Homeless Outreach Program Specialist*

SAN-Bernardino-Count; California (MO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Job summary

San Bernardino County Office of Homeless Services is seeking a Homeless Outreach Program Specialist to engage individuals experiencing homelessness, build trust, and connect clients to housing, medical care, and behavioral health services.

Under direction, you will support Enhanced Care Management, develop programs, maintain case files, and coordinate with county agencies and community partners to improve service delivery for clients across the Continuum of Care.

Qualifications

• One year of full-time equivalent case management experience in housing, social services, behavioral/mental health, or related field.
• Field-based homeless outreach experience is required and should be clearly described in the application.
• Education: coursework or degree in behavioral/social science, public/health administration, liberal arts, or closely related field.

Responsibilities

• Outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness in field settings in a respectful, trauma-informed manner.
• Provide peer support and mentorship based on lived experience to engage clients.
• Coordinate care by connecting clients to housing, medical care, behavioral health services, and other resources.
• Maintain knowledge of IEHP Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and assist clients navigating ECM.
• Develop and oversee homelessness-related programs aligned with county goals and CoC framework.
• Balance administrative duties with client-focused service delivery and case documentation.
• Serve as liaison among county departments, service providers, and community organizations.
• Lead or participate in trainings for service providers and stakeholders on best practices.

Skills

Case management

Field outreach

Behavioral health awareness

Community partnerships

Education

Behavioral/Social Science coursework

Public/Health Administration coursework

Job description

The Office of Homeless Servicesis recruiting for a Homeless Outreach Program Specialist*. The incumbent will play a vital role in engaging individuals experiencing homelessness by building trusting relationships, providing peer support, and connecting clients to essential services. This role focuses on reducing barriers to care by leveraging lived experience, understanding of community resources, and familiarity with enhanced case management services offered through Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). The ideal candidate will also have the ability to identify and connect clients to appropriate behavioral health services. Under direction, the incumbent will perform administrative and operational program development activities within the Office of Homeless Services; analyze, recommend, and develop policies/procedures and knowledge assets/tools for homelessness programs based on information gathered from homeless outreach activities and relevant data sources.

Key Responsibilities:

• Outreach:Conduct field-based outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness, with sensitivity and respect for diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

• Peer Support: Provide peer support and mentorship grounded in shared lived experience to encourage trust and client engagement. Work with individuals who face significant barriers to stability. Handle cases where clients are not following through with housing commitments or other responsibilities, employing strategies to re-engage them and offer necessary support. Use motivational interviewing and other techniques to help clients overcome barriers to success.

• Coordinated Care: Support individuals in accessing housing, medical care, behavioral health treatment, and other supportive services. Facilitate warm hand-offs and referrals to behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder programs. Collaborate with case management teams and local service providers to coordinate care and promote client-centered service delivery. Assist in providing temporary relief and crisis management services for individuals experiencing homelessness, ensuring access to emergency shelter, food, and other resources. Offer stabilization and follow-up support as needed.

• ECM:Maintain working knowledge of IEHP Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services and assist clients in accessing and navigating ECM support.

• Program Development: Develop and oversee initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness within the county; ensure programs align with the county's homeless services goals and the Continuum of Care (CoC) framework. Conduct analytical studies of organizational systems, policies, and practices. Propose and implement new or modified policies and procedures to improve service delivery and operational efficiency for homeless individuals. Participate in quality assurance meetings and coordinate monitoring of homelessness services to ensure program effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. Assess the impact of services and recommend changes to improve outcomes for clients.

• Administrative & Case Management Duties: Balance administrative responsibilities, such as maintaining case files, preparing reports, documenting client contacts, referrals, and progress in accordance with program guidelines. Ensure timely, accurate completion of paperwork while prioritizing client engagement and service delivery.

• County & Community Collaboration: Act as a liaison between various county departments, service providers, community organizations, and the public; collaborate with county departments and community partners to advocate for and deliver coordinated services to individuals experiencing homelessness. Coordinate efforts to solve mutual problems, exchange information, and provide services that align with the county’s homeless services strategy.

• Community Education:Lead and participate in training programs for service providers, and community stakeholders on best practices for supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, including trauma-informed care, harm reduction, housing-first approaches, and de-escalation techniques. Participate in case conferencing and team meetings.

