IRCO - Street Outreach Specialist (Clackamas County) bei IRCO

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at www.irco.org.  

POSITION:                                  Street Outreach Specialist (Clackamas County)

JOB CLASS/GRADE:                  Coordinator 1/Specialist 2; Grade 7

WAGE:                                         Starting at $52,488 per year based on experience

FLSA; EEO; WC:                         Non-Exempt; Professional; 8864

LOCATIONS:                              Clackamas County (Office at Africa House 102 NE 102nd Ave Portland, OR 97220)

                                                     Hybrid schedule

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS:                1.0 FTE; Full-Time with Benefits; Regular

NUMBER OF POSITIONS:       (1)

APPLY AT:                                  www.irco.org 

STATUS:                                      Full-Time with Benefits

PROGRAM(S):                           Clackamas Street Outreach

SECTOR:                                     Housing and Supportive Services  

REQUIREMENTS: possess a valid driver's license and verification of current auto-insurance, and have full use of automobile during work hours

Bilingual in English and a language that is commonly spoken by immigrant and refugee communities highly preferred, including, Russian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Arabic, Dari, and African languages

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Program Summary
The Housing Team's purpose is to contact, connect, and build rapport with individuals in the community so that caseworkers can assess their housing needs. The goal is to move houseless individuals from the streets to temporary shelter or permanent housing.

Position Summary

The Street Outreach Specialist will be responsible for general oversight, development, and in-person outreach to locate camps and other sites in Clackamas County operated through IRCO’s Clackamas County Housing Program. The Street Outreach Specialist should be able to support the homeless in their path to housing, connecting participants to resources in Clackamas County housing programs.

The Street Outreach Specialist (SOS) is a team-oriented position and to be teamed with the Supportive Housing Case Managers. 

The SOS is critical to our efforts to address homelessness in Clackamas County. This position is committed to transforming the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness through comprehensive street outreach efforts that partner with participants and other agencies, connecting them to permanent housing solutions as quickly as possible.

This position is also responsible for tracking and maintaining participant information in IRCO and funder databases.

Essential Functions

The Street Outreach Specialist will mainly focus on:

• Reactive: Responding to new encampments and hot spots in Clackamas County
• Pre-Engagement: Building relationships with individuals living outside to assist and resource them to engage in search of shelter and housing
• Engagement: Connecting with the participants living outside with initial assessments, conducting eligibility assessments and referrals to Clackamas County Housing
• Provide bilingual support when necessary and empowerment-based advocacy and referrals to other sources of assistance
• Provide mobile advocacy in the community to best meet community needs
• Ensure connection with resources to meet participant needs
• Provide community aware advocacy that honors the lived experience of every immigrant and refugee and the community at large
• Effectively communicate available resources that support individuals with a broad range of lived experiences
• Connect participants with relevant community resources to address needs related to housing, employment, health, education, and financial assistance
• Serve as a primary contact for community partners that provide community aware services
• Effectively and respectfully work with people from a broad range of lived experiences
• Conducts face to face screening and obtain consents
• Conduct intake enrollment when applicable
• Provide a participant-centered approach and excellent customer service that is sensitive to the challenges of the community we serve
• Ability to work both as a member of a team and independently
• Strong people and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with people of varying racial, ethnic, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds

Secondary Functions

• Attend staff meetings, partner meetings, internal and external committee meetings as assigned
• Support organizational record keeping requirements
• Other duties as assigned as needed by the supervisor/coordinator

Education & Experience

MINIMUM JOB SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong planning and organizational skills required
• Strong knowledge and direct experience with IRCO’s prevention, intervention, and outreach programs and activities
• Ability to work collaboratively and positively with varied backgrounds teams across multiple programs and sites
• Ability to see a larger vision and bigger picture, but also be able to focus on programmatic details
• Strong knowledge of best practices in homeless populations people from a broad range of lived experiences
• Strong and accurate record keeping skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong interest and knowledge in safety planning and oversight
• Proven track record with data tracking, attendance, sign-in sheets, weekly program reports of work activities
• Proven track record with submission of mileage and other fiscal documents such as case notes, management receipts and other program documentation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in English and a language that is commonly spoken by immigrant and refugee communities highly preferred, including, Russian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Arabic, Dari, and African languages

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Communication: Regular communication inside and outside the organization to exchange ideas and gather information
• Creativity: Minimal need for the redesign of single focus process or procedure is needed
• Mental: There is regular variation in tasks and the job holder must decide which tasks to complete as well as the order in which tasks are completed
• Physical: Positions at this level require minimal physical effort such as light lifting, carrying or movement, etc. Physical capability involves use of office or equipment where some agility and hand eye coordination is needed
• Impact and Influence: Positions at this level have some need or ability to analyze problem or concepts or make decisions on the information. Positions at this level have some impact to and influence on organization operations, programs, expense or budgetary outcomes
• Work Independence: Positions perform routine work with regular supervision and generally are given instructions or written procedures. Positions occasionally encounter variation and are encouraged to suggest ways to respond, but can't take final action without approval
• Planning: Positions at this level must be able to foresee issues associated with own work and identify future needs for supplies, equipment, resources which would stall operations or activities
• Environment: There is a moderately low level of personal risk encountered.  Job conditions are occasionally uncomfortable relative to noise, temperature, inside/outside work, dirty conditions, or interactions with angry or hostile people
• Schedule: The work schedule occasionally fluctuates based on organization or customer needs. This fluctuation may occur with or without prior notice

Supervisory Responsibilities

Positions at this level are not responsible for any supervisory functions, or responsibilities, but may occasionally be asked to orient and/or train new employees or volunteers.

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit package to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community 
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year 
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting 
• 3% match for student loans or college savings 
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance 
• Flexible spending account

Required Engagement 

Engage fully in recommended professional development, as well as other assigned or required training activities. This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCO’s mission, vision, and values-based initiatives. 

How To Apply

1. Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.  
2. Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO Careers.  
3. For questions about this position, please email [email protected]

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCO’s main office, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and IRCO application.

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any characteristics protected by law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.