Street Outreach Case Worker – Spanish Speaking (Washington County)
JOIN (joinpdx.org) is a non-profit organization that exists to support the efforts of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to transition off the streets and into permanent housing. We are inspired by the vision of a community where everyone has a place to call home.
JOIN has an organizational commitment to equity and inclusion, and to ensure that programs and staff culture are equitable in both access, experience, and outcomes regardless of race, ethnicity, faith, culture, language, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship or immigration status, sexual orientation or family status. JOIN is committed to pursuing effective strategies and devoting dedicated time and resources at every level of the organization to address disparities based on identity and to apply an equity lens to all decisions, programs, and policies in furthering JOIN’s commitment to become an anti-racist organization, including dismantling white supremacy culture.
Position Overview
Provide a consistent demonstration of JOIN’s values and mission in each contact with people experiencing homelessness. Build and nourish relationships, trust and support to promote the strengths and capabilities of people as they work to obtain permanent housing. This position will involve working on the west side of town.
Compensation
$46,500 – $57,600
Full Time Non-exempt position with option for 100% paid employer paid Health Benefits (medical & dental benefits for employee and all dependents), employer paid Long and Short term disability benefit, employer paid $50,000 life insurance, EAP, Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care, unmatched 403(b), holiday pay, 160 hours PTO, 10 paid holidays plus paid winter break shutdown, 8 hours/month paid community involvement opportunity, 2 weeks paid parental leave, 1 week paid bereavement leave, paid trauma leave, and an 8 week paid sabbatical after 7 years of employment.
Required Qualities & Experience
- Demonstrated experience working on issues related to poverty and homelessness
- Demonstrated experience working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Fluency in spoken Spanish required
- Ability to think critically and creatively to support the outreach team as a team member and support participants in their journey to stable housing
- Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and maintain a sense of humor
- Must be highly organized
- Must be equally comfortable working independently and as a member of a team
- Must be well versed in using computers, social media and smart phones
- Apply an equity lens to work with staff, service users, volunteers, donors, and community partners
- Skilled at delivering strengths-based housing and human services using strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches that recognize that people are the experts in their own lives
- Basic familiarity with housing resources, fair housing and/or landlord-tenant regulations.
- Familiarity with Multnomah and Washington Counties’ service systems is a plus
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Outreach & Case Management
- Provide direct outreach services to people who are sleeping on the streets, in their cars, or doubled up in Washington County. Outreach is defined as going to parks, bridge viaducts, forested areas, and other locations where people camp. Effective outreach often requires working non-traditional hours, including some evenings.
- Participate in severe weather outreach during cold winter months providing gear and resources to warming shelters
- Initiate and support processes that reduce harm to people experiencing homelessness and promote transition into permanent housing, including supporting access to needed services, employment, and housing opportunities
- Emphasize a strengths-based approach that supports individuals in their efforts to move off the street and into stable housing, using a participant-centered approach
- Assist individuals with moving their belongings into and out of camps/apartments
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with landlords, police, social service agencies, businesses, and neighborhood organizations for the purpose of maximizing support for participants
- Commit presence to 2-3 days per month as the outreach worker assigned to the Basic Service Center or “House”. Participate in worker of the day on the House.
- Maintain a timely and accurate narrative of contact with individuals experiencing homelessness, services provided, and efforts to transition off the street and retain housing; submit accordingly
- Apply an equity lens to work with staff, service users, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
- Provide flexible and adaptable services that recognize that homelessness may not look the same across cultural groups or in suburban communities compared to more urban settings
- Refer into and take referrals from Washington County’s coordinated access system, Community Connect
- Participate in all required Washington County led trainings
Housing Placement
- Develop relationships with Washington County social service partners, landlords, County staff, and other community partners with the goal of placing people directly into permanent housing
- Assist individuals with moving their belongings into and out of camps/apartments
- Research and consistently connect with housing providers to connect participants to housing opportunities; including visiting properties on-site to conduct tours, move-ins, and on-site case management (COVID-19 protocols are in place)
- Provide and maintain continuing support in collaboration with JOIN’s Retention Team to promote housing stabilization with new tenants for at least 12 months. This includes visiting new tenants and building constructive relationships with landlords.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with landlords, police, social service agencies, businesses, and neighborhood organizations for the purpose of maximizing support for participants
- Support participants in navigating a complex housing system and housing resources toward their journey to housing stability
- Maintain a timely and accurate narrative of contact with individuals recently placed, services provided, and efforts to transition off the street and retain housing; submit accordingly
- Apply an equity lens to work with staff, service users, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
- Refer into and take referrals from Washington County’s coordinated access system, Community Connect
- Participate in all required Washington County led trainings
Other JOIN Responsibilities
- Work effectively with a diverse team of JOIN workers.
- Maintain and develop collaborative, responsive relationships with other JOIN teams.
- Engage in JOIN’s equity and anti-racist work at the full-staff, program-specific, and individual professional level.
- Apply an equity lens to work with staff, service users, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
- Participate in team-building staff meetings and organizational functions
