Hiring: Homeless Services Outreach Coordinator

Shannon Davidson

Union Gospel Mission Position Description

POSITION TITLE: Homeless Services Outreach Coordinator

REPORTS TO: Homeless Services Director

SUPERVISES: N/A

LOCATION: 3 NW Third Avenue; a significant part of the role will take place outside of the Union Gospel Mission Facility

STATUS: Part-time, non-exempt, up to 30 hours per week

WAGE: $17 per hour

OVERALL POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position will focus primarily on women and children, helping to assist and direct them toward services that help to meet the root cause of their homelessness