Outreach Specialist

Position Overview:

Bridges Outreach, Inc. believes that Outreach Specialists are a key component to eradicating homelessness. We are looking for Outreach Specialists with caring hearts, a problem-solving approach, and a high attention to detail and data quality.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Outreach Specialist will be responsible for traversing the City of Newark to identify and provide services to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The ideal Outreach Specialist candidate will have previous experience working with chronically homeless populations.

The Outreach Specialist will engage individuals with mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders and will establish many trusting relationships with individuals who have been homeless for several years with limited to no access to resources. The Outreach Specialist will successfully connect street homeless individuals to services and help to create goal plans aimed ultimately to establishing better overall health, housing, and independence.

This position requires a proactive individual with excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. Most importantly, Bridges Outreach is looking for a person with a heart to serve. Additionally, Outreach Specialists will assist in the coordination of our weekly Outreach Runs. This will include the ability to train, onboard, and support volunteers supporting the outreach work. 

The shifts available are full-time, part-time and per diem in Newark, NJ: 

Shift: 12:00am to 8:00am

Days: Sunday, Monday, Friday and Saturday 

Shift 4:00pm to 12:00am

Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (TBD)

Shift 8:00am to 4:00pm

Days: Saturday and Sunday (only)

RESPONSIBILITIES of the Outreach Specialist, Project Connect:

· To engage daily with individuals experiencing homelessness in a trusting and supportive relationship, providing emotional support and focusing on target goals.

To leverage non-coercive, trauma-informed practices to build that trust and establish oneself as a partner in their journey out of homelessness

· To encourage clients to access services for which they qualifying order to achieve goals on their service plans

· Providing immediate transportation to clients to urgent services when needed. This could include shelter transport or transport to a warming center/drop in center and more.

· Provide mobile case management services including:

· Orient clients to the services and requirements for services available

· Conduct initial intakes and assessment to determine client’s emergency

and immediate needs

· Maintain contact with referral sources

· Act as a liaison between clients and agencies rendering services to

clients within your caseload

· Participate in field visits and transport clients to medical/housing/mental health/substance abuse treatment appointments

· Engaging clients in a trusting and supportive treatment partnership, providing emotional support while maintaining professional boundaries.

· Participate in case collaborative meetings with Project Connect Staff

· Responsible for inputting accurate data in customized database

• Proficient in Google suite and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), HMIS a plus

• Outstanding written and oral communication and interpersonal skills

• Strong time management and organizational strategies; ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize efficiently

• Willingness and ability to work with diverse identities and lived experiences.

• Ability to lift 35 pounds

· Other functions as needed

Competencies:

· Communication Proficiency

· Pays extreme attention to detail

· Proactive

· Results Driven

· Ability to Multi-Task

· Strong notetaking skills

· TEAM PLAYER

Education:

Associate degree (preferred) or 2+ years of working in a human service setting (to include internship experiences).

Experience:

· Prior experiences working with an underserved population helpful (e.g., experience with mental health population, drug abuse counseling, life coaching, social work, etc.)

· Preferred: One year as a street outreach worker/ homeless services case manager or related experience

· Experience working in an environment with high client volume

· Sensitivity to economic and sociological barriers

· Crisis de-escalation certification (Plus)

· BSW (Plus)

Requirements:

Valid driver’s license with 0 points

Ability to be insured through company driver’s policy

90% plus travel required (company vehicle provided)

Bilingual (English/Spanish) PLUS'

Job Type: Full-time/Part-time/Per-diem

Grant Funded Pay Rate: Starting at $24.00 per hour.  

Schedule:

• Must be available to work an 8-hour shift

• Sunday to Saturday

• Available to cover shifts when needed.

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Newark, NJ 07102: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)