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Interfaith Community Services

Homeless Outreach Specialist

Interfaith Community Services, Escondido, California, United States, 92025

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About Interfaith Community Services: At Interfaith, we empower individuals and families in need by providing essential resources and services with compassion and integrity. Together, we foster a community of hope, accountability, and dignity.

Job Type Full-time

Description About Interfaith Community Services: Founded in 1979 in direct response to rising rates of hunger and homelessness in North San Diego County, Interfaith Community Services works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by helping people help themselves. Interfaith is the most comprehensive nonprofit social services agency in North County, providing both immediate safety net services and long‑term, life‑changing programs designed to meet the holistic needs of people in crisis. Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 650 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 200, Interfaith provides a safe haven and pathway towards self‑sufficiency for more than 17,000 community members annually.

What You'll Do In the Homeless Outreach Specialist role, you’ll provide field‑based outreach, short‑term crisis intervention, and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI). The Homeless Outreach Specialist will provide outreach and short‑term case management to the North County region to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to housing, health, and other supportive services. The position will attend and support case conferencing and ensure that clients with ongoing treatment needs are successfully connected with appropriate community‑based treatment programs. The position will interact closely with the treatment team of behavioral health clinicians, clients, homeless outreach works, community partners, program leadership and staff.

Conducts outreach and engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness

Identifies, engages and links underserved populations with SUD and behavioral health services

Provides direct services to homeless clients and families, which include intake, assessment, referrals and case management as well as client advocacy with the goal of supporting self‑sufficiency

Outreach teams will employ a regionalized, neighborhood‑based model to build collaborative relationships with unhoused individuals as well as community stakeholders

Provides direct services to clients, including short term counseling, crisis intervention, and linkage with longer‑term services

Participates in outreach events for the purpose of engagement and client linkage

Participates, when appropriate, in case conferences for clients receiving counseling services

Develops and maintains effective relationships with mental health providers to ensure that clients with ongoing treatment needs are successfully transferred to longer‑term services

Maintains accurate records and files and prepares reports as required by funders and agency administration

Enters data into the regional Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) client database, the Coordinated Entry System (CES) and/or other electronic data systems as required by funders and Interfaith

Monitors compliance with grant and contract requirements. Makes recommendations to supervisor regarding any program changes needed to meet grant benchmarks

Ensures the confidentiality of client information and health records

Meets regularly with supervisor and participates in agency meetings and staff trainings

Provides trauma‑informed and culturally competent client services

Performs additional duties as assigned

Requirements Who You Are You’re passionate about making a lasting impact, whether supporting individuals directly or enhancing our organizational effectiveness. To thrive in this role, you’ll:

Bachelor’s Degree in social services or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required

1+ years of relevant work experience, required

Experience working with severely mentally ill, medically fragile, and homeless populations, preferred

Bilingual (English/Spanish), preferred

Skillsets / Additional Requirements

Must have experience and knowledge of working with disenfranchised individuals, families and cultures

Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills

Demonstrated experience managing multiple deadlines and working effectively under pressure, using independent judgment to produce quality work under time constraints

Demonstrated experience working with a collaborative team to drive successful projects to completion

Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret quantitative information

Advanced knowledge of Windows operating systems as well as Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)

Ability to communicate effectively among a diverse workforce population and maintain sound working relations with all levels within the organization

Work with spirit of enthusiasm, teamwork, cooperation and a sense of urgency

Maintain a high degree of confidentiality over all matters in the course of business operations including client and employee information

Ability to multi‑task in an efficient, thorough, and prioritized manner

Ability to work quickly, accurately and independently

Ability to anticipate needs, prioritize work and solve problems

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

Must be able to perform work both in a climate‑controlled office setting

Must have physical ability to walk outdoors in weather conditions year‑round; traveling in the community, parking lots, sidewalks, alleyways and within canyons, freeway underpasses, fence lines along canals and behind private property

Must have the physical ability to sit for long periods of time, stand, walk, bend, and kneel on a frequent basis

May be subjected to adverse conditions, including contact with hostile people

Low to moderate exposure to contagious diseases (hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis, etc.)

Low to moderate exposure of unpleasant and noxious fumes, odors, dust, temperatures, noise and inclement weather

Occasionally lifts, carries and balances objects weighing up to 30 pounds

Pulls and pushes such objects as file drawers, computers and similar office equipment and supplies

Prioritizes and multi‑tasks work and projects requiring good memory, concentration and analytical thinking

Occasionally is required to perform the safe operation of a vehicle, office equipment and machines, and recognize and abate safety hazards within the workplace

Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing frequently with a wide range of people from divergent socio‑economic backgrounds and origins

The noise level in the work environment is usually low

Location Onsite/Escondido

Hourly Rate $23.00-$25.00

Hours Monday-Friday: 9am-6pm

Employment Benefits

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays – 13 scheduled

Flexible Work Schedules

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

AD&D / Group Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts – Medical and Dependent Care

Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan

Early Release Days!

Work Anniversary Bonuses

Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Home Ownership Assistance Program

Casual Work Environment

Professional Growth and Career Development Opportunities

Interfaith is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, nationality, sex, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Interfaith will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Seniority level

Entry level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Other

Industries

Non-profit Organizations

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