefits: Enjoy affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage; generous paid time off; employer-supported retirement; paid parental leave; and loan repayment opportunities for eligible roles.
• Work that matters: Help deliver whole-person care, housing support, and advocacy to people who deserve dignity, respect, and stability.

If you are ready to use your talent for something bigger, HCH is ready for you.

Bring your expertise, your heart, and your commitment to justice—and help create a Baltimore where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy and housed.

Overview

The Outreach Worker is responsible for engaging and building trusting relationships with adults who are at high risk for experiencing health issues surrounding homelessness. This role will identify, assess, and refer homeless adults within the clinic and multiple outreach settings to care and services. The Outreach Worker will also conduct individual health education and risk reduction interventions.

Key Role Responsibilities

• Patient Engagement: Identify and engage homeless individuals on the streets, in shelters, meal programs, and other sites and serve as a bridge to connect clients with services at Health Care for the Homeless.
• Resource Connection: Using comprehensive knowledge of common health-related issues including HIV disease, mental health and substance abuse, effectively assessing homeless individuals for high-risk behavior and refer to appropriate services. Assist individuals in accessing services and resources, including making referrals to appropriate agencies. Responsible for keeping the resource list updated for clients.
• Patient Escort: Accompany clients to medical appointments, ensuring they arrive safely and on time, and provide support during their visits. Help facilitate adherence and connection to comprehensive care
• Community Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness, community organizations, and stakeholders.
• Patient Education: Effectively conduct health education and risk reduction interventions that includes safe use of medical supplies and naloxone, including proper administration and storage.
• Operations Support: Provide operational support for the mobile clinic and street medicine team, mobile clinic transport, including setup and breakdown of outreach supplies. Assist with client flow and documentation during clinic operations.
• Data Collection: Accurately and timely document all interventions and encounters according to agency policy
• Actively participate in an integrated, multidisciplinary team to develop and implement an integrated treatment plan, within the context of an individual or family’s unique social needs, as well as contribute to interdisciplinary case conferences on an ongoing basis

Key Agency Responsibilities

Responsibilities

In addition to role responsibilities, each staff member of Health Care for the Homeless has the following responsibilities as a part of their employment:

• Models and reinforces the Health Care for the Homeless “core values” of dignity, authenticity, hope, justice, passion and balance
• Actively participates in performance improvement activities and actively participates in advocacy activities that support the mission of HCH
• Performs other duties on an as-needed basis
• Protects our client’s personal health information by maintaining compliance with HIPAA and other relevant Health Care related IT security regulations.

Knowledge, Experience, And Skills

Formal Education and Training

• High school diploma, GED or equivalent required
• Associate’s degree in Human Services preferred
• Personal vehicle that is available for use during the workday and valid Maryland driver’s license required

Experience

• At least 2 years of experience reaching out to vulnerable individuals who are often the most difficult to serv
• At least 1 year of experience in connecting individuals to essential services including healthcare, mental health, and addiction services

Skills

• Ability to relate effectively to homeless individuals who are at high risk for HIV and other communicable diseases.
• Knowledge of Baltimore City community resources for addiction, social services and mental health
• Willingness to operationalize an understanding of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and equity-focused practices when working with diverse populations.
• Ability to build trust, engage in nonjudgemental conversations, and foster meaningful connections with clients and team members. Well-developed interpersonal skills necessary to engage clients and promote positive relationships with other community agencies and providers
• Ability to de-escalate crises, provide emotional support, and connect clients to appropriate crisis services when needed.
• Comfortable working in dynamic, unpredictable environments, including street-based settings and encampments.
• Competence with electronic health records, email, and mobile communication tools used for coordination.

Join us in advancing health equity, expanding access to care, and making home and health possible for our neighbors.

Health Care for the Homeless is an equal opportunity employer.

Notice to Applicants

Health Care for the Homeless participates in E-Verify. All newly hired employees are required to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and provide documentation proving their identity and legal authorization to work in the United States.

We use the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility in accordance with federal law.