Lead Outreach Worker

The Lead Outreach Worker will lead and implement coordinated strategies to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Richmond. This role will work closely with other members of the City of Richmond street outreach team to align outreach efforts, share information, and ensure consistent engagement practices across the community. The Lead Outreach Worker will strengthen partnerships with service providers and system stakeholders, facilitate timely connections to housing, shelter, and supportive services, and promote person‑centered, trauma‑informed approaches that foster stability, dignity, and clear pathways toward permanent housing

Expected pay range for this position is $70,000-$75,000

This position is considered an Essential Personnel, which means that the incumbent is required to work when the City is closed due to public emergencies, critical or hazardous conditions or inclement weather

• Provide information and direct referrals for shelter, housing programs, healthcare, behavioral health, and other resources to help meet basic needs.
• Provide housing‑focused case management services to unhoused individuals and families in navigating housing applications, benefits enrollment, and supportive services.
• Respond to inquiries received from other city departments, civic associations, local businesses, and concerned constituents regarding unhoused individuals and families
• Maintain accurate records of outreach contacts, referrals, and follow‑up activities in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Track and report on outreach outcomes and program performance metrics.

• Build and maintain partnerships with local nonprofits, shelters, faith‑based groups, and advocacy organizations.
• Coordinate and participate in community events, outreach initiatives, and resource fairs targeting individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Represent the Office of Homeless Services in city‑wide initiatives, public forums, and community coalitions.

• Assist in developing and executing strategies to reduce homelessness and expand access to services.
• Collaborate with city departments, regional partners, and service providers to coordinate housing and support programs.
• Identify and implement best practices for outreach, shelter coordination, and service delivery.

• At least 2 years of experience working in homeless services
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Human Services, Sociology, Public Administration, or a related field required.
• Must have some evening and weekend hours availability
• Experience in community outreach, case management, housing services, or human services coordination.

• Strong relationship‑building skills with vulnerable populations, service providers, and stakeholders.
• Ability to engage diverse populations with cultural competence and trauma‑informed approaches.
• Excellent communication, public speaking, and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of housing and homeless service systems, including the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care.
• Strong administrative, data management, and reporting skills.
• Master’s degree in social work, Public Administration, or a related field preferred.

Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach extending hands and arms in any direction, stand, push, pull, lift, finger (picking, pinching or otherwise working primarily with fingers), grasp applying pressure to an object with fingers or palms, talk, see, and hear.

The employee is frequently required to climb, balance, stoop, crouch, crawl, walk, feel and use substantial repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and fingers. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.