Harm Reduction Specialist

ABOUT US: - We believe that everyone deserves a home!

Breaking Ground operates nearly 4,000 units of housing across New York City, along with housing in upstate New York and Connecticut. Supportive housing - affordable housing paired with services designed to help people maintain their homes for the long-term - is widely recognized as a proven and cost-effective solution to chronic homelessness.

But we didn't stop at providing housing. Breaking Ground's programs and services help people experiencing street homelessness - especially those who have been on the streets the longest - to come indoors. Through our Street to Home outreach program and transitional housing resources, we help people get, and stay, on the path to a permanent home.

Breaking Ground’s Street to Home programs makes regular contact with more than 2,000 street homeless individuals and connects more than 500 individuals to housing, medical and mental health services, substance abuse counseling, and other essential supports each year. The caring, individually tailored attention clients receive at each stage of their journey from street to home ensures that more than 95% of people who Breaking Ground places remain stably housed. 

Reporting to the Assistant Program Director, the Harm Reduction Specialist for S2H Manhattan Outreach will be located in Manhattan serving people experiencing homelessness (some with mental illness and/or substance use disorders) in order to assist the individual in the transitioning to permanent housing.  Position responsibilities will include liaising with Peer-Delivered Syringe Exchange; Mobile Provider Syringe Exchange; developing, implementing, and facilitating in-house group programming; and providing and tracking opioid overdose prevention training for staff and clients.  They will ensure safe sex education and materials are available to all residents.  This individual will be expected to partner with appropriate Harm Reduction Service partners in the community that can provide services to the clients in the community. 

This position’s hours are Monday-Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm with one late evening per week e.g. 11:00am – 7:00 pm; and it has a 35-hour work week

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create and manage core Harm Reduction based curriculum with Manhattan Outreach
• Liaise with external Harm Reduction based partners to help coordinate services
• Coordinate and facilitate groups with clients
• Assist program leadership in creating trainings for staff that ensure Harm Reduction practices are being taught and exercised by staff
• Ensure all staff are aware of needle stick prevention methods and agency policy and procedure around responding to needle sticks
• Ensure that there are adequate syringe disposal containers on site that are strategically located throughout the program site and will ensure that containers are emptied regularly
• Ensure there are always safer-sex resources available to clients that are accessible in common spaces
• Liaise with on-site psychiatric and primary care provider, to support treatment planning which includes medications aimed at reducing/eliminating alcohol use
• Perform other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Two years of experience working with homeless adults and substance abuse issues preferred
• Experience with harm reduction and motivational interviewing techniques strongly preferred
• Valid NY, NJ, CT, or PA driver’s license with a good driving record, as defined by Breaking Ground is preferred
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel and the ability to learn new programs
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Bilingual Spanish/English is preferred