Homelessness & Mental Health Outreach Specialist

Outreach Specialist - $3000 Hiring Bonus Available*

The Company: Pathways Vermont is a dynamic nonprofit agency committed to permanently ending homelessness and offering innovative mental health services through ongoing supportive social work.

The Role: Opportunity to join a brand new team supporting Vermonters experiencing homelessness to find permanent housing and access community resources. Vermont has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of people who are unhoused throughout the state. Pathways’ Outreach team will assist individuals and households who struggle with mental health challenges and/or mental health and substance use challenges to access housing as quickly as possible. Pathways is especially interested in hiring someone who has their own experience with homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use, incarceration, poverty or other serious challenges.

Available Positions: One

Location: In person (Bennington Vermont)

Schedule: Full-Time (35-40 Hours Weekly)

Application Requirements:

A Cover Letter and Resume are required with your application.

Responsibilities:

• Engage in assertive outreach, service coordination, advocacy, and other supports for program participants

• Building rapport and relationships with individuals, meeting people where they are including motels, shelters, and camping areas

• Participate in outreach and engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness who have serious mental health challenges or co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges

• Maintain written and computerized records, compile reports and complete other documentation requirements

• Practice Critical Time Intervention, harm reduction, Intentional Peer Support, SOAR, active engagement and other best practices for supporting persons experiencing homelessness

• Attendance at the annual All Staff and Programmatic Retreats is an expectation of employment with Pathways Vermont, unless excused by the employee’s manager/HR. Retreats are held on workdays, during normal working hours, and are fully paid.

• Other Duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use, and/or homelessness and willingness to engage from a lived experience perspective strongly preferred

• Bachelor's degree or comparable life experience

• Patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons with disabilities, and persons experiencing extreme challenges

• Drivers License and vehicle required

• Flexible schedule and travel required

• Willingness to self-reflect, learn, and practice new ways of being in relationships

• Risk and discomfort tolerance

Compensation:

• $23-$25/hour

• $3000 Hiring Bonus Available*

*Hiring bonus will be paid in the next pay cycle after successful completion of 60 day introductory period

Benefits:

• Mileage Reimbursement

• Medical, dental and vision insurance

• Long Term Disability/Life Insurance

• Paid Time Off (accrual of 210 hours per year to start)

• 9 Paid Holidays Annually

• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

• Employee Assistance Program

• Employee Wellness Reimbursement Program

• Longevity Recognition Rewards

• Access to a wide variety of Pathways facilitated trainings including Intentional Peer Support

It is the policy of Pathways Vermont that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disability. Pathways Vermont is committed to a diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve, and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people including people with military experience, individuals with disabilities, and people of color.