OHM Outreach Professional in Chicago, Illinois at Night Ministry

Position Summary:

Provides compassionate care and support for people living outside and seeking services from the Night Ministry. Delivers services and support in accordance with The Night Ministry’s vision and purpose.

Position Responsibilities:

· Be available as a listening ear and resource to people the outreach team visits; establish relationships and build rapport in a non-judgmental way; employ motivational interviewing and risk reduction methods to engage visitors in services available.

· Prepare supplies for outreach shifts, load them into the vehicle, and return them at the end of the shift.

· Drive the Outreach Van as scheduled, keep vehicle maintained (organized, clean, re-fueled, stocked); serve as outreach support for staff and volunteers while on the streets; coordinate with staff about the schedule and knowledge of outreach locations to be visited.

· Distribute survival and other outreach supplies to clients. Organize and provide risk reduction kits.

· Offer referrals for social services, complete vital document vouchers, assist Case Manager with other forms and referrals to housing services.

· Complete, maintain and submit required documents and data entry accurately and on schedule in external and internal databases, i.e. Electronic Health Records (EHR), Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).

· Maintain organization in the program storage room. Inform leadership when supplies need to be ordered.

· Give volunteers opportunities to participate, as well as the opportunity to serve whenever possible. Help orient new volunteers to our services.

· Must be trauma competent, culturally competent (i.e., LGBTQ+, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, etc.) and street culture competent, and able to work with diverse populations.

· Keep up-to-date with the issues related to the target population, including current literature, available resources, and street dynamics.

· Attend staff, agency and inter-agency meetings as required. Participate in training opportunities as required.

· Occasionally represent The Night Ministry to community groups, participating in The Night Ministry’s public relations and fund-raising activities as required or as able.

· Special projects and duties as assigned.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list, and duties may change as business needs evolve.

Essential Skills and Experience:

· BA degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent experience doing outreach with people experiencing homelessness.

· Valid driver’s license, evidence of insurability, able and willing to drive the Outreach Van.

· Physically able to be outdoors and/or mobile outdoors for as long as six consecutive hours, day or night, including weekends, in all varieties of Chicago weather.

· Collaborate to locate, create and maintain relationships with people experiencing homelessness through outreach. This includes participation in van-based outreach, on foot outreach in selected areas, staffing of daytime or evening programming, where people experiencing homelessness are likely to congregate.

· Comfort with developing and implementing new venues and methods of outreach.

· Street smarts; able to work comfortably in all Chicago neighborhoods.

· Evidence of excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.

Nonessential Skills and Experience:

· Spanish speaking.

Reporting to this position:

No direct reports.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environmental characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; climb stairs; crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally drive an automobile; and lift and/or move 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

· Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may vary at the different locations required in this job.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The Night Ministry is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.