Outreach Program Director Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

At New Narrative, we believe mental health care is community care. As a nonprofit organization, we partner with individuals to promote healing, housing stability, and long-term wellness through compassionate, equitable support.
If you're passionate about community impact, we invite you to join our team.
Purpose:
The Temporary Peer Outreach Worker provides direct outreach services as part of the Washington County Outreach Services program. This temporary position is intended to provide staffing coverage for planned and unplanned absences within the Outreach program and is currently anticipated to conclude in September 2026. Depending on program needs, funding, and organizational priorities, the assignment may be extended beyond the anticipated end date or transition into a permanent position within New Narrative's Supportive Housing Department.
The Temporary Peer Outreach Worker promotes a person-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach to engaging individuals experiencing homelessness. The Outreach Worker builds trusting relationships with participants, supports individuals in identifying their goals, and connects them with housing, shelter, behavioral health, and other community resources. Services are driven by participant choice and delivered in alignment with New Narrative's Mission, Vision, and Values.
The Temporary Peer Outreach Worker provides outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Washington County. The position adheres to New Narrative outreach policies and procedures and fulfills the scope of services specified in the Washington County contract.
The Outreach Worker responds promptly to referrals and requests for outreach services, demonstrates knowledge of outreach best practices, and performs work that supports contract outcomes and program performance measures.
Responsibilities include engaging individuals in the community, identifying immediate needs, assisting participants in developing individualized housing and service plans, and connecting them with available resources based on their preferences and goals. The Outreach Worker maintains knowledge of local shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, behavioral health, and community resources and assists participants in navigating these systems. The position completes required documentation, coordinates with community partners, and communicates effectively with the outreach team to ensure continuity of care.
The Temporary Peer Outreach Worker develops and maintains positive working relationships with Washington County, Community Action, the shelter network, Continuum of Care (CoC) housing providers, behavioral health providers, private landlords, and other community partners to support participant success.
This position is primarily community-based and requires frequent travel throughout Washington County to provide outreach services where individuals are located.
Accountabilities: (Responsibilities of the job)
Housing Navigation/Referrals

• Completes or refers individuals to Community Connect Assessments for homeless individuals or individuals approaching homelessness in the community

• Develop relationship with Housing TEAM members and familiarity with programs, referring individuals when meeting criteria for a particular program

• Assist individuals to learn about and get on subsidized housing wait lists

Outreach

• Coordinate outreach activities to build connection with unhoused individuals

• Identify traditionally underserved populations and coordinates outreach efforts to support and serve these individuals. Temporary Peer Outreach Worker will work with Team Lead, and Housing TEAM members to provide culturally informed services

• Identifies barriers to service and support, such as transportation issues, and works with individuals on plan to mutually overcome these barriers

• Identifies needs for emergency assistance (clothing, blankets, etc.), design short-term solutions for meeting individual's basic needs.

• Responds to referrals from outreach subcommittee, triage referrals, and proceed with linkage to services as appropriate.

• Must be willing to provide street and camp outreach and meeting participants where they're at.

Case Management

• Supports individuals in identifying their needs and goals, providing referral and support in accessing identified services/resources, as requested

• Provides information about short term and options for shelter/housing, if either is or both are identified as a desired goal

• Provide support as individual navigates steps necessary to participate in processes related to programs/services like ASSIST Program, DHS, etc.

• Assist individuals to obtain ID, Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, and other documentation.

• Coordinates referral and follow up support with shelter, transitional housing and supportive housing services to ensure individual feels confident in ability to effectively navigate these resources independently

• Assesses individual's situation in regards to wellness and safety, providing support to access emergency medical or mental health services, as needed; provides crisis support as needed; assists individuals to identify support team members and community resources that may be utilized for support or in the event of crisis situation

Administrative

• Documents all activities, engagement, outreach and related services provided in HMIS

• Walks with individual through processes of program enrollment, if chosen by outreach eligible individual in HMIS-reviews and completes all program-related documents with the individual.

• Attends all agency and community meetings as assigned

• Collaborates with other providers to navigate systems, coordinate services, and strengthen support team, as requested by individual

Peer Support

• Provide all services from a peer-informed, peer-based perspective

• Apply the principles and tasks of IPS to all aspects of program and services

• Ensure peer support values, principles and practices are maintained as key component of team culture and services

Misc.

• Donation collections for outreach participants

Other General Expectations:

• Attend and positively participate in required meetings.

• Pursue ongoing development of skills and competencies.

• Follow all corporate policies, procedures, and protocols.

• Maintain current Oregon Driver's License and insurance.

• Follow through on all directives and instructions.

• Maintain security of all corporate interests.

Positions Reporting: (Listing of job incumbents reporting into this position)
Will report to Outreach Team Lead
Education/Certificates/Licenses/Registration:
THW, PSS, CRM, etc. certification preferred. Self-certified lived experiences (MH, SA Recovery, Houselessness, etc.) desired.
Experience working with adults diagnosed with severe mental illness, and computer literacy is required. Valid driver's license and insurance is required.
Experience/Qualifications:
Those with lived experience are highly encouraged to apply. Must have some knowledge of serving houseless individuals and is familiar with their needs. Strong motivational interviewing skills are needed. Experience addressing Substance Use Disorders issues desired. Familiar with mental health service delivery system preferred.
Must possess the ability to interface with other agencies, actively work with and partner with community stakeholders in a collaborative manner, and represent the agency in a professional manner. Must be able to work independently. Ability to develop and follow policies and procedures for field work in an unstructured setting desired.
All of our job openings are located in Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding metro areas.