Street Outreach Coordinator

Just Compassion of East Washington County; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Just Compassion of East Washington County is seeking an outreach worker to connect unhoused individuals with shelter, housing resources and mental health services across East Washington County. The role will involve community-based outreach, intake coordination, and linkage to county services.

Responsibilities include triaging referrals from ERs/jails, developing service plans, maintaining HMIS records, collaborating with providers, and documenting all activities.

Qualifications

• Experience working with adults diagnosed with severe mental illness.
• Experience providing outreach to homeless individuals or other vulnerable populations.
• Computer literacy is required.
• Strong motivational interviewing skills.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and insurance.
• Ability to interface with other agencies and represent the agency professionally.
• Familiarity with the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Connect with individuals who are unhoused and link to shelter/resources.
• Conduct pre-engagement and engagement meetings; coordinate intake and assessment.
• Respond to referrals from ERs, jails, etc.; triage referrals and linkage to services.
• Identify barriers to service and develop short-term solutions.
• Design tentative service plans with urgent needs and long-term goals.
• Assist access to mental health services by linking with a mental health agency.
• Assess housing needs and link to shelter, transitional, or permanent housing.
• Enroll individuals into HMIS and track services.
• Attend agency/community meetings; collaborate with providers for seamless services.
• Provide training and information referral on homeless and mental health resources.
• Ensure spending is tracked and documentation is submitted.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Skills

Motivational interviewing

Interagency collaboration

Communication skills

Computer literacy

Driver's license

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or related field

Tools

HMIS familiarity

Job description

This position is responsible for self-referrals from homeless individuals and to community referrals from hospital emergency rooms, jails, shelters, and other referral sources. This position will provide the bridge to services for individuals who are currently unengaged with any support services. The position will be based largely in the community, providing outreach as needed for homeless individuals throughout East Washington County, and will follow them through the steps of engagement and their entry into mainstream services.

Essential Duties

• Connect with individuals who are actively unhoused and unsheltered, and work to connect them with resources and shelter.
• Conduct pre-engagement and engagement meetings as needed; coordinate intake and assessment.
• Respond to referrals from emergency rooms, hospital units, etc.; triage referrals, proceed with linkage to services as appropriate.

Job Functions

• Identify barriers to service and support, such as transportation problems, or need for emergency assistance (clothing, blankets, etc.), develop short-term solutions for meeting an individual's basic needs.
• Design tentative individual service and support plan identifying individual's most urgent needs and long-term goals.
• Assist individuals to gain access to mental health services by linking with an appropriate mental health agency.
• Assess for housing needs and help link individuals as needed with shelter, transitional, or permanent housing.
• Enroll all individuals into the county wide database, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Track services provided in HMIS.
• Attend all agency and community meetings as assigned; collaborate with other providers to ensure seamless services to this population.
• Provide training and information referral on homeless and mental health resources to community providers.
• Ensure that all spending is tracked properly and documentation is turned in.
• Other reporting or tasks as delegated by the Programs Supervisor.
• Donation collections for outreach participants.
• Attend and positively participate in required meetings.
• Pursue ongoing development of skills and competencies.
• Follow policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Maintain current Oregon Drivers License and insurance.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with adults diagnosed with severe mental illness.
• Computer literacy.
• Experience providing outreach to homeless individuals or other vulnerable populations.
• Familiarity with the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness.
• Strong motivational interviewing skills.
• Ability to interface with other agencies and represent the agency in a professional manner.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and insurance.

Preferred Qualifications

• QHMA credentials.
• Bachelor of Arts or Science in Psychology or a related field.
• Experience addressing Dual Disorders and general CD issues.
• Familiarity with mental health service delivery systems.
• Bilingual preferred.