NEOCH Is Hiring A Street Outreach Worker!
Street Outreach Worker Job Description
Position: Street Outreach Worker
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Reports to: Executive Director, full-time 9am to 5pm (some weekends)
Since 1988, NEOCH has sought to break the cycle of homelessness in Northeast Ohio. We organize and empower homeless and at-risk adults and children through public education, advocacy, and the creation of nurturing environments. We seek to be responsive to the needs of unhoused people in Northeast Ohio by affirming their dignity. Our main programs seek to amplify the voices of those experiencing homelessness through advocacy, outreach and education. We envision a society without homelessness. We know reaching this goal begins from pushing society, particularly service providers and the government, to treating people experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect. The people need better shelter standards, more county support, more accessible housing, and –most importantly– more chances to have their input heeded.
Job Summary: The outreach worker will visit encampments, drop-in centers, soup kitchens, and abandoned houses, targeting individuals based on vulnerability and service needs. The worker will build a stability plan with clients, eliminate possible barriers, provide linkage to supportive services, and offer help with accessing temporary and permanent housing. The outreach worker will provide a warm hand off to housing and service providers and will continue to support the client after move-in to help stabilize housing. The outreach worker will spend approximately 80 percent (32 hours) of each week in the community, engaging individuals experiencing homelessness. The outreach worker will also work within NEOCH’s Outreach Collaborative, where we coordinate homeless outreach workers from many different organization in our community to help people experiencing homelessness access resources.
The outreach worker is required to have training in trauma informed care and conflict resolution and maintain a persistent and compassionate approach through the often-daunting process of connecting individuals to safety and permanent housing. Additionally, the outreach worker will be trained on conducting informal assessments, utilizing the emotional and physical proximity to learn aspects of homeless individuals’ lives that are often difficult to uncover, such as:
The current condition of the camp/shelter and implications for personal security
Exposure to trauma
Safety of the local environment
Openness to engaging in services
Benefit eligibility (e.g., military, Medicaid, or social security)
Barriers to housing stability
Responsibilities:
Providing face-to-face contact with individuals who are shelter-resistant and living on the streets throughout the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County
Building relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness, providing basic need items and encouraging individuals to enroll in services for housing, victim support, healthcare, and other identified needs
Providing crisis intervention, service coordination, skill building, and family education with sensitivity in relating to persons of varying backgrounds
Using motivational interviewing to encourage self-agency and acceptance of services
Assessing individuals who are experiencing homelessness for safety, mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and victimization
Connecting individuals to services for healthcare, treatment, housing, and trauma healing, as needed
Providing necessary follow-up aimed at establishing linkage to services
Advocating for clients' access to community resources and services, ensuring that needs are met, and rights are maintained
Consulting and collaborating with community providers to ensure continuity of care
Completing data collection and documentation to assist in program evaluation
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field; or a minimum of three years equivalent work experience
Experience with Microsoft Suite, data entry and documentation
Excellent oral, written, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
Ability to lift and carry supplies in excess of 30-50 pounds.
Training in trauma informed care, conflict resolution, and harm reduction models
Proven experience working with the public, developing and maintaining excellent relationships
A minimum of three years of experience working with low income individuals and/or those experiencing homelessness
Experience working with homeless individuals and families, preferred
Ability to work flexible hours in times of need, including weekends and evenings
Experience and ability to authentically engage young people
Awareness of and adherence to strict boundaries and professional ethics in the care of others
Belief in the principles of self-determination, social justice, and equity
Bilingual English/Spanish, preferred
Ability to provide own transportation
Compensation: Salary $30,000 (exempt)
Benefits· Medical insurance, 10 days of paid vacation, 10 PTO days, and paid federal holidays