Community Street Outreach Worker

**Organization Summary**

**Mission**:To reduce homelessness through advocacy, education, empathy and community building

**Vision**:Making affordable housing a reality in a non-judgemental partnership with community, government, and businesses.

**Values**:

- **Inclusivity**:_ Providing services to individuals regardless of their race, sexuality, gender identity, or religion. Working with individuals regardless of their health status, past criminal convictions, past or current substance use.
- **Equity**:_Providing services based on ongoing evaluation of an individual’s specific needs. Accountability: Setting and achieving measurable outcomes that can be monitored and reported to our society members and the community at large. As well as challenging each other to strive for excellence and continued learning.
- **Community Building**:_ Nurturing relationships within our communities through meaningful engagement, education, and partnerships.
- **Advocacy**:_ Providing community education on best practice to end homelessness and working with local government and property owners to increase the availability of supportive and affordable housing.

**Population Served**:THOS provides low barrier, human-centered support that is rooted in harm reduction practices using anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed approaches to care. We support individuals of all genders (16+) and couples who experience barriers to housing including; criminalization, gender-based violence, transphobia, racism, homophobia, varying levels of life skills, inadequate access to mental and physical health supports, racism, challenges with alcohol and substance use, and poverty.

**Position Summary**: The Outreach Program is a new initiative funded by the Department of Community Services, which will support the growth of THOS and the services we provide to the unhoused and insecurely housed community members. The Community Street Outreach Worker's role is to build rapport and connections with unhoused and vicariously housed individuals throughout Colchester County and East Hants, with the goal to support the identified needs of community members, connecting them with services within their community, and supporting their engagement with housing support services.

Street outreach is a critical aspect of community response to homelessness, involving the identification and engagement of individuals living in unsheltered locations including but not limited to: abandoned buildings, cars, encampments, parks, and the street. Outreach Case Workers meet people where they are, developing genuine relationships and linking them to community resources, primarily to secure stable housing. The Community Street Outreach team will interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from communities made marginalized and vulnerable, who may not typically access services, ensuring the fair provision of resources through trauma-informed and culturally sensitive practices. The goal of the outreach program is to improve access to resources and provide lifesaving connections.

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Under the supervision of the Outreach Coordinator, the Community Street Outreach Worker (Full-time) is responsible for**:

- Providing individuals with essential community resources to meet their immediate and long term identified needs. Supporting unsheltered individuals to gain access to life sustaining resources such as food, tents, hygiene products, sleeping bags, and assisting with access to income via Income Assistance, pension, or unemployment.
- Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with partner agencies such as the Department of Community Services, Cobequid Housing, property owners, and property management companies, as well as other service providers related to housing.
- Ensuring that all interactions are carried out in a safe, dignified, and culturally responsive manner.
- Providing support to individuals during periods of escalation and dysregulation, while under the influence of alcohol or substances, or while in crisis.
- Ensures that support is confidential and that information is not shared without the individual's informed consent. All documentation relevant to confidentiality is complete and stored in a secure location that is accessible to appropriate staff.
- Maintain statistical data relevant to the outreach program, as outlined by the Outreach Coordinator and program funder's.
- Develop and sustain essential landlord relationships to support continued opportunities for client’s
- Actively participating in the broader community to support education on homelessness Support for initiatives and develop long‐term strategies for addressing homelessness in the community.
- Maintains accurate, detailed, confidential records including timely input within the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) database.
- Facilitate the Hospitality drop-in hours at THOS between 5pm-8pm Wednesdays, and 4pm-8