Outreach Specialist

Compensation

$20/hr - $23/hr commensurate with experience

• Three comprehensive healthcare plans;
  Housing Works covers most of the plan and employees pay a portion based on salary.
• Paid time off up to 30 days earned in the first year.
• Educational benefit for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and textbooks.

The Outreach Specialist engages community members, identifies individuals at risk for HIV, and connects them to prevention services through field outreach, digital outreach, and partnership‑building with community organizations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The role provides education, brief interventions, linkage support, maintains accurate documentation, and contributes to program goals, reducing barriers to care and improving health outcomes.

• Screen, recruit, and enroll individuals within the target population to prevention services.
• Provide rapid HIV and Hep C testing at mobile and venue‑based events and site‑based as needed.
• Provide pre‑ and post‑test counseling and partner notification services in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Provide linkage to clinical services, including HIV primary care, PrEP/PEP care, and other clinical services.
• Perform sexual history assessments utilizing the GOALS framework.
• Provide comprehensive prevention health education and participate in community events such as health fairs, LGBT events, and testing events.
• Provide presentations for internal and external programs to promote the program services.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of events to increase client engagement.
• Participate in weekly supervisory sessions with the Program Manager.
• Complete documentation of client assessments, consent forms, and demographic information.
• Re‑engage clients for care, case management, and supportive services by identifying barriers to engagement and sharing insights or trends during supervision and team debriefs.
• Coordinate with Navigation and Clinic teams to ensure smooth appointment scheduling and client follow‑through.
• Client Engagement and
  
  Education:
  • Provide accurate and affirming information about PrEP, including oral and injectable options.
  • Use motivational interviewing and culturally responsive communication to assess client interest and readiness.
  • Maintain a professional and supportive tone that encourages client engagement and builds trust.
  • Participate in ongoing training and coaching sessions to strengthen outreach and communication skills.
  • Conduct all programmatic outreach activities (e.g. street outreach, shelters, piers, day centers, parks, health fairs, soup kitchens, house balls, and other venues where LGBTQ youth are known to gather).

• High School Diploma or GED with relevant work experience.

• Minimum 1 year of relevant non‑profit employment experience (outreach, testing, group facilitation, case management, etc.).
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, substance use and mental illness, and LGBT youth issues.
• Good problem‑solving skills and ability to work autonomously.
• Strong documentation/computer skills (Word, Excel, etc.).
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works’ New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (“RWDSU”). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Housing Works and the RWDSU.