Community Outreach Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

At Access Services, we know great work starts with real support. From nearly 6 weeks off in your first year to high quality, affordable health coverage and opportunities to grow, we’ve built a benefits package that shows we care for our people.  

Access Services is seeking a full-time Community Outreach Specialist to serve communities throughout Montgomery County, with an office base in Plymouth Meeting, PA. 

In this meaningful role, you will engage individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, behavioral health challenges, and substance use disorders, helping them access the services and supports they need to move toward stability and wellness. Through street-based outreach, relationship-building, housing navigation, and community collaboration, you will serve as a bridge between vulnerable community members and resources including housing, healthcare, treatment providers, benefits, and basic needs services. 

This position also plays an important role in mobilizing community members, volunteers, faith communities, and professional partners to develop sustainable, community-driven solutions to homelessness. The ideal candidate is relationship-centered, has strong critical thinking skills, and is passionate about helping underserved individuals,

Schedule: 40 hours per week, Monday- Friday, 9am-5pm 

Essential Responsibilities:

• Conduct street-based outreach and community engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, behavioral health challenges, and substance use disorders. 

• Build trusting relationships with unsheltered and vulnerable individuals, using creative and persistent engagement strategies to assess needs and connect individuals with appropriate services and supports. 

• Provide housing and shelter navigation, helping individuals access stable housing opportunities and overcome barriers to care. 

• Connect individuals with healthcare, behavioral health, substance use treatment, recovery supports, benefits, identification documents, and other community resources that promote stability and wellness. 

• Collaborate with healthcare providers, behavioral health agencies, drug and alcohol programs, overdose response teams, and other community partners to coordinate care and improve outcomes. 

• Provide education and referrals related to mental health, behavioral health, substance use disorders, overdose prevention, HIV, Hepatitis, TB, treatment options, and recovery-oriented services. 

• Distribute basic needs supplies, share resource information, and participate in coordinated community efforts that support individuals experiencing homelessness. 

• Engage and mobilize community members, volunteers, faith communities, service providers, and other stakeholders through outreach, presentations, training opportunities, and relationship-building activities that advance community-driven solutions. 

• Maintain accurate documentation, participate in team and partner meetings, stay informed about local community needs and resources, and maintain the flexibility needed to respond to changing community priorities. 

Other: 

• Maintain regular and predictable attendance, and work scheduled overtime, or be available for unplanned overtime as necessary, to meet program needs.   

• This is a client-facing position that does not include remote or hybrid work schedule options. This job requires a full-time, on-site presence due to the nature of the role and responsibilities.  

• This position requires the ability to travel during a normal workday to successfully carry out job responsibilities. Therefore, the Community Outreach Specialist will need to drive their personal vehicle and/or an agency-owned vehicle to meet these expectations. This person will be expected to always drive safely and meet eligibility criteria in the agency Motor Vehicle Policy. 

Requirements

The selected candidate must meet all qualifying and ongoing job criteria including background checks and a driving history record. 

Education:  

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, social work, or related field required. Master’s degree in public health preferred. 

Certification:  

• American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) training or certification preferred. 

  Experience: 

• Experience working with individuals with housing instability or who struggle with substance use disorder and/or mental health diagnoses is desirable. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate well, and to develop positive, creative and programmatic goals. 

• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as direct and prioritize own work and be flexible.

• Knowledge of homelessness and housing system and the ability to enhance understanding to maximize the level of service delivery. 

• Skill in person centered screening and assessment. 
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Word and Outlook, Evolv (or similar electronic health record software) and use of the Internet. 

• Proficiency in, or ability to learn and use, workplace applications, platforms and technologies.  
• Comfortable working outdoors.

Essential Working Conditions/Physical Demands:  

• Work in program sites and the community routinely providing direct care and/or support with individual(s).  

• Stand, sit or run by self, or to provide proper care and supervision with an individual.  

• Able to move and stay with an individual to keep them safe, both in home environment and community, both at near and far distances, even when an individual may struggle to meet identified expectations.  

• Able to assist an individual who has fallen, regardless of weight or size.  

• Walk, climb stairs by self, or to provide direct care and/or support.  

• Work in a standard office environment, and utilize desktop computer equipment daily.  

• Able to lift or move items associated with sedentary work and light work (exert up to 20 lbs.) Travel to offsite locations and regional office locations as necessary. 

Benefits

Pay:

• $ 20.50/hourly

What You’ll Gain at Access Services  

When you join our team, you’re not just getting a job, you’re stepping into a career with real support, growth, and impact. We offer a benefits package designed to meet you where you are in life. 

• Health & Security:  Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, plus company-paid life insurance, disability protection and catastrophic sick leave. Access Services covers up to 88% of health premium with many employees paying less than $150/month. 
• Time to Recharge: Full-time employees start their first year earning up to nearly 6 weeks of paid time off (20+ PTO days plus 9 paid holidays), with even more time added as you grow your career with us. 
• Invest in Your Future: 401(k) with company match, tuition reimbursement program, and access to college tuition discounts.
• Built into the Job: Mileage & Toll Reimbursement. 
• Support Beyond Work:  Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free, confidential resources for you and your family, including:  

• Counseling and emotional support through in-person, telehealth and text therapy 

• Financial and legal guidance 
• Grow With Us:  Paid training, ongoing professional development, and opportunities to learn and advance across diverse roles and programs. 

Access Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.