What is TOOF?

The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF) is a nonprofit that offers extremely low-barrier work opportunities, case management, and humanitarian aid to people experiencing homelessness. TOOF offers several homeless services related programs which include the Work-Force First (WFF) program, the Mobile Hygiene Clinic, Going Home, and the service coordinator for the Esperanza Community.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING

The Other Ones Foundation strives to nurture and empower an inclusive environment in which everyone is recognized, valued and respected for their contribution regardless of the color of their skin, their gender identity or gender expression, where they live or who they love. Leveraging the diversity of our organization is essential to our ability to strengthen the mission of our organization: The Other Ones Foundation transitions Austin’s homeless neighbors into an engaged community through shelter, opportunity, and support.

Job Summary:

People with lived experience including people with a history of or on-going homelessness, drug use, justice involvement, living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C, and/or history of engaging or on-going engagement in sex work are highly encouraged to apply.

The Community Engagement Specialist helps to deliver services to support housing stability, independent-living, societal reentry, and long-term recovery for community members at the Esperanza Community. This position will engage community members in sharing lived experience, advocacy, and supporting work around homelessness, reentry, substance use/harm reduction practices, and mental health.

Under the direction of the Program Manager of Community Engagement, and the direct supervision of Community Engagement Team Leads. This role is community based and demands excellent people skills, a passion for direct client services, and creating relationships. All interactions will be person centered, peer driven, be racially and culturally diverse, strengths-based, trauma informed, healing centered, and have a harm-reduction perspective.

Specialists are expected to model transformational change by sharing lived experiences to bring hope and engage clients by providing education, advocacy, and/or outreach. The Community Engagement Program offered by The Other Ones Foundation has a strong focus on giving a voice to the community to identify resources, needs, and potential barriers that may be experienced. This position will function as a support within the Community Engagement Department including support of all Community Engagement Programming. This position allows for creativity and personal passions and interests to be shared with community members.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Support Community Engagement event planning and facilitation.
• Facilitate meetings, classes, events, and activities with the residents of the Community, including driving the Esperanza Shuttle.
• Provide individual or group services to support members of the Community including recovery strategies, self-help, self-advocacy, accessing resources, and other supervisor-approved topics.
• Work to connect the community with requested programs, resources and services, including staffing our Community Center Front Desk operations.
• Serve as a role model who shares personal strengths and skills as well as the hope that transformation and growth is possible for everyone.
• Model, advocate, and promote healthy goals and philosophy within the Community.
• Assist peers in developing and maintaining a comprehensive wellness plan by identifying personal strengths, interests, social relationships, hopes, and sources of well-being, as well as knowledge and skills supporting their personal healing journey.
• Educate clients on accessing community opportunities and resources, matching their interests and hopes for the future and linking them to these resources. · Document “minutes” from those meetings and interactions including inputting relevant data into HMIS or Apricot.
• Help navigate the delivery and presentation of resources and information to the Community.
• Facilitate meetings, groups, events, and activities with the residents of the Community.
• Triage and respond to client need requiring further service provision, referrals or navigation support within the community.
• Develop skills necessary to assist an individual manage their challenges during interactions; including de-escalation, emotional regulation, and crisis intervention when needed.
• Remain flexible to shifting office demands and organizational growth over time.
• Provide supports and feedback for resolving potential barriers in the community.
• Engage in a daily practice of building community and model neighborly behavior.
• Management of donation inventory and organization at Esperanza Community.
• Integration of volunteers into Community Engagement Programming as needed.
• Work closely with other Divisions of the organization to disseminate information
• Help cultivate an interdisciplinary work environment and work collaboratively with other department team members.
• Work collaboratively with collateral service providers.
• Establish and nurture strong relationships with partner organizations that serve the community.
• Track partner outreach, correspondence, input and requirements, including meeting notes & tasks.
• Attend and participate in team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience working with individuals who are homeless and/or at risk of homelessness, and familiarity with the nuanced sub-cultures shared by people who have experienced chronic homelessness.
• Ability to promote a culture that encourages low barrier access to services.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and engagement skills with a challenging population in nontraditional work environments.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Well-organized and apt in problem-solving.
• Proficiency in motivating others and problem solving.
• Competent technology skills, including experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.).
• De-escalation and conflict mediation skills.
• Proficiency in motivating others and problem solving.
• Ability to work collaboratively with co-workers and external partners.
• Ability to deliver services to a culturally and ethnically diverse population.
• Ability to multi-task and complete assignments in an effective manner.
• Exceptional verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• High professional standards and dedication to the organization’s mission, vision & values.
• Proficient in Harm Reduction principles and practices.
• Valid Driver's License.
• Weightlifting requirement of 35lbs.

Salary & Benefits:

• Starting at $51,674.69
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance - 50% of employee premium paid
• Paid time off - Vacation & Sick Time
• Parental leave
• Growth and Development Opportunities
• Vision insurance
• 401K
• Must be willing to work weekends and will be on a regular and predictable schedule of 10-hour shifts. These positions will either be on a Sunday through Wednesday schedule or Wednesday through Saturday schedule.
• Day shift

Austin, TX 78741: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Preferred)

• Work Location: One location

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