Organization Summary

The Hope Partnership, Inc

2420 Old Vineland Road

Kissimmee, FL 34746

Hope Partnership believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We empower our neighbors to overcome barriers that cause poverty and homelessness by providing both direct services and advocating for social change to strengthen our community and build hope.

Position Summary

The Community Support Specialist (CSS) supports the efforts of Hope Partnership by serving as a first point-of-contact for prospective clients in need of assistance. Reporting to the Housing Stability Manager, the CSS will respond to inquiries in person, over the phone, and out in the field. The CSS will hold interactions that are led by Hope Partnership’s Program Philosophy and the principles of Trauma-Informed Care, then work to connect those individuals with the appropriate resources and support systems within Hope Partnership and within the Community.

The Community Support Specialist will serve as a member of our Hope Cares Outreach/Diversion Team, working collaboratively with community partners to move those experiencing homelessness toward housing. They will identify and reach out to individuals living through homelessness in Osceola County through direct street outreach activities. In identifying highly vulnerable homeless individuals, the Community Support Specialist will develop rapport, administer assessment tools, and facilitate housing conversations and/or refer into available housing solutions.

The ideal candidate will be an active listener who possesses exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, is capable of working independently and as a member of a team in a fast-paced environment, and is able to prioritize between competing demands.

The Community Support Specialist will be subjected to extended outside environmental conditions while conducting various levels of outreach to persons experiencing homelessness. In addition to working in a typical office environment, the Community Support Specialist will engage individuals through street outreach in wooded environments, highly trafficked streets and sidewalks, other places unfit for habitation, and will be walking alongside individuals with complex needs which may include displaying trauma-related behaviors.

Salary: $35,000 – 40,000 plus benefits

Responsibilities and Duties

Client Care Responsibility

• Act as a first point of contact out in the Community
• Greet and welcome clients entering the reception area, field incoming calls and respond to email inquiries in a timely manner
• Actively listen to clients to understand their situation and needs.
• Assist Clients with accessing resources, making referrals, and completing assessments; continue to engage with clients until shelter or permanent housing is available.
• Engage in Diversion conversations
• Empower clients and assist with goal planning and case management.
• Assist in obtaining housing readiness documentation such as ID, Social Security card, income verification, and medical appointments.
• Adhere to the housing first and harm reduction models of advocacy with clients.
• Practice motivational interviews and trauma-informed care principles.
• Develop extensive knowledge of local and regional partner services and resources.

Street Outreach Responsibilities

• Develop rapport and trusting relationships with clients where they live (streets, woods, ect.), focusing on connecting individuals to community, health and mental health care, and housing resources.
• Travel to client’s locations, usually outside, to provide outreach and navigation.

Community Partner Collaboration

• Work cooperatively and cohesively with other members of the staff team, including participation in staff meetings, staff training, and Hope Partnership events.
• Attend all required training, both internal and regional:

o Coordinated Entry 101

o Diversion

o Motivational Interviewing

o Trauma-Informed Care

o HMIS and HSN University

• Work cooperatively with partner organizations to ensure a high level of care for clients.

Hope Cares Day Responsibilities

• Help maintain event organization and flow.
• Engage in client care and outreach duties at the event.

Data Entry Responsibilities

• Complete data entry in a timely manner.
• Assure that all duties are properly tracked and recorded for grant reporting.
• Keep highly organized files for each client and enter appropriate data into the region’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

Other

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Previous case management or social service work experience.
• Bi-Lingual – English and Spanish preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and G Suite, with an ability to become familiar with organization-specific programs/software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and mediation skills.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize a variety of ongoing tasks.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to move, lift, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 20 pounds without assistance.
• Able to pass a background check.

Trauma-Informed Care Commitments

Hope Partnership is in the process of becoming a Trauma Informed Care certified organization. We acknowledge the effects of trauma on all of our lives and particularly on those who experience poverty and homelessness. This understanding impacts how we view and interact with ourselves, each other, our clients and as an organization. In our commitment to be trauma-responsive, Hope Partnership and team will follow these eight commitments to facilitate healing from trauma.

• Nonviolence- Assures all members of the community are safe; does not harm others.
• Emotional Intelligence- Recognizes and anticipates the influence that emotions have on behavior., and uses that information to guide practice.
• Open Communication- Practices awareness in communication with others; discusses issues directly and openly.
• Social Responsibility- Shares responsibility for doing good work, adhering to the rules of the community, and being accountable for their own behaviors and actions.
• Democracy- Encourages community members to share in decision-making; participates in decision-making processes.
• Social Learning- Creating an environment that encourages collaboration and learning from our mistakes without shame.
• Growth and Change- Believe individuals and systems can grow and heal; work to push beyond comfort zones through inquiry, self-reflection, or assessment, and acquiring knowledge.
• Equity & Cultural Humility- Recognizes that unjust systems cannot be separated from experiences and effects of trauma, centers equity in the pursuit of individual and institutional healing.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,000.00 - $40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Commute:

• Kissimmee, FL (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Kissimmee, FL: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person