SUD Outreach Counselor

Hope Mission Statement

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions.

Position Purpose and Summary 

Substance use disorder affects a large portion of people living unsheltered and is one of the most persistent barriers between a person and stable housing. It is also one of the most misunderstood — by systems, by communities, and sometimes by the people experiencing it. The SUD Outreach Counselor exists because working effectively with this population takes real skill, genuine trust, and the willingness to meet people exactly where they are.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the SUD Outreach Counselor provides field-based outreach, assessment, case management, and crisis intervention to people living unsheltered who are dealing with substance use disorders — often alongside mental health conditions, medical needs, and significant trauma. This role works within a multidisciplinary outreach team across community and street-based settings, including evenings, nights, and weekends. It connects participants to substance use treatment, behavioral health services, housing interventions, and benefits — and walks with them through transitions that a simple referral alone rarely accomplishes.

Beyond clinical knowledge, this role requires the ability to build trust with people who have real reasons not to trust. Harm reduction is not just a program approach here — it is how this role shows up every day. The SUD Outreach Counselor keeps sight of both where someone is right now and where long-term stability could take them. Accurate documentation and data integrity 

are equally non-negotiable. The credibility of HTM's outreach programs depends on both the quality of the engagement and the accuracy of the record.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Outreach & Engagement

• Respond to requests for outreach services in community and street-based settings

• Conduct field-based engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness, including those with active substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions

• Perform assessments to identify participant needs, barriers, strengths, and appropriate interventions

• Engage participants in trauma-informed, active listening and problem-solving conversations

• Provide street-based case management with the goal of connecting participants to long-term supportive services

Service Linkage & Case Management

• Assist participants with benefits establishment, personal identification documents, employment linkages, housing referrals, and interim housing placement

• Provide linkages to substance use treatment, mental health services, healthcare, and other supportive services

• Remove barriers to alternative housing interventions including crisis housing, bridge housing, shared housing, sober living, and residential treatment programs

• Utilize Problem Solving Assistance Funds (PSAF) and other creative interventions to support immediate housing access

• Complete initial intake, screening, and CES triage tools as required

• Provide emergency referrals and warm handoffs to crisis housing, drop-in centers, domestic violence services, human trafficking support, sexual assault services, and mental health resources as appropriate

• Provide transportation and accompany participants to appointments, medical care, shelter placements, and service connections as needed

Documentation, Compliance & Collaboration

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in participant master files and HMIS in compliance with all applicable Scopes of Work

• Ensure all participant records are securely stored and confidentiality is maintained at all times.

• Collaborate with law enforcement, interim housing providers, healthcare partners, and community organizations to support participant transitions from street to housing and services

• Support participant, staff, volunteer, and visitor safety by de-escalating conflicts and identifying risks in field-based environments

• Participate in night and weekend outreach deployments as required by program operations

• Support outreach efforts across multiple geographic areas as assigned

• Assist with audit preparation and data retrieval as required

• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, trainings, and community meetings as needed

• Complete all assignments and evaluations accurately and within required timeframes

• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Valid California driver's license with an acceptable motor vehicle record qualifying for HTM's commercial insurance coverage.

• Reliable personal transportation and proof of vehicle insurance.

• Availability to work evenings, nights, and weekends as required by program deployment schedules.

• Ability to work in outdoor field-based environments across multiple community locations in Los Angeles County.

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. and perform the physical demands described in the job description.

• Compliance with HIPAA standards and all HTM company policies.

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or a related field preferred; minimum 1 year of experience in homeless services, supportive housing, or behavioral health settings considered in lieu of degree.

• SUD Registration or Certification in good standing with CAADE, CCAPP, or CADTP preferred.

• Experience working directly with individuals experiencing substance use disorders and co-occurring behavioral health conditions.

• Experience teaching or facilitating life skills.

• Familiarity with HMIS, CES, and applicable Scopes of Work preferred.

• Knowledge of Harm Reduction, Housing First, and Trauma-Informed Care frameworks.

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred, sufficient to communicate directly with participants.

Skills

• Street-based outreach and engagement with people experiencing homelessness, including those with active substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions.

• Trauma-informed communication and active listening; ability to build trust with people who have experienced significant barriers and system failures.

• Crisis intervention and de-escalation in field-based environments.

• Assessment of participant needs, barriers, and strengths; identification of appropriate interventions.

• Case management and service linkage including benefits establishment, housing referrals, and connections to substance use treatment, mental health, and healthcare services.

• Warm handoff and emergency referral coordination across crisis housing, domestic violence services, human trafficking resources, mental health supports, and drop-in centers.

• Accurate and timely documentation in HMIS and participant master files in compliance with all applicable Scopes of Work.

• Collaboration within multidisciplinary outreach teams and with law enforcement, healthcare partners, interim housing providers, and community organizations.

• Ability to work independently in field settings while maintaining accountability and documentation standards.

• Clear written and verbal communication.

Mandatory Requirements

• Background Screening – Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of  background checks as required per worksite.

• Drug and Alcohol Testing – Candidates must pass pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol screenings in accordance with company policy.

• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check – For roles requiring driving, employment is contingent upon an acceptable driving record.

• Legal Eligibility to Work – Candidates must provide proof of legal authorization to work in the US.

• Compliance with Company Policies and HIPAA standards – All employees must comply with company policies, including safety, confidentiality, and conduct standards.

• Must have reliable transportation.

• Must have proof of vehicle insurance coverage.

• Must have a valid CA drivers license. 

• Must be able to qualify for HTM’s commercial insurance coverage.

Physical, Demands, Environmental Conditions, Equipment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The employee is required to: walk and climb stairs; stand, bend,  squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis; grasp, push, pull objects such as  files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead; handle, finger, grasp and feel objects and equipment; reach with  hands and arms; be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; repeat various motions with  the wrists, hands, and fingers; be able to perform visual activities for (including, but not limited to) administrative  and clerical tasks; ability to lift up to 25 lbs.; communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of  the spoken and written word; drive vehicles in and around Los Angeles County; be able to enter various buildings  that may require climbing stairs; be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. The employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals; use a desktop and/or laptop computer; various office machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing. 

Work Environment

The employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using alcohol and drugs, and who may not be attentive to basic personal hygiene, health and safety practices. The employee may experience a number of unpleasant sensory demands associated with the participants’ use of alcohol and drugs, and lack of personal hygiene. The employee must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to many types of situations, including crisis situations and potentially hostile situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in an office setting. Sometimes work may become stressful when working under pressure or in crisis intervention.

EEO: HTM (Hope the Mission) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HTM complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, placement, promotion, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

HTM will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if HTM is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s Fair Chance Act webpage.