Outreach Worker

Job Description

Job Description

Outreach Worker

Program Overview

Outreach services at Father Joe’s Villages are a critical access point for individuals experiencing homelessness who are not yet connected to shelter, housing, or clinical care. The Street Health and Outreach team provides low-barrier, trauma-informed engagement in community settings, with a focus on harm reduction, dignity, and rapid connection to medical, behavioral health, housing, and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services. The program serves individuals with complex needs, including serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and chronic health conditions, and significant barriers to housing stability.

The Role

The Outreach Worker provides street-based and clinic-linked outreach services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This role engages clients directly in the community, conducts needs assessments, and supports connection to internal Father Joe’s Villages programs, Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services, and external service providers.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary Street Health team, the Outreach Worker supports care coordination, participates in case conferencing, and helps ensure consistent follow-through on treatment, housing navigation, ECM engagement, and supportive service engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct compassionate street and community-based outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness, building trust and engagement with those who may be disconnected from services.
• .Complete field-based needs assessments and connect clients to housing resources, primary care, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services.
• Provide trauma-informed engagement, including crisis intervention and de-escalation, with a focus on safety, dignity, and relationship-building.
• Support clients with benefits enrollment and navigation of public and community-based resources.
• Coordinate care with Street Health, Village Health Center, ECM, housing, and external community partners to ensuretimelyreferrals, warm handoffs, and continuity of care.
• Maintain an active caseload and provide ongoing outreach follow-up to support continuity of care, ECM engagement, housing stability, and service connection.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferencing and care coordination meetings.
• Document outreach activities, client interactions, and case progress in electronic systems accurately andin a timely manner.
• Support field operations, including driving the outreach vehicle as needed andassistingwith clinic-based outreach and re-engagement efforts.
• Uphold all training, safety, and compliance requirements while contributing to a collaborative, harm reduction–oriented team environment

Desirable Candidate Profile

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Human Services, or related field strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of outreach, case management, or direct service experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or other underserved populations.
• Experience supporting individuals with complex health and social needs, including substance use disorders, serious mental illness, trauma histories, chronic medical conditions, and/or co-occurring conditions strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in street outreach, mobile services, shelter programs, or harm reduction settings highly desirable.
• Familiarity with care coordination models, Enhanced Care Management (ECM),CalAIMinitiatives, or integrated community health programs preferred.
• Experience using electronic health records (EHR), HMIS, or similar documentation systems preferred.
• A valid California driver’s license, with current vehicle registration and insurance, and an acceptable driving record, are required due to the essential functions of this role.

Key Competencies and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to build trust and engage individuals experiencinghigh levelsof vulnerability and complex needs.
• Strong skills in crisis response, de-escalation, andmaintainingsafety in dynamic, unpredictable field environments.
• Ability to work independently in the field whilemaintainingstrong coordination with multidisciplinary medical, behavioral health, housing, and care management teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a collaborative, mission-driven approach.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage an active caseload andmaintainaccurate,timelydocumentation.
• Cultural humility anddemonstratedability to work effectively with diverse communities and lived experiences.
• Comfort and resilience working in outdoor, street-based environments, including exposure to variable weather and physically demanding conditions.
• Basicproficiencyin Microsoft Office and willingness to learn internal systems.

Work Schedule

Full-time position, Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Some flexibility is required for early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends based on outreach and program needs. 

Compensation and Benefits

Pay is based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity. The anticipated starting pay rate for this role is between $24.00 to $27.61 per hour.

Father Joe’s Villages offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plan options, generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays and professional development opportunities. Employees also have access to wellness programs and an Employee Assistance Program to support work-life balance and overall well-being.

Additionally, the Village Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center located in a Health Professional Shortage Area. Employees who have completed, or are enrolled in, degree programs may qualify for student loan repayment programs.

Why Join Father Joe’s Villages

Join a mission-driven team committed to ending homelessness and strengthening San Diego communities. You’ll collaborate with passionate colleagues, grow professionally, and make a meaningful impact through your work.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre- and post-employment requirements, which may include background checks, health screenings, tuberculosis screening, and verification of credentials where applicable. These checks occur after a conditional offer of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Father Joe’s Villages is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.