Homeless Outreach Coordinator

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 8, 2024. Interviews will take place during the week of March 18, 2024.

The HOPE Center is a ground-breaking multi-city, multi-disciplinary partnership that seeks to establish community-wide coordination and standardization in Homeless Outreach and engagement by centralizing resources, coordinating responses, and integrating data. Our Mission is to help individuals experiencing homelessness in the North Orange County Service Planning Area (SPA) gain more reliable relief and consistent support. The HOPE Center of Orange County’s mantra is “The right resource to the right person at the right time.” We work diligently to align the efforts and strategies of North Orange County cities, community-based organizations, behavioral health street practitioners, and community health workers to improve the capacity of the homeless services system to effectively plan, manage, and allocate resources so that responses are appropriate and expedient.

The HOPE Center of Orange County has an opportunity for a HOMELESS OUTREACH COORDINATOR. This position will work collaboratively with community organizations, local government agencies, law enforcement, and community stakeholders to provide assistance and supportive social services to people who are experiencing homelessness.

The ideal candidate has an unwavering commitment to team-based environment, possesses effective and cooperative communication and interpersonal skills, a compassionate and caring attitude and the ability to manage multiple projects with excellent attention to detail and customer service skills. We are also looking for candidates who are ready to grow and develop and who can envision new ways to improve processes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This position will work directly with individuals and families experiencing homelessness in North Orange County. Duties may include the following:

1. Establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with clientele to provide paraprofessional counseling and case management services.

2. Develop and maintain relationships with various public and private service agencies, community groups and the faith-based community to obtain services for clients and stay abreast of new trends and practices in community street outreach.

3. Assess client needs and characteristics.

4. Identify short-term and long-term needs, provide resources and referrals based on client needs and coordinate service delivery plans.

5. Assist police personnel in non-enforcement situations involving homeless clients and obtain appropriate care for clients.

6. Assist safety personnel with non-psychiatric emergencies such as transporting clients to substance abuse treatment.

7. May interface with hospital personnel regarding emergency services and recuperative care for homeless.

8. May perform other duties as assigned.

The preceding duties have been provided as examples of the essential types of work performed by positions within this position. The Organization, at its discretion, may add, modify, change or rescind work assignments as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes:

Knowledge of: Services to individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness; homeless and/or housing programs available to the homeless community; motivational interviewing and/or other engagement techniques; Orange County Continuum of Care Homeless Services System; shelter and housing operations; mental health and substance use services; positive customer services practices; data collection and report writing; databases such as Outreach Grid and HMIS; modern office and computer skills.

Ability to: Utilize general office equipment such as telephone, fax, printers, copiers, and computers; learn and apply Organization policies, procedures, rules and regulations; build trusting relationships with unsheltered individuals and families; collect data; compile and analyze data and prepare accurate reports and correspondence; reason logically, draw valid conclusion and make appropriate recommendations; maintain work effectiveness and meet deadlines with frequent changes in the workload and the priority of assignments; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; provide quality customer service; actively participate in Organization and community meetings as needed.

Education & Experience: Three (3) years of related experience working in homeless/housing, behavioral health or social services and graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree in social or human services is preferred, or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the desirable knowledge, skills and abilities.

Certifications/License/Special Requirements: Valid and appropriate Class C California Driver License, acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment in this position, and evidence of insurability. Employees in this position will be enrolled in the Department of Motor Vehicles Pull Notice Program and must maintain a clear driving record to maintain employment. You will be required to complete a defensive driving course within 30 days of employment, and obtain a P endorsement for a Commercial Driver’s License within 90 days employment.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

Work is performed indoors in an office environment and outdoors in the field. When work is performed outdoors and in the field there may be exposure to the elements as well as related health hazards to include blood and other bodily fluids/products and human borne parasites. An incumbent drives a vehicle on business, sits for extended periods of time, uses a computer, keyboard and related equipment, stands, walks, reaches, bends, twists, kneels, reaches and grasps, and may lift and carry boxes of records weighing 30 pounds or less. When in the field, an incumbent may walk on slippery/uneven surfaces and slopes, crouch, twist, climb ladders and stairs and be exposed to construction materials and dust. The position requires mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data; thoroughly analyze and solve problems; exercise sound judgment in the absence of specific guidelines; use math and mathematical reasoning; establish priorities and work on multiple assignments and cases concurrently; meet intense and changing deadlines given interruptions; interact appropriately with staff, management, health and welfare agencies, nonprofit/community based organizations, public and private representatives, the general public including persons experiencing homelessness.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCEDURE

• An official HOPE Center of Orange County job application must be filled out in its entirety.
• Upon a conditional offer of employment, a pre-employment background check, vehicle motor records check, drug screen will be completed. Employment is contingent upon a successful background check, a clean (0 points) motor vehicle record, and a negative drug screening .
• The HOPE Center is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status or disability.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

• This position is grant funded.
• This position requires employees to work a 4/10 schedule with availability to work a flexible schedule that may require mornings, evening, weekend and holiday work assignments.
• All appointees will serve a three-month probationary period .
• Employees in this position will be enrolled in the Department of Motor Vehicles Pull Notice Program and must maintain a clear driving record to maintain employment.

BENEFITS

Salaried employees enjoy comprehensive health benefits, 401(k) plan, vacation time, 9 paid Holidays, 3 floating holidays and 13 sick days.

Please Note: Our primary means of communication with applicants is sent via email; therefore, please include a valid email address on your application.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $32.05 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least three years of related experience working in homeless/housing, behavioral health or social services?
• Do you have experience with HMIS?

Ability to Relocate:

• Fullerton, CA: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person