Peer Outreach Worker (MOC DG)

Intro/Program Description: Goddard Riverside invests in people & strengthens community, serving more than 20,000 people throughout New York City with a variety of programs for all ages. We work within a social justice framework to create a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families. Goddard is a partner within the Manhattan Outreach Consortium (MOC) a borough-wide initiative to serve the unsheltered community. MOC collaborates with various community partners and healthcare agencies throughout Manhattan.

Purpose of Position: This position will creatively and effectively engage individuals living on the street through outreach by utilizing a person centered, harm reduction approach. The position assists with housing placements and meets clients “where they are at” utilizing motivational interviewing techniques. The position works in conjunction with MOC teams.

Schedule: Monday- Friday 9am-5pm

Hourly Range: $22.25-$25.77

Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties

This field and office-based position, you will:

• Serve as case manager for homeless adults, with a goal of placing them in transitional and permanent housing
• Perform intake, assessment, service planning, advocacy, referral and escort services
• Maintain client case records and enter data in MOC and DHS databases databases using handheld and desktop computers.
• Provide follow-up case management for clients placed in housing, to promote retention and document outcomes
• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, training programs and supervision meetings; participate in program evaluation and improvement
• Communicate with evening/weekend staff and with staff of other agencies to coordinate client service
• Work as part of an inter disciplinary team to promote wellness
• Canvass, engage, and be a presence in specific areas with a high concentration of unsheltered clients
• Participate in the annual HOPE count and quarterly counts of homeless individuals living on the street, 4 overnight counts completed annually
• Build rapport and trusting relationship with clients more entrenched in the community
• Assist individuals to navigate the entitlement system. Advocate for needed benefits and ensure recertification of Public Assistance, SNAP, SSI/SSDI.
• Maintain an active resource directory
• Provide support utilizing harm reduction, motivational interviewing, person centered, trauma informed care recovery models
• Assess individuals for safety and advocate for additional services when needed
• Canvass for vulnerable individuals during Code Blue, Code Red, and during other appropriate times
• Maintain clear and appropriate boundaries with service recipients and their collaterals
• Drive outreach vehicle and take public transportation when necessary
• Other duties as required

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• High School diploma required; Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Candidate must have lived experience of homelessness
• Peer Specialist Certification required
• Valid driver’s license and a driving record that meets the agency’s auto insurance guidelines (including at least 1 year as a licensed driver and no suspensions within the last 3 years)

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Experience working with persons with mental illness or homelessness preferred
• Experience in Harm Reduction preferred
• Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced work environment
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Team player
• Good judgement
• Proficiency in Spanish/Chinese dialect preferred

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have/be:

• Able to work in the Microsoft Office Suite, should especially be proficient in Word and Outlook
• Able to use or learn other electronic databases, programs, and funder-related software, such as MOCapp and Streetsmart

Physical Requirements

• Frequent walking and standing
• Ability to lift up to 30lbs such as client belongings during moves

Work Environment

• Indoors and outdoors; all weather

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace community grounded in respect for differences. We support hiring a broadly diverse team of qualified individuals who will contribute to our organizations.

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Salary : $22 - $26