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Job DetailsJob Location: SAN JOSE, CA 95126Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $26.00 - $27.00 HourlyAbout Bill Wilson Center: Bill Wilson Center is a nationally and regionally recognized leader for providing services to at-risk youth and families. Our agency -- from our executive team to our line staff -- is committed to improving the lives and conditions of the people we serve. We provide direct services to more than 3,500 children, youth, young adults and families in Santa Clara County. BWC provides services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of our whole community. We value our unique ethnic diversity as well as the LGBTQ community and non-able body community. Join us and become a difference maker at Bill Wilson Center!  Job Summary: The Outreach specialist for the Homeless Call Center has a unique opportunity to help individuals and Families experiencing homelessness by signing them up for shelter, connecting them with resources in Santa Clara county, and transporting them and their belongings to an emergency shelter program that has been pre-arranged when needed. The Outreach Specialist is an important member of a team that is assessing and addressing challenges faced by a caller and providing immediate solutions that ensure their safety and get them off the streets both in the call center and out in encampments. The housing problem solving approach supports the effective implementation of homelessness prevention, diversion, and rapid exit strategies which are part of the coordinated entry process. If needed, the individual or family is also referred and transported to one of the open shelter beds available in the county. When needed, the HPS program will have the financial resource needed to help households avoid entering homelessness. This resource will be available to other community partners. The homeless Services Call Center is in full operation 7 days/week 10 hours/day. It is an integral part of the county’s Continuation of Care and Coordinated Entry System to end homelessness. Essential Duties/Responsibilities: Conduct initial screening to assess appropriate service suggestions and facilitate setting appointments for referrals and/or services. Act as liaison between individuals or families experiencing a housing crisis and supportive services, Shelters and community agencies. Enter, update and maintain data in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and track and report progress. Locate, assist, and verify homelessness of clients Answers daily routine and emergency phone telephone calls related to unstably housed unhoused individuals diverting them from emergency shelter placements. Supports caller through a strength based approach identifying caller’s own network of support to problem solve towards housing stability. Completes triage form with caller collecting personal information needed for placement: demographic information, contact information, referring agency contact, health questionnaire. Refers clients to other service agencies as necessary (ie. Reentry Resource Center, Domestic Violence providers, Social Services Agency). Escalates critical and time sensitive situations to BWC Management. Transport Clients and their belongings to pre-assigned homeless shelters Clean and maintain the interior of all transportation vehicles Other duties as assigned. QualificationsEducation and Experience: High school diploma or Equivalent Personal or lived experience with the criminal/legal system, housing instability, social services, or other systemic challenges is valued. Required Skills/Abilities: Must have valid California driver’s license Must be able to be insured through the company Ability to read and interpret documents Ability to write reports Ability to talk and collaborate with staff, other organizations, and clients Ability to navigate through Santa Clara county Ability to stay seated for long periods of time in the office and in vehicles during work hours Ability to walk through homeless encampments and water ways Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to remain stationary at their workspace/inside vehicle, communicate with and gather information from clients, and input data in HMIS. The employee must occasionally move objects weighing up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to walk through encampments and water ways safely and provide support with outreach partner while out in the field. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job. Work Environment: Shared work space within the office utilizing computer, phone and head set Working in encampments and water ways to provide resources to clients throughout Santa Clara County Collaboration events with the county and other homeless service providers High volumes of incoming and outgoing calls during peak hours Driving throughout Santa Clara county to Locate clients and encampments Transport Clients to designated Santa Clara county Homeless Shelters Driving during traffic hours within Santa Clara county Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job. Salary Range: $27.00 per hour/year. Employee Benefits & Perks: We offer a generous compensation package for full-time employees that includes the following: 4 Weeks Accrued PTO 14 Paid Holidays Per Year Paid Health, Dental, Vision & Voluntary Life Insurance Plans Flexible Spending Plans for Medical, Dependent Care, Parking and Transit 401 (K) Retirement Plan 24/7 Employee Assistance Program Upward Career Mobility Discounts and Savings through Tickets at Work and LifeMart EEO: Bill Wilson Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.
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