Veteran Outreach Specialist: Mental Health & Housing Support

About MHALA

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) has been a pioneer in mental health service, advocacy, innovation, and training for nearly a century, working to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities.

MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County. The agency supports over 19,000 low‑income and no‑income individuals annually with integrated services. MHALA achieves impact in the areas of mental and physical healthcare, homelessness and housing, supported employment, and wellness and financial services, with special programs for Veterans and transition‑age youth.

MHALA also provides training programs for individuals joining the behavioral health workforce and for the larger community around mental health issues.

MHALA works to ensure that its employees are just as cared for as its members. Communication, collaboration, transparency and a healthy work/life balance are core components of the agency culture. Employees are encouraged to engage in self‑care and can enjoy a 35‑hour workweek.

MHALA fosters diversity at all levels of the organization. The agency promotes a team‑oriented culture that offers opportunities for growth. We are proud to offer a competitive salary and full benefits package, including an employee assistance program, and generous paid time off.

35 hours per week / $24.00 - $25.00 per hour (The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.)

Under the general supervision of the Program Manager, through the application of intensive community outreach, identify and assist homeless and at‑risk of homeless veterans and families with accessing services and resources through the Military Resource Center based on the psychosocial rehabilitation model of treatment and services. The SSVF Veterans Outreach Specialist will also be responsible for outreaching those veterans located in housing, streets, referrals, etc.,

to determine eligibility for the program by administering the SSVF Assessment tool.

• Maintain an outreach log of prospective veterans in SSVF program and provide the number of Veterans outreached in the community on a bi‑weekly basis to program intake staff.
• Provide information and resource linkage for veterans in the service area by direction to Military Resource Center.
• Work as part of a team, making regular visits to local institutions and other community sites where homeless veterans are known to be present (i.e., community shelters, community access centers, local veteran’s services, hospital emergency rooms, local jail, soup kitchens, community parks, other social service agencies, etc.). Establish and maintain good rapport and regular contact with local agency workers and administrators (i.e., police, fire, MET team, emergency room workers, parks & recreation workers, etc.)
  
  who are a source of referrals of homeless veterans in need of assistance and services.
• Participate actively in the program’s established system(s) for accepting and responding to community‑based requests to provide assistance for homeless veterans. Implement strategies for and conduct outreach to hard‑to‑engage homeless veterans who are identified by local community referral sources, or who are living on the streets in the identified community/service area.
• Assist Housing and Benefits Specialist with Veterans in locating requested services to include housing, food, health care, benefits, transportation and entitlements, etc. on a case‑by‑case basis or at HBS request.
• Provide identification of and prescreening for eligibility of potential applicants. Coordinate initial screening and assessment with case management team, participate in Stand Downs and all other VA/community outreach activities as directed by Program Manager.
• Responsible for meeting approved prescreen outcomes for veteran enrollments on a monthly basis.
• Provide information about SSVF services and information on community resources to current and potential participants.
• Work cooperatively with team members…