Youth Outreach Specialist

Keys to Change; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Keys to Change in Phoenix seeks a Regional Outreach Specialist to provide field-based outreach and housing-focused support to people experiencing homelessness across Maricopa County. You will build relationships, identify barriers, connect clients to shelter, housing, healthcare, employment, benefits, and other resources, and create realistic next steps toward ending homelessness.

This role collaborates with outreach providers, municipalities, and community partners to improve coordination,

Qualifications

• Relevant experience or demonstrated interest in homeless services, housing, behavioral health, outreach, case management, peer support, or related fields.
• Valid Arizona Driver's License and ability to travel within Maricopa County.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in the field while coordinating with a team.

Responsibilities

• Perform field-based outreach to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness across Maricopa County.
• Identify barriers and connect clients to shelter, housing, healthcare, employment, benefits, and other resources.
• Maintain client information and required program documentation in HMIS or equivalent systems.
• Coordinate with community partners to improve regional outreach and reduce service gaps.
• Engage in CM strategies like motivational interviewing and trauma-informed practices.

Skills

Outreach experience

Driver's license

Communication skills

Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Job description

I. Position Summary

At Keys to Change, employment means contributing to real solutions that make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring across Maricopa County. Our mission is to use the power of collaboration to create solutions to end homelessness.

We are looking for people who are human-centered, collaborative, solutions-focused, data-driven, and committed to equity.

The Regional Outreach Specialist provides field-based outreach and housing-focused support to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness across Maricopa County.

This role builds relationships, identifies barriers, connects people to shelter, housing, healthcare, behavioral health, employment, benefits, and other resources, and works alongside clients to create realistic next steps toward ending their homelessness.

The Regional Outreach Specialist also works closely with outreach providers, municipalities, and community partners to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and help ensure people do not fall through gaps in the system.

II. Essential Functions

Outreach & Housing-Focused Support

• Conduct street and community-based outreach within assigned geographic areas.
• Build trusting relationships with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness using human-centered, trauma-informed, harm reduction, and low-barrier approaches.
• Manage an assigned caseload and work with clients to identify barriers, establish next steps, and move toward shelter, housing, income, healthcare, or other stabilizing resources.
• Assist clients with obtaining identification, birth certificates, disability documentation, behavioral health evaluations, income verification, and other documents necessary to access housing or services.
• Complete required assessments and screenings for Coordinated Entry, SOAR, employment, behavioral health, shelter, housing, and other community resources.
• Provide warm handoffs and actively support clients through connections to services rather than relying solely on referrals.
• Use motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and de-escalation strategies when appropriate.

Regional Coordination

• Coordinate with Keys to Change staff and outreach teams throughout Maricopa County to share resources, reduce duplication, and improve client outcomes.
• Participate in regional outreach coordination, case conferencing, and multi-agency meetings.
• Build effective working relationships with municipalities, shelters, healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, housing providers, and other community partners.
• Identify recurring barriers to shelter, services, or housing and communicate those barriers to leadership to support system improvement.

Data & Accountability

• Document outreach contacts, assessments, services, referrals, and outcomes accurately and timely in HMIS and other required systems.
• Maintain accurate client information, releases of information, and required program documentation.
• Use available data to prioritize follow-up, identify gaps, and support effective outreach strategies.
• Follow Keys to Change policies, confidentiality requirements, safety procedures, funding requirements, and organizational expectations.
• Participate in required meetings, trainings, organizational activities, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Participate in occasional early-morning outreach activities or unsheltered counts, including shifts beginning as early as 4:00 a.m.

Perform other duties as assigned.*

III. Minimum Qualifications

• Experience or demonstrated interest in homeless services, housing, behavioral health, outreach, case management, peer support, or related human services.
• Have a current Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance
• Valid Arizona Driver's License and ability to travel throughout assigned areas of Maricopa County.
• Lived experience with homelessness or housing insecurity is highly valued.
• Ability to engage respectfully and effectively with people experiencing mental health, substance use, trauma, medical, or other barriers.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in the field while collaborating effectively with a larger team.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations and develop creative solutions when traditional approaches are unsuccessful.
• Familiarity with HMIS, Coordinated Entry, Housing First, harm reduction, or trauma-informed practices is preferred.

IV. Required Functional Abilities

• Ability and willingness to work approximately 75% outdoors, including during extreme heat and other weather conditions.
• Ability to periodically work nontraditional hours based on outreach needs.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Spanish proficiency is a plus.
• Ability to use computers, mobile devices, and electronic documentation systems.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to walk and work in varied community environments and lift up to 20 pounds as needed.