Homeless Outreach Specialist

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Full-Time Bridgeport, CT, US

Salary Range: $45,000.00 To $54,000.00 Annually

Who We Are:

Liberation Programs is one of Fairfield County's leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders including alcohol, opiates, depressants and stimulants. Our goal is to help individuals and families overcome addiction in order to restore their lives and ultimately strengthen our communities. Liberation provides services for youth, adults and families that include two inpatient treatment programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, health education for older adults and people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, treatment and resources for adolescents and their families, education and prevention efforts in the community, and permanent supportive housing for families.

In operation since 1971, the agency has sites in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport and served more than 2,400 individuals in our last fiscal year.

Our Mission:

Liberation Programs' mission is to provide prevention, treatment and recovery services to help individuals and their families impacted by substance use and mental health conditions to foster hope and maintain wellness.

Job Purpose / Function

To support the work of the Fairfield County Coordinated Access Network (FC CAN), this position complements a service team model to support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness find and sustain stable, safe, permanent housing. The H2H Specialist will conduct outreach to persons residing out of doors and in places not meant for human habitation to assist them in locating permanent housing; once housed the program will continue to provide housing support services to ensure tenancy sustainability.

This position will follow a "services follow the person" model of service delivery.

Major Duties and Responsibilities;

• Provide street outreach through canvassing, with designated times outside of normal business hours, in collaboration with the FC CAN outreach team.
• Conduct CAN intake appointments and work with the client to identify emergency shelter opportunities while working on a housing plan.
• Work with households to collect all
  personal identification and documentation, income verification, homelessness verification, and disability verification (all when applicable and appropriate) and upload them into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Ensure all clients are added to the By Name List (BNL) and work on developing a Housing Services and Sustainability Plan.
• Comply with all HMIS training requirements including HMIS, maintain organized files and adhere to timely data entry into HMIS, Smart Sheet, and Ddap.
• Support the client in obtaining income through workforce development referrals, or connection to a SOAR specialist.
• Provide ongoing case management services, including connection to mainstream benefits, behavioral health services, and other identified needs (such as childcare, SNAP, etc).
• Actively participate in the local CAN housing solution meetings to advocate for housing opportunities for the client.
• Coordinating housing search, landlord recruitment, and relocation assistance. Identifying housing options in the community through ongoing housing search and cultivation of relationships with landlords.
• Providing information, referrals, and coordinating efforts to participating households for needed services such as, but no limited to: repairing credit and referrals for health, mental health, substance abuse services and social services sources. Encouraging early linkages to family and community support systems.
• Assist the client through the lease signing, tenant rights and responsibilities, and understanding of lease compliance.
• Once housed, complete required documentation, including the DMHAS Acuity and Assessment Index, Housing and Sustainability plan, and assessment every 6 months.
• Conduct regular home visits and face to face encounters for long term housing sustainability.

Skills / Experience Required;

• 2 years’ experience working with homeless population and/or lived expertise.
• Must have experience and be comfortable with harm reduction approach, delivering harm reduction services and supplies, (including safer injection and safer smoking kits) and be able to embrace "meeting people where they are"…