Outreach Specialist - Here4You

Bill Wilson Center; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 Weeks Accrued PTO

14 Paid Holidays Per Year

Health, Dental, Vision & VoluntaryLife

401K Retirement Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Bill Wilson Center in San Jose, CA seeks an Outreach Specialist for the Homeless Call Center to help individuals and families sign up for shelter, access resources, and coordinate transport to pre-arranged shelters. You will work as part of a team to assess needs, provide immediate safety solutions, and connect clients with partner agencies, HMIS data entry, and follow-up support.

This role requires a willingness to work in encampments and in the field, with a strong commitment to dignity and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Personal or lived experience with housing instability, social services, or related challenges is valued.
• Must have valid California driver’s license and be able to be insured.
• Ability to read and interpret documents; strong communication with clients and partners.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial screening to assess appropriate service suggestions and facilitate setting appointments for referrals and/or services.
• Act as liaison between individuals or families experiencing a housing crisis and supportive services, shelters and community agencies.
• Enter, update and maintain data in HMIS and track and report progress.
• Locate, assist, and verify homelessness of clients.
• Answer daily routine and emergency calls related to unstably housed individuals and divert them from shelter placements.
• Support callers through a strength-based approach identifying their network of support to problem-solve toward housing stability.
• Complete triage forms with callers collecting personal information needed for placement.
• Refer clients to other service agencies as necessary (e.g., Reentry Resource Center, DV providers, Social Services Agency).
• Escalate critical situations to BWC Management.
• Transport clients and belongings to pre-assigned homeless shelters.
• Clean and maintain the interior of all transportation vehicles.

Skills

Driver's license

Communication skills

Navigate Santa Clara County

HMIS data entry

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

HMIS

Job description

About Bill Wilson Center:Bill Wilson Center is a nationally and regionally recognized leader for providing services to at-risk youth and families. Our agency - from our executive team to our line staff - is committed to improving the lives and conditions of the people we serve. We provide direct services to more than 3,500 children, youth, young adults and families in Santa Clara County. BWC provides services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of our whole community. We value our unique ethnic diversity as well as the LGBTQ community and non-able body community. Join us and become a difference maker at Bill Wilson Center!Job Summary:The Outreach specialist for the Homeless Call Center has a unique opportunity to help individuals and Families experiencing homelessness by signing them up for shelter, connecting them with resources in Santa Clara county, and transporting them and their belongings to an emergency shelter program that has been pre-arranged when needed. The Outreach Specialist is an important member of a team that is assessing and addressing challenges faced by a caller and providing immediate solutions that ensure their safety and get them off the streets both in the call center and out in encampments.The housing problem solving approach supports the effective implementation of homelessness prevention, diversion, and rapid exit strategies which are part of the coordinated entry process. If needed, the individual or family is also referred and transported to one of the open shelter beds available in the county. When needed, the HPS program will have the financial resource needed to help households avoid entering homelessness. This resource will be available to other community partners.The homeless Services Call Center is in full operation 7 days/week 10 hours/day. It is an integral part of the county’s Continuation of Care and Coordinated Entry System to end homelessness.Essential Duties/Responsibilities:Conduct initial screening to assess appropriate service suggestions and facilitate setting appointments for referrals and/or services.Act as liaison between individuals or families experiencing a housing crisis and supportive services, Shelters and community agencies.Enter, update and maintain data in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and track and report progress.Locate, assist, and verify homelessness of clientsAnswers daily routine and emergency phone telephone calls related to unstably housed unhoused individuals diverting them from emergency shelter placements.Supports caller through a strength based approach identifying caller’s own network of support to problem solve towards housing stability.Completes triage form with caller collecting personal information needed for placement: demographic information, contact information, referring agency contact, health questionnaire.Refers clients to other service agencies as necessary (ie. Reentry Resource Center, Domestic Violence providers, Social Services Agency).Escalates critical and time sensitive situations to BWC Management.Transport Clients and their belongings to pre-assigned homeless sheltersClean and maintain the interior of all transportation vehiclesOther duties as assigned.Education and Experience:High school diploma or EquivalentPersonal or lived experience with the criminal/legal system, housing instability, social services, or other systemic challenges is valued.Required Skills/Abilities:Must have valid California driver’s licenseMust be able to be insured through the companyAbility to read and interpret documentsAbility to write reportsAbility to talk and collaborate with staff, other organizations, and clientsAbility to navigate through Santa Clara countyAbility to stay seated for long periods of time in the office and in vehicles during work hoursAbility to walk through homeless encampments and water waysPhysical Demands:While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to remain stationary at their workspace/inside vehicle, communicate with and gather information from clients, and input data in HMIS.The employee must occasionally move objects weighing up to 35 pounds.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to walk through encampments and water ways safely and provide support with outreach partner while out in the field.Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job.Work Environment:Shared work space within the office utilizing computer, phone and head setWorking in encampments and water ways to provide resources to clients throughout Santa Clara CountyCollaboration events with the county and other homeless service providersHigh volumes of incoming and outgoing calls during peak hoursDriving throughout Santa Clara county to Locate clients and encampmentsTransport Clients to designated Santa Clara county Homeless SheltersDriving during traffic hours within Santa Clara countyReasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job.Salary Range:$27.00 per hourEmployee Benefits & Perks:We offer a generous compensation package for full-time employees that includes the following:4 Weeks Accrued PTO14 Paid Holidays Per YearPaid Health, Dental, Vision & Voluntary Life Insurance PlansFlexible Spending Plans for Medical, Dependent Care, Parking and Transit401 (K) Retirement Plan24/7 Employee Assistance ProgramUpward Career MobilityDiscounts and Savings through Tickets at Work and LifeMartEEO:Bill Wilson Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.