About Interfaith Community Services:

At Interfaith, we empower individuals and families in need by providing essential resources and services with compassion and integrity. Together, we foster a community of hope, accountability, and dignity. 

Founded in 1979 in direct response to rising rates of hunger and homelessness in North San Diego County, Interfaith Community Services works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by Helping People Help Themselves. Interfaith is the most comprehensive nonprofit social services agency in North County, providing both immediate safety net services and long-term, life-changing programs designed to meet the holistic needs of people in crisis. Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 650 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 200, Interfaith provides a safe haven and pathway towards self-sufficiency for more than 17,000 community members annually. 

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a service-driven environment, we invite you to be part of our mission!

What You'll Do:

In the Homeless Outreach Specialist role, you’ll provide field-based outreach services and care coordination to people experiencing homelessness in the City of Carlsbad who are living in vehicles within the City’s Encampment Resolution Program area. Clients may be individuals, couples and families. Direct services will be defined as street outreach and case management to support participant engagement towards client-centered goals addressing housing and stability. The Clinical Homeless Outreach Specialist will also work collaboratively with clients to identify and link to stabilizing resources, encouraging the creation and coordination with multi-disciplinary teams. You will also participate in HMIS and other identified outreach trainings and networking events to support an approach that is aligned with HMIS Outreach Standards, BBS Legal and Ethical Standards and Trauma Informed Care. 

• Conduct outreach and engage participants in case management. All participant interactions and interventions shall be used no a housing first approach incorporating evidence-based practices 
• Develop trusting relationships, modeling and prompting appropriate boundaries with individuals, couples and families experiencing homelessness.
• Collaborate with participants to complete appropriate assessments to identify needs and link to stabilizing resources (e.g. mental health, medical, substance abuse, income, basic needs) to support the ability to attain and sustain long term permanent housing. 
• Develop a comprehensive, client-driven plan that includes short and long-term goals, timelines and measures for each goal. 
• Monitor progress towards goals in scheduled sessions, evaluating and adjusting plans as needed collaboratively with participants. 
• Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to understand, assess, and shift the individual’s stage of change.
• Provide direct clinical interventions as needed, including crisis management and case consultation. 
• Utilize progressive engagement, diversion approaches within a trauma informed and person-centered perspective. 
• Assist participants to identify and access to shelter and housing options such as: emergency shelters, reunification with family or friends, independent living, private rentals, shared housing, rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing resources. 
• Provide ongoing case management services and support to participants until they are connected with permanent housing and exit homelessness. 
• Facilitate referrals to internal and external resources, ensuring seamless access to comprehensive support services. 
• Open to engage with individuals in the community at times with the presence of Law Enforcement. If appropriate, Provider, will ride along with Law Enforcement for the best care of the individual need/services. 
• Work collaboratively with Carlsbad City staff, Carlsbad HOT Officers and partners to identify Participants in need of homeless outreach services. 
• Work collaboratively with encampment grant partners. 
• Abide by strategies set forth in City's Homelessness Action Plan and any amendments thereto, which takes a community focused and collaborative approach to addressing the needs of those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness within the City of Carlsbad.  
• Screen Participants and complete assessments when appropriate to link to housing resources through Coordinated Entry System (CES). 
• Provide ongoing follow-up and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) updates to maintain Participants on the Coordinated Entry Community Queue.
• Complete accurate and thorough documentation in a timely manner for each program participant, and provides required data for reporting. 
• Enter all participants into data bases as required for documentation and to maintain individual’s engagement in the CoC information system to support housing placement.
• Seek out and develop knowledge regarding best practices including homeless outreach standards identified within the San Diego County CoC. Adhere to standards of practice outlined by Regional Task Force of the Homeless.
• Participate in case conferencing meetings, staff meetings, trainings, conferences, collaborative community meetings program evaluation, and program development.
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Who You Are:

You're passionate about making a lasting impact, whether supporting individuals directly or enhancing our organizational effectiveness. To thrive in this role, you'll:

• High School Diploma, required
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field; preferred
• Registered and in good standing as an Associate with the CA BBS and actively working towards licensure (ASW, AMFT, or APCC) preferred
• 4+ years of case management-related experience preferred
• Experience working with severely mentally ill, medically fragile, and homeless populations, preferred
• Bilingual (English/Spanish), preferred

Location: Onsite/Carlsbad

Hours: 

Monday-Friday: 6 am-2:30 pm

Monday-Friday: 10:30 am-7:30 pm

Hourly Rate: 

High School Diploma: $23.00-$25.00

Bachelor's Degree: $28.25-$31.25                       

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

· Paid Time Off

· Paid Holidays – 13 scheduled

· Flexible Work Schedules

· Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

· AD&D / Group Life Insurance

· Flexible Spending Accounts – Medical and Dependent Care

· Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan

· Early Release Days!

· Work Anniversary Bonuses

· Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

· Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

· Home Ownership Assistance Program

· Casual Work Environment

· Professional Growth and Career Development Opportunities

Interfaith is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, nationality, sex, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Interfaith will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities