Housing Placement & Outreach Specialist - HS020

Title: Housing Placement and Outreach Specialist
Location: Totem Lodge (1438 SE Division Portland, OR 97202)
Schedule: In-person, Monday through Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm.
Wage Range: $26.25 -$30.45, Hourly. Non-exempt

If you are a motivated and dedicated Housing Placement and Outreach Specialist looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!

At NARA Northwest, youll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether youre passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, theres a place for you to make a meaningful difference.

Company Mission:

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.

About the Company:

At NARA NW, we provide essential services and support to Native American and Alaska Native people, empowering them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. As an organization rooted in cultural heritage and community values, we offer a unique and rewarding opportunity to make a direct positive impact in the lives of others.

We have over 400 employees in a wide range of programs and services, including medical and dental care, addiction treatment, housing assistance, and cultural enrichment programs, there are endless opportunities to grow and thrive in your career while making a difference in the lives of others.

Position Overview:

The Housing Placement & Outreach Specialist provides culturally responsive outreach to Native American individuals and other vulnerable community members experiencing homelessness in shelters, encampments, and unsheltered locations throughout Multnomah County. Working independently and with community partners, the specialist conducts outreach, completes Coordinated Access assessments, facilitates referrals, and helps participants obtain the documentation needed to access housing. The position connects participants to housing, shelter, healthcare, behavioral health, food, clothing, and other supportive services. The position helps participants with document readiness (i.e Obtain DMV ID, birth certificate, Social Security card, etc.). Also, this position helps provide housing navigation, including housing search assistance, application support, lease-up coordination, move-in assistance, and short-term housing stabilization services (i.e Rapid Rehousing model).

What you will do:

- Engage with individuals by eliminating social, cultural, linguistic and educational barriers to develop a culturally competent and creative action plan for housing stability.

- Provide supportive services in a culturally responsive, trauma-informed and nonjudgmental manner. Demonstrate a person-centered approach in working with clients by respecting their self-determination and autonomy and exploring their ambivalence by utilizing Motivational Interviewing principles.

- Perform brief screening and assessment as appropriate. Complete supportive housing assessments (MSST) and help match individuals into community-based, subsidized, treatment focused, shared or other types of housing.

- Coordinate with community housing providers, health and behavioral healthcare providers.

- Coordinate with WorkSource Oregon, Supported Employment programs, and other workforce partners to connect participants with employment, education, vocational training, and career development opportunities that promote increased income, self-sufficiency, and long-term housing stability.

- Utilize Short-Term Rental Assistance and Rapid Re-Housing models to help participants secure and maintain housing while promoting long term self-sufficiency and life stability.

- Participate in a coordinated outreach program with other agencies providing street and shelter outreach. Regular attendance as a NARA NW representative at collaboration meetings may be required.

- Provide culturally appropriate clinical consultation and advocacy to enhance care of Native American and Alaska Native individuals and families in the community and in hospitals, jails, schools and public agencies.

- Actively participate as a member of a care team by providing input and developing creative strategies to address housing, health and psychosocial issues. Consult with clinical supervisor and/or housing leadership team in complex cases exceeding area of expertise.

- Facilitate communication and positive relationships between households and other service providers and housing providers

- Respond to requests for outreach to individuals in the community, which may include homeless service sites, homeless encampments, hospitals, jail, detox centers, shelters, and the streets

Qualifications

We would like to hear from people that have:

- QMHA (Qualified Mental Health Associate), PSS (Peer Support Specialist), CRM (Certified Recovery Mentor) and/or CADC-1 (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I) credentialing required within six months of hire.

- Requires a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

- Professional experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or experiencing severe and persistent mental illness.

- Demonstrated effectiveness in presenting ideas, transmitting information, or conveying concepts to individuals or groups of people of varying educational, cultural and experiential levels.

- Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients, the community, and other staff members.

- Knowledge of housing resources and understanding of recovery-based, holistic approaches to addressing needs.

- Experience working within the Native American/Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

- Ability to work collaboratively with clients and other program staff, and to treat everyone with respect and dignity at all times.

- Access to reliable transportation, current drivers license with a clean driving record, and proof of auto insurance.

- Ability to pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.

- Ability to pass criminal background and DMV checks.

Whats in it for you?

15 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, December 25 th and your Birthday!

Benefits: Employees working 20 hours, or more are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from the 1st of the month following the date of hire.

- Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente

- 15 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)

- 13 Paid Days of Sick Time

- 13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)

- $50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D

- Short Term and Long-Term Disability

- Flexible Spending Account

- Health Spending Account

- 401(k) with 4% Match

- Employee Assistance Program

- Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)

- Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC

How to apply:

- To Quick Apply, go to Careers – NARA NW (naranorthwest.org) (https://www.naranorthwest.org/home-2/careers/)

- Look for the position you want to apply for and submit a resume (Required) and cover letter (Optional), thats all!

- Feel free to contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) if you have any questions or would like to know where your application is in the process.

NARA NW Mission: Our mission is to provide education, physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and everyone in need.

NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. To support NARA NW in its mission, all employees agree to refrain from illicit drug use, marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse, both on and off the job. In addition, all employees agree to model alcohol sobriety. Modeling alcohol sobriety means not consuming, discussing, or promoting the use of alcohol, on the job, on social media and when in the community where the employee would be likely to be seen by NARA NW clients or community. If in recovery, employees must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that they will be able to remain sober.

Consistent with NARA NWs sobriety policy, all employees, volunteers, interns, and contractors, as applicable, are required to sign a Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace Certification Form and NARA NW Modeling Sobriety Policy Form as a condition of employment to confirm that they are aware of this policy and that they agree to comply with it. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. This policy is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state counterpart

Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 and 473). NARA Northwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration. Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the positions activities and requirements, the agency reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties, as necessary.