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 Outreach Navigator will serve as a member of our Hope Cares Outreach/Diversion Team, working collaboratively with community partners to move those experiencing homelessness toward housing. The Outreach Navigator will hold interactions that are informed 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 Outreach Navigator’s primary job is to identify and reach out to Chronically Homeless Individuals in Osceola County through direct street outreach activities in collaboration with the Hope Cares Outreach/Diversion Team. In identifying highly vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness, the Outreach Navigator will develop rapport, administer assessment tools, and facilitate housing conversations and/or navigate into available housing programs. This involves working closely with partner organizations and other government agencies to obtain the necessary documentation for each client. The Outreach Navigator will be expected to work in the field through street outreach, in homeless encampments, and/or any place not meant for human habitation, and complete office work by submitting documentation in a centralized homeless management information system.

The Outreach Navigator must possess the ability to self-start and exercise good judgment; strong verbal and written communication skills; data management, problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, and interpersonal skills; ability to follow assigned workflows and procedures; ability to handle multiple tasks and manage competing demands; standard office computing skills required.

Reports to: Housing Stability Manager

Salary: $38,000-42,000 plus benefits

Responsibilities and Duties

Client Responsibility

• Assist clients with accessing resources, making referrals, and completing assessments; continue to engage with clients until shelter or permanent housing is obtained.
• 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.
• Listen with sensitivity to other people's needs, and points of view; demonstrates tact and courtesy in expressing options and ideas.

Street Outreach Responsibility

• Develop rapport and trusting relationships with clients where they live (streets,woods, etc.), focusing on connecting individuals to community, health and mental healthcare, and housing resources.
• Travel to the client's location, usually outside, to provide outreach and navigation.
• Locate the regions of Osceola County where people are living through homelessness and identify the specific needs of these communities.

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, and Chronic Registry Meetings.
• Work cooperatively with partner organizations to ensure a high level of care for clients.
• 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

Hope Cares Day Responsibilities

• Help maintain event organization and flow.
• Engage in client care and street outreach duties at the event.
• Transporting clients to and from Hope Cares Day 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 in social work or related field or 2 years of equivalent social services experience.
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of case management and homeless services best practices including motivational interviewing, and trauma informed care preferred.
• Works effectively with people of varying racial, ethnic, cultural, educational and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Has basic understanding of severe mental health, physical health, and substance abuse issues.
• Listens with sensitivity to other people’s feelings, needs, and point of view; demonstrates tact and courtesy in expressing options and ideas.
• Displays appropriate, professional, healthy boundaries and exercises mature judgment and understanding of safety concerns.
• Adapts well to changing priorities and challenging individuals.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Detail oriented with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing experience preferred. Possesses a valid Florida driver’s license and a clean driving record.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work outside for extended periods of time.
• Ability to move, lift, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 10 pounds without assistance.
• Able to pass a background check.

Physical Demands, Environmental Conditions, Equipment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential job functions. Employee is required to: walk and climb stairs; reach with hands and arms; be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; carry and lift; climb hills; walk through wooded areas; bend, stoop or kneel; operate a

computer keyboard; able to complete all forms in personal writing; make and receive telephone calls; use a copier.

Outreach Navigator 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 Outreach Navigator 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. Street outreach is conducted consistently. It is an opportunity for the Outreach Navigator to experience the day-to-day challenges of Osceola County neighbors experiencing homelessness and identify their needs.

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.