Homeless Outreach Worker

JOB LOCATION

15151 E Alameda Pkwy Aurora, Colorado 80012-1555

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees.
Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision.
Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization.
At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.

Why Work for Aurora?

Make a difference in the lives of real people every day Diverse community Competitive total compensation package Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan Light rail station minutes away On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement Access to innovation workspaces PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Signing Bonus: New employees are eligible for a $3,000 bonus; with $1,500 paid on the first payroll, and $1,500 paid upon completion of six (6) month introductory period from hire date Salary to be Commensurate with experience The Hiring range for this position is: $24.61-$30.76/Hourly

The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, November 14th, 2024 .
Initial review of submitted applications will commence on shortly after.
However, it is subject to close at any time without prior notice once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.


OVERVIEW OF POSITION / DEPARTMENT
Located in the Housing and Community Services Departments, under the supervision of the Homeless Outreach supervisor, the Homeless Outreach Worker will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with unhoused neighbors, act as a liaison for individuals and families, and connect them to services, with the ultimate goal being housing.


PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Create and maintain rapport and trust with unhoused individuals to address immediate needs.

Housing focused case management
Engage individuals and assess needs (e.g., medical, mental health, substance use, shelter, food access, benefits, and other issues) to properly direct them towards services.

Coordinate and work with different community partners to ensure people are linked to services that assist their needs with the goal of stabilization.

Participate in weekly meetings.

Reach out to encampments prior to and during abatements and offer resources support, and transportation to shelters.

Initiate and support processes that reduce harm to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and advocate for people living outdoors while encouraging them to access shelter and services.

Meet people where they are at through a trauma informed lens.

Support with the abatement process.
Discuss abatements and prepare resources to bring to the abatements.
During the abatement process, you will provide outreach, transportation, resources, and basic imminent needs.
Coordinate closely with abatement team.

Accurately and timely enter data in HMIS and other data entry systems.

Conduct coordinated entry assessments and updates.

Collaborate and create relationships with mental health and substance use providers to provide referrals.

Supply basic needs (socks, food, hygiene kits, weather appropriate gear, etc.)

Use City provided vehicles to visit clients in an appropriate and professional manner, including wellness checks; May occasionally require use of personal vehicle
Partner with police and fire personnel on issues related to homelessness.

Develop individualized housing case plans in collaboration with clients.

Monitor clients' progress towards their goals, offering guidance, encouragement, and resources as needed.

Respond promptly to clients in crisis, offering immediate support and intervention to address urgent needs.

Develop and implement safety plans for clients at risk of harm, ensuring their immediate and long-term safety.

Utilize motivational interviewing and other evidence-based practices to help clients set and achieve realistic goals.

Significant role in reducing public safety risks associated with homelessness, including minimizing utilization of emergency services and public disturbances.

Actively seek and secure housing and shelter placements for clients, including emergency, transitional, and permanent housing options.

Housing Navigation: Coordinate with other facilities, agencies, and property management companies to ensure smooth transitions into housing.

Negotiate rental agreements and deposits to make housing accessible for clients.

Intervene in situations where clients are experiencing suicidal ideation, employing de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention skills to talk them down and connect them with necessary mental health resources
Manage a caseload of 70+ individuals, prioritizing cases based on the Metro Denver Continuum of Cares' definition of vulnerability.

Performs other related duties as assigned
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.


Education: High School or GED equivalent
Experience: 2-3 years experience previous outreach experience
Previous professional work with unhoused or vulnerable populations
Experience working in fields that include a mental health or substance use focus
Licenses and Certifications Required: Valid Colorado driver's license with a clean driving record
Enrollment in HMIS within the first two (2) weeks of employment
Preferred Qualifications: Bilingual in Spanish preferred
Lived experience preferred but not required
Associates degree in social/behavioral sciences or a related field preferred, not required
Knowledge: Basic knowledge of homeless services in Aurora
Trauma Informed Care
Skills: Mental Health First Aid
Microsoft Word, Excel, MS Teams
CPR and Narcan administration
Strong interpersonal skills
Communicate with diverse populations.

De-escalation or crisis intervention
Abilities: Work in a high stress environment with little on-hand supervision
Awareness of your surroundings and knowing when to walk away from a potentially unsafe situation.

Conduct face to face conflict resolution.

Create and maintain strong boundaries with employees and unhoused residents.

Ability to handle the emotional and physical demands of the job, including exposure to high-stress situations and potential physical danger.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, partnering agencies, and unhoused neighbors.

Handle sensitive and pertinent information.
Experience in case management, social services, or homeless outreach.

Skilled in oral and written communication
WORKING CONDITIONS Essential Personnel: When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the City, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.

Physical Demands: Medium physical work that involves moving no more than 50 pounds with or without assistance at a time with or without assistance
Prolonged periods of walking, standing, kneeling, and sitting depending on environment
Frequent speech communication and hearing to maintain communications with employees, partnering organizations, the business community and neighborhood groups
Jumping fences, crawling under low bridges
Walking through difficult terrain and swamps
Encountering animals such prairie dogs, geese, rats, mice and often aggressive or protective dogs
Navigating hazardous (and biohazardous) environments including but not limited to human waste, drug paraphernalia such as needles along with broken glass, barbed wire, weapons, and unknown materials.

Frequent hiking to obscure locations through thorns, thistles and poisonous plants on contact.

Entering underground water and sewage tunnels
Walking up and down steep embankments.

Entering unknown and unpredictable circumstances
Work Environment: Primarily field work with equal amount of office work
May walk and drive in slick/muddy/snowy conditions,
This position has direct contact with people experiencing homelessness.

This role is frequently outside and will encounter inclement weather, including heat, cold, snow, and rain.

Will work in a dusty, hazardous and/or noisy environment
Equipment Used: Standard office equipment that includes an assigned laptop, iPad, scanners, printers, etc.

Assigned City vehicle.

Occasional use of personal vehicle
Narcan and other harm reductive equipment
For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.

The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer.
We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants.
It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace.
A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.


Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check and drug screening.
Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.