Housing Outreach Specialist

Join our team as a Housing Outreach Specialist and connect individuals experiencing homelessness with the services, resources, and housing support they need to build a brighter future. If you're passionate about community impact, relationship‑building, and helping people overcome barriers, we'd love to hear from you. KCR offers comprehensive benefits including paid time off for vacation, sick days, and holidays, along with 100% employer‑paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage for employees. In addition, we provide a 6.5% employer contribution to 401(k) after the first year, plus access to employee assistance, wellness initiatives, and professional growth and development training programs. Please apply at kcr.org/career-opportunities/. If you need assistance with your application please contact Human Resources. Job Summary Provide coordinated entry navigation services to individuals experiencing homelessness through outreach efforts in encampments, treatment centers, hospitals, jails or institutions. Our Housing Solutions Center Outreach Specialists partner with social service organizations to provide care to homeless and low‑income individuals, identify long‑term housing solutions, and support households in securing permanent housing. The Outreach Specialists will provide intake, assessment, referral and case management for persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They will also document information and services in the Homeless Information Management System (HMIS), establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with other area service providers and landlords. Client barriers may include mental health, substance use disorders, eviction history, unemployment, and medical illnesses. The Housing Outreach Coordinator collaborates with other service providers to ensure each household is connected to the resources they desire for their success. Special assignments include HEART Outreach Specialists and Recovery Outreach Coordinators (ROAST) who work in specific settings such as encampments, treatment centers and jails. Mission, Vision, & Core Values Mission: Kitsap Community Resources (KCR) is a nonprofit, private, social services agency committed to creating hope and opportunity for all low‑income Kitsap County residents by providing resources that promote self‑sufficiency and stability. Vision: We exist with a clear vision of creating a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. Core Values: Kitsap Community Resources core values are a vital part of each position, and employees are expected to uphold them to the fullest. Integrity – taking care to honor our commitments in an ethical manner Compassion – genuinely empathizing with those we serve Excellence – demonstrating a high level of performance in all we do Diversity – showing honor and respect to all individuals we serve Collaboration – seeking partnership opportunities Teamwork – supporting our employees and partners as we fulfill our mission Job Requirements Required Education: Lived Experience; High School Diploma or GED with 2+ years working experience may substitute for educational requirements. Preferred Qualifications: Multilingual (especially Spanish). Experience working with individuals with high barriers to housing stability including mental health, substance use disorders, and medical illness; familiarity with resources for families or individuals who are low‑income or unhoused; understanding of socio‑economic systems at the root causes of poverty. Capable of using Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and Outlook. Ability to pass State and/or Federal Background Checks as determined by position (prior to hire date). Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Must demonstrate recognition and compassion for low‑income peoples. Must be aware and sensitive to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Demonstrated ability to input, aggregate and analyze data including generation of accurate and complete reports. Demonstrated successful experience in preparing and processing documentation following relevant process and guidelines (such as purchase requests, requests for payment, etc.). License(s) and/or Certifications Reliable transportation to work. Ability to obtain proof of insurability for operating an automobile. Current immunizations per Washington Administrative Code (can be obtained upon hire). Essential Physical and Mental Functions Position requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending. Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds. Simple grasping and hand manipulation required as well as reaching above and below shoulder level. Must be able to build secure, nurturing relationships with client households. Cognitive ability to recognize and address safety concerns. Cognitive and emotional ability to work directly with clients in need, which may include homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, or other mental or physical barriers. Must be able to work outside in a variety of weather conditions. Cognitive ability to discern accuracy and apply to work as necessary. Cognitive ability to read, write, and understand English. Physical and cognitive ability to operate a motor vehicle. Flexibility in the ability to manage and work with multiple agency programs. Responsibilities Meet with individuals who may be homeless to determine their emergency and/or permanent housing needs, screen individuals for program eligibility, and coordinate referrals with the appropriate housing providers. Identify other household primary barriers (employment, substance abuse, mental health, education, domestic violence, and health) and coordinate resource referrals for these services. Assist the team in tracking, collecting, and compiling client statistics and in completing program reports. Remain current on all community resources and ensure all resource materials are updated in a timely manner. Participate in meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned. Report to and accept assignments from the Housing Solutions Center Supervisor. Deliver the Foundational Community Support (FCS) program for each qualified household on caseload, including, but not limited to, submitting reauthorizations before expirations and meeting monthly FCS billing targets. Demonstrate personal compliance with KCR policies & procedures, grant guidelines, and federal & state regulations. Maintain recordkeeping and reporting systems to ensure accurate information, with timely completion and follow‑up: daily web‑based data entry in HMIS, CCL, SharePoint, and other assigned databases. Work with individuals experiencing behavior health and substance use and other high‑barriers. Provide direct services to unhoused, at‑risk of becoming unhoused, and recently housed individuals. Establish knowledge of and develop positive professional relationships with community programs. Proactively reach out to and maintain communication by performing home visits (including hotels and encampments), phone calls, and texts when appropriate. Develop and utilize skills when working with individuals, including trauma‑informed care, motivational interviewing, progressive engagement, and strength‑based coaching. Work with individuals, landlords, and community partners to ensure all program requirements are met. Maintain positive working relationships with other staff and actively participate in a team‑oriented approach, including attending all required team meetings. Keep immediate supervisor promptly and fully informed of all salient information pertinent to the current discussion, taking prompt action when necessary. Communicate promptly with supervisor if work activities extend beyond KCR working hours. Seek out, participate in, and research presentations in meetings, conferences, training sessions, and workshop opportunities. Work/Life Balance KCR offers a robust benefits package to support balance between work and life outside the workplace. Vacation, Sick, Personal Holiday, and other time off for life events such as Jury Duty, Bereavement, etc. 100% Employer paid Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Long‑term and Short‑term Disability for employee only (dependents can be covered through payroll deduction). 6.5% Employer Contribution to 401(k) after first 12‑18 months of employment. Employee Assistance Program. Employee Wellness Program. Employee Growth & Development Training Programs. All duties and requirements listed in this job description are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position; employees will be requested to follow any other job‑related instructions and perform any other job‑related duties requested by their supervisor. Kitsap Community Resources reserves the right to determine the contents of KCR job descriptions. Kitsap Community Resources is an “at‑will” employer. KCR recognizes that ideas come from a varied mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. KCR is committed to attracting and retaining a varied and highly skilled staff, by honoring experiences, perspectives and unique identities of the community in which we serve. KCR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, nation of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law. KITSAP COMMUNITY RESOURCES (KCR) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. KCR is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at KCR are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy, age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. KCR will not tolerate discrimination or harassment. #J-18808-Ljbffr