Homeless Community Safety Liaison - Community Safety

City of Lancaster (CA); Lancaster (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lancaster (CA) seeks a Homeless and Community Safety Liaison to bridge law enforcement and community efforts addressing homelessness-related concerns and public safety. The role emphasizes outreach, conflict resolution, and coordinating resources for individuals experiencing homelessness.

This position requires open availability, including nights, weekends, and special city events, and involves collaboration with city contractors, outreach teams, and the municipal court system to

Qualifications

• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Strong communication skills.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with staff, the public, and outside agencies.

Responsibilities

• Liaison with outreach workers and Law Enforcement.
• Initiating towing services for illegally parked vehicles.
• May issue vehicle citations.
• Performs legal marijuana location inspections and abatement.
• Answers quality of life complaints issued by city residents.
• Testifies as the City’s witness in court proceedings regarding code violations.
• May seek prosecution through the municipal court system; coordinates with the prosecutor; collects and analyzes evidence for complaint preparation and case prosecution.
• Maintains files, databases, daily inspection logs, and records related to citations and violations; prepares a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Receives and investigates complaints regarding potential violations of city ordinances and regulations, including nuisances, cannabis, property maintenance, housing, business licensing, health, and sanitation.
• Conducts homeless abatement measures including: Security for City contractors; Documentation of Operation Plan and After-Action report; Collecting found property; Booking property; Coordination of team members for daily tasks; Working with City of Lancaster’s outreach team; Coordination with Law Enforcement; Coordination of cleanup effort with outside contractors.

Skills

Clear communication

Public interaction

Policy interpretation

Job description

General Summary:

The Homeless and Community Safety Liaison bridges law enforcement and the community to address homelessness-related concerns, public safety, and abatement efforts. This role focuses on outreach, conflict resolution, and connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with available resources. Working closely with law enforcement, the liaison's role is to identify and mitigate public safety risks, coordinates homeless abatement initiatives, and fosters positive relationships between the unhoused population, police, and the community.

This position requires open availability, including nights, weekends, and special city events.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Liaison with outreach workers and Law Enforcement.
• Initiating towing services for illegally parked vehicles.
• May issue vehicle citations.
• Performs legal marijuana location inspections and abatement.
• Answers quality of life complaints issued by city residents.
• Testifies as the City’s witness in court proceedings regarding code violations.
• May seek prosecution through the municipal court system; coordinates with the prosecutor; collects and analyzes evidence for complaint preparation and case prosecution.
• Maintains files, databases, daily inspection logs, and records related to citations and violations; prepares a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Receives and investigates complaints regarding potential violations of city ordinances and regulations, including nuisances, cannabis, property maintenance, housing, business licensing, health, and sanitation. Researches applicable city codes and may issue administrative citations as needed.
• Conducts homeless abatement measures including:
  • Security for City contractors
  • Documentation of Operation Plan and After-Action report
  • Collecting found property
  • Booking property
  • Coordination of team members for daily tasks
  • Working with City of Lancaster’s outreach team.
  • Coordination with Law Enforcement
  • Coordination of cleanup effort with outside contractors
• Explains and interprets City ordinances to violators; sets deadlines for follow-up and compliance.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
• May assist with enforcement and compliance efforts during special events to ensure public safety and adherence to city regulations.

The duties listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may also perform other related duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor. This position is considered non-exempt

Required Skills:

• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Strong communication skills.
• Deal tactfully and effectively with staff, the public, and outside agencies.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Previous law enforcement experience, desired.
• Knowledge of laws, penal, and municipal codes, desired.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for acceptable job performance.
• Public Safety or Law Enforcement background desired as the position requires enforcing and investigating violations of City ordinances and other related codes.

Core Competencies:

• Problem Solving – Analytically and logically evaluating information
• Learning Agility – Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to work
• Handling Stress – Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics – Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Safety Focus – Showing Vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Customer Focus – Attending to the Needs and expectations of customers
• Informing – Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Teamwork – Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Valuing Diversity – Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Allocating Resources – Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness

Guiding Principles

1. Put people first.
2. Be visionary.
3. Be an ambassador for Lancaster.
4. Be Fiscally Responsible.
5. Be Creative.
6. Always Improving.
7. Be Adaptable and Resilient.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Ascend/Descend stairs/ladders/balance (moderate)
• Position self to bend or twist (frequent)
• To move, transport, position items up to 50 lbs. (moderate)
• Exposed to outdoor weather conditions (frequent)
• Operate Equipment (none)
• Stationary or squatting position (frequent)

Environmental Factors:

• Work under time pressure (moderate to frequent)
• Interruptions (frequent)

Essential Cognitive Functions:

• Analyze (continuous)
• Computations (infrequent)
• Generate Written Work Product (frequent)
• Independent Problem Solving (continuous)Interruptions (frequent)Maintain Positive Public Relations (continuous)Organize (frequent)
  

  Disaster Service Worker:

  Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100-3109, all public employees are declared disaster service workers subject to disaster service activities as may be assigned to them in the event of fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural or man-made disaster.

  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

  Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

  The City of Lancaster will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the City of Lancaster is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting www.dfeh.ca.gov/fair-chance-act/.