*Official Job Title: Program Specialist I

EXCELLENT BENEFITS

• To review job-specific benefits, refer to: Summary of Benefits and the General (Teamsters) Compensation Plan

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Field-Based Outreach: Incumbents must be willing and able to visit clients in the field and other settings (encampments, street corners, shelters, etc.) to perform complete needs assessments and be able to visually observe injuries and the client's environment as mandated by the State.

Pre-Employment Process: Prior to appointment, applicants must pass a background investigation, which includes fingerprinting, credit check, and medical exam, which may include drug and/or TB testing.

Travel: Travel throughout the County is required. A valid California Class C Driver License is required to carry out the essential job-related functions of this position (mileage reimbursement may be available at current IRS rates). A clean driving record and proof of automobile liability insurance must be maintained.

Sponsorship: San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.

Candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

Education: Thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter units of completed college coursework from an accredited institution** in behavioral/social science, business/public/health care administration, liberal arts, or a closely related field. A list of completed college coursework or legible copies of transcripts MUST be submitted with the application if the applicant does not possess an associate's degree or higher in one of the qualifying fields listed above.

-AND-

Case Management Experience: One (1) year of full-time equivalent experience in a housing, human services/social services, behavioral/mental/public health program, or community-based organization performing responsible case management duties, which included one (1) or more of the following areas as primary duties: (1) Direct community service engagement with high housing barrier clients, providing support in accessing housing, medical care, behavioral health treatment, and other supportive services; (2) Conducting housing assessments and program navigation for emergency shelter placement, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and/or permanent housing; (3) Housing program monitoring and evaluation.

-AND-

Homeless Outreach Field Experience: Experience must include field-based homeless outreach. Field-based outreach typically occurs in shelters, encampments, street corners, or other settings outside of a traditional office environment. Experience must be clearly described in the work experience section of your application and supplemental questionnaire. Failure to clearly described field-based homeless outreach experience will result in disqualification.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on the basis of six (6) months of experience for fifteen (15) semester (23 quarter) units, up to thirty (30) semester (45 quarter) units.

• Example: Fifteen (15) semester units and eighteen (18) months of qualifying experience
• Example: Twenty-four (24) months of qualifying experience with no education

Important Notes:

• MLA: Completion of the San Bernardino County Management Leadership Academy (MLA) program will be accepted toward the required coursework on the basis of four (4) quarter units of credit per MLA track completed.
• **Education: Qualifying degrees or coursework must be completed at a college or university accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education. Degrees or coursework completed outside the U.S. must be accompanied with an evaluation report from a reputable credential evaluation service showing equivalency to degrees or coursework completed at a college or university accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.

The ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas in a homeless services program environment:

• Collaboration Across Departments & Organizations: Experience coordinating efforts across various county departments and entities to support homeless individuals and families.
• Conflict Resolution and Client Management: Proven ability to manage challenging interactions with homeless clients, using de-escalation techniques with a compassionate, professional approach to resolve conflicts and reach positive outcomes.
• Client Engagement & Responsibility: Experience employing strategies that help re-engage clients who may struggle with following through with housing commitments and responsibilities; providing support and motivation in reaching housing stability and self-sufficiency.
• Building & Maintaining Relationships with Service Providers: Ability to build positive and collaborative working relationships with local organizations and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and improve client outcomes.
• Empathy, Trust, & Direct Service: Ability to build rapport and maintain a client-centered approach in every interaction; understanding the importance of empathy and trust when working with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Managing Administrative Duties with Client-Focused Care: Experience balancing administrative tasks with direct, effective, and compassionate service delivery.
• Public Speaking & Community Engagement: Experience delivering presentations and engaging with diverse audiences on homelessness issues, including addressing difficult questions or concerns.

Examination Procedure

There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on a review of the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of your qualifying experience, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department. Please ensure all relevant experience is indicated in the Application and responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire, as resumes and other attachments will not be reviewed.

EEO/ADA:

San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants. ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.

Veterans’ Preference:

Eligible veterans and their spouse or widow(er) who are not current County employees may be awarded additional Veterans’ Preference points. Review the Veteran's Preference Policy for more information and instructions to request Veteran's Preference points.

For additional information, review the County Employment Process