Consumer Advocate, Outreach Manhattan

Breaking Ground; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Clear Destination Inc. seeks a Consumer Advocate, Outreach to engage individuals experiencing street homelessness in Manhattan, connecting them with housing, health and social services. The role involves field work, building rapport through motivational interviewing, and coordinating with city agencies.

The position supports assessments, service planning, and data entry into required databases, with a 35-hour work week, onsite at a program site and in the field.

Qualifications

• Two years of related experience.
• Lived experience with homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues and willingness to use lived experience to build rapport and service connections.
• Knowledge of local benefit programs (e.g., Public Assistance) and resources for housing, health, immigration, and employment.
• Strong oral and written communication and ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and electronic record keeping.
• Valid driver’s license (NY/NJ/CT/PA) with a good driving record.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage with identified persons experiencing homelessness and chronic medical conditions in Manhattan.
• Draw on lived experience to build rapport and develop service connections.
• Conduct required assessments and maintain records.
• Attend clinical supervision and training.
• Collaborate with city agencies and service providers.
• Accompany clients to appointments and follow up on referrals.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Lived experience

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Strong communication

Vehicle operation

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Electronic records

Job description

The Consumer Advocate, Outreach works with people experiencing street homelessness and living with chronic medical conditions in Manhattan with the objective of engaging individuals to connect them to appropriate social and medical services and, ultimately, to help improve their overall health and wellbeing and secure appropriate housing solutions.

The Consumer Advocate, Outreach will build a relationship with clients utilizing motivational interviewing to encourage the client to work towards self-identified housing, health, and other goals. The Consumer Advocate, Outreach will spend most of the shift in the field either in an automobile and/or on foot conducting street outreach, accompanying clients to appointments, and/or following up on service referrals. The incumbent will conduct necessary assessments, engage the client in self-directed service planning, and enter all required data into required database(s).

This position has a 35-hour work week and will work fully onsite at a program site/in the field.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Engage with identified persons currently experiencing homelessness and living with chronic medical conditions in Manhattan
• Draw on lived experience of homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues to build rapport with clients and develop appropriate service connections
• Conduct required assessments
• Attend clinical supervision and training
• Maintain record keeping in compliance with agency standards as well as those of City and State agencies
• Collaborate with Parks Dept., NYPD, DSNY, MTA, and other agencies
• Accompany clients to appointments and follow up on service referrals
• Perform other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years of related experience
• Lived experience with homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues and willingness to appropriately use lived experience as a tool for building client rapport and developing service connection
• Knowledge of local benefit agencies (e.g., Public Assistance) and familiarity with substance abuse, mental health, immigration, and employment resources
• Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and electronic record keeping
• Valid NY, NJ, CT, or PA driver’s license with a good driving record, as defined by Breaking Ground, is a condition of employment
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred