Street Outreach Advocate
TITLE: Street Outreach Advocate
DEPARTMENT: Community Services
REPORT TO: Emergency Services Program Manager
DEPARTMENT: Community Services
REPORT TO: Emergency Services Program Manager
SALARY RANGE: 7
CLASSIFICATION: 10
STATUS: Non-Exempt Position
CLASSIFICATION: 10
STATUS: Non-Exempt Position
JOB SUMMARY
The Street Outreach Advocate is responsible for meeting the Agency’s mission as a team member by providing access to basic needs and immediate housing needs to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Street Outreach Advocate will provide outreach services to ensure homeless individuals and families have access to mainstream resources and are connected to community service providers to meet their basic needs. The Street Outreach Advocate will assist individuals and families with completing the coordinated entry assessment, or updating their information with the assessing agency if already entered on the system. The Street Outreach Advocate will make connections and create networks of support within the community to spread awareness of homelessness.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
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High School Diploma or equivalent and additional training
Education may be waived with significant job related experience
Experience
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More than 1 year
Authorization
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BCA Background Study
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Valid Driver’s License
Work Environment
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Conventional – Office model
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Activity-Based – Workers can switch between different workspaces.
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Hybrid – Flexible work model that is a blend of in-office, remote, and/or on-the-go.
SKILLS, ABILITIES, & OTHER KNOWLEDGE
Skills
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Excellent oral and/or written communications skills.
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Ability to manage time that results in both a satisfactory quantity and quality of work.
Ability
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Support the Mission of the Agency through daily work and while representing the Agency in public.
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Have general knowledge of programs and activities of the Agency.
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Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member.
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Must be able to handle diverse work problems on a daily basis.
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Must be able to organize a work schedule, set priorities and work effectively to meet deadlines without supervision.
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Must be able to adjust to changes necessitated by last minute assignments and deadlines requests that may prove stressful.
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Ability to effectively work across differences, especially socio-economic and cultural differences.
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Attend trainings, classes and meetings as necessary to improve job skills and maintain an acceptable level of job performance.
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Serve as a mentor for new staff.
Other Knowledge
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Have knowledge and apply Agency policies and procedures, including safety, technology, data practices and other applicable policy, procedure and program regulations.
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Understand numbers and mathematical concepts.
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Knowledge of public and private sources of debt equity and subsidy.
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Knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and local guidelines, codes, regulations, for implementation and reporting requirements.
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Knowledge of Community resources.
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned.
Area 1: Program Operations
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Conduct community street outreach in areas where homeless individuals and families are known to stay or frequent.
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Attend all meetings as required and otherwise assigned.
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Build community relationships with other agencies to identify services and affect change.
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Conduct regular check-ins on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis depending on the participants’ needs and expectations in writing, verbally, in person and/or virtually, by phone, email.
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Respectfully, professionally and effectively coach the participate through referrals and connections to resources.
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Prepare and maintain confidential case records and files; timely and accurately document all interactions with participants in the Agency/Program data management systems;
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Timely and accurately, prepare and complete forms, reports, correspondence, assessments, and other documents.
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Prepare referrals to internal programs and outside service providers; engaging professionally and respectfully with all involved.
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Training or experience providing Person Centered Coaching
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Recognize existing and emerging needs of participants and communities and report to the Director.
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Assess and recognize the need for professional development. Research the availability of professional development opportunities to address emerging trends and issues.
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Ability to effectively assess situations, prioritize solutions and make appropriate and timely decisions.
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Build a network with the participant that includes supports from outside agencies to ensure success and enhance quality of life.
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Collaborate with community partners to identify, connect with individuals and families who are homeless in our communities.
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Foster connections and build relationships with homeless individuals and families by meeting them where they are at.
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Facilitate connections to basic needs, mainstream resources, and to partner agencies.
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Make connections by being visible in the community: at community events; public gathering spaces; food shelves; and other locations homeless individuals may frequent.
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Directly connect homeless individuals and families to a coordinated entry assessment provider.
Area 2: Program Compliance
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Conduct activities appropriate to the street outreach programs’ goals of the Agency and Department as required.
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Actively collaborate with team members, volunteers, program participants and/or community partners in working towards achieving street outreach programs’ goals and objectives.
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Inform the supervisor and/or Department management of potential problems of street outreach programming dealing with procedures and policies.
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Entering street outreach participant data into data collection systems timely.
Area 3: Program Communications
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Actively participate and assist in assigned program, community, committees and staff meetings and/or training sessions.
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Coordinate, build and maintain professional, respectful and cooperative relationships with other Lakes and Pines staff and community providers to ensure coordination of appropriate referrals and programs services and represent the Agency on committees when directed.
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Identify opportunities and serve as mentor and resource for co-workers, including assisting with training as needed.
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Communicate discreetly, tactfully and diplomatically with street outreach program participants, co-workers, funders, community organizations, partners, and or government officials while maintaining participant confidentiality and conducting oneself in a professional manner.
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Design and deliver presentations for community forums, and write pieces for publications that are relevant to topics around rural homelessness.
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Engage in homeless and street outreach coalitions, networking meetings, in-person and/or virtually.
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Participate in trainings relevant to providing effective support and outreach services to homeless individuals and families, and recommend trainings to the Emergency Services Program Manager.
Area 4: Development Assistance
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Coordinate new and maintain existing partnerships and on-going communication between the Agency and its partners for all homeless and street outreach programs.
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Develop community networks to explore opportunities to develop outreach centers for homeless individuals and families throughout our communities served.
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Conduct and present at community meetings to discuss what rural homelessness looks like in our communities to assist in community based development of additional homeless services centers.
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Identify trends and needs of communities and participants, and programmatic and resource recommendations to improve or develop programs.
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Create and maintain outreach and basic need items inventory, develop distribution tracking system of items, and train staff for utilization of the tracking system.
JOB FACTORS
Supervision of Others
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Not responsible for supervision of others
Safety of Others
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Responsible for the physical safety of the public served. Provides front-line response to public safety and/or health threats. Provides input into safety policies and procedures.
Contacts
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Contact is both inside and outside the agency, and includes regular making of formal presentations, negotiations or coordination of work.
Physical Demand
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Must be able to lift 25 pounds.
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Requires sitting, standing, bending, stooping and reaching.
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Physical ability to operate equipment specific to your position.
Travel
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Must have reliable transportation.
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Must have valid driver’s license and current auto insurance coverage in compliance with Minnesota State guidelines on the vehicle used for work related travel.
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Travel for completion of job duties, trainings and meetings as required.
GENERAL AGENCY REQUIREMENTS
Professionalism
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Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good relations with customers, co-workers, providers, volunteers and supervisors.
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Treat customers, co-workers and public in a respectful and courteous manner at all times.
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Continue to develop skills and abilities.
Community Representation
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Represent Lakes and Pines Community Action, Inc. in a positive manner.
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Adhere to the Community Action Code of Ethics.
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Seek to understand poverty and barriers faced by community members.
Confidentiality
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Maintain confidentiality of agency, program and customer information.
An Equal Opportunity Employer/Contractor
In accordance with federal and state laws, Lakes and Pines CAC is an equal opportunity employer, contractor and provider of services. The Agency will maintain a
policy of non– discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. All aspects of employment within
the Agency will be governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any
manner by race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, public assistance status, marital status, veteran status,
sexual orientation, or gender identity,status as a parent, familial status, or in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.
If an applicant needs reasonable accommodations for the employment application process, please contact Lakes and Pines either by phone, mail, email or in person and request such consideration. (Such as sign language, interpreter, materials in large print, accessibility)
Individuals are encouraged to complete an Employment Application form whether or not a vacancy currently exists. Employment applications will be kept on file for one year and will be considered for appropriate job vacancies.
If an applicant needs reasonable accommodations for the employment application process, please contact Lakes and Pines either by phone, mail, email or in person and request such consideration. (Such as sign language, interpreter, materials in large print, accessibility)
Individuals are encouraged to complete an Employment Application form whether or not a vacancy currently exists. Employment applications will be kept on file for one year and will be considered for appropriate job vacancies.