Outreach Worker – Homeless Encampments

Mission Community Services Society is dedicated to helping people, changing lives, and building community. With a legacy dating back to 1972, MCSS has continuously strived to support community members in need.

The Outreach Worker provides frontline support, engagement,and advocacy for individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability,mental health challenges, substance use concerns, and other barriers towell-being. Working from a trauma-informed framework, the Outreach Workerconducts mobile outreach in community settings, encampments, and other public spaces.

The Outreach Worker builds trusting relationships with clients, assists with housing navigation and service access, provides crisis intervention and safety planning, and collaborates with community agencies toensure coordinated support. The position requires independent field work aswell as active participation in a multidisciplinary team environment.

• Conduct proactivestreet and community outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness orhousing instability.
• Engageclients in a culturally safe and trauma-informed manner.
• Maintain regular contact with clients to support stability and overall well-being.
• Provide information and referrals to community resources and support services.
• Assessclient needs, strengths, barriers, and risks.
• Develop individualized support plans and assist clients in achieving identified goals.
• Supportclients in accessing housing, healthcare, mental health services, addictionstreatment, income assistance, and other community resources.
• Advocate on behalf of clients to reduce barriers and improve service access.
• Assist with safety planning and crisis response.
• Supportindividuals in obtaining and maintaining safe, stable housing.
• Liaise with government, private, and non-profit housing providers.
• Assist with housing applications, documentation, and tenancy-related concerns.
• Work collaboratively with shelters, supportive housing providers, and housing support agencies.
• Respond effectively to crisis situations using de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques.
• Applyharm reduction principles when supporting individuals who use substances.
• Administer Naloxone when required and maintain current training.
• Support community responses to homelessness and encampment-related concerns.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community partners including healthcare professionals, Indigenous organizations, Child and Family Services, law enforcement, schools, and community service agencies.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case planning and coordinated responses.
• Maintain accurate client records and case notes.
• Complete reports, assessments, referrals, and statistical tracking requirements.
• Utilizedatabases and case management systems, including HIFIS and other programsoftware.
• Ensure compliance with confidentiality, privacy legislation, and organizational policies.
• Maintainoutreach supplies and program inventory.
• Attendteam meetings, training sessions, and community networking events.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Diploma or Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health and Addictions, Child and Youth Care,Human Services, Community Development, Indigenous Studies, Nursing, or arelated field.
• Minimum two years ofdirect frontline experience working with vulnerable populations.
• Experience in outreach, case management, housing support, mental health, addictions, or homelessness services.
• Experience working with individuals impacted by trauma, poverty, homelessness, and substance use.
• Experience responding to crisis situations and applying de-escalation techniques.
• Strong understanding of homelessness, housing instability, mental health, andaddiction issues.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed and client-centered practices.
• Strong understanding of harm reduction principles.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Abilityto work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellentconflict resolution and crisis intervention abilities.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and time-management skills.
• Abilityto maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Experience using case management databases and reporting systems such as HIFIS is anasset.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

• ValidBC Class 5 Driver's Licence, access to a reliable vehicle, and satisfactorydriver's abstract.
• Successful Criminal Record Check for the vulnerable sector.
• Current First Aid/CPR certification
• Naloxonetraining
• VATtraining is an asset
• Abilityto travel throughout the service area.

This position requires regular community-based and street outreach work in varying weather conditions, frequent interaction with vulnerable populations, and occasional exposure to crisis situations. The successful candidate must be comfortable providing outreach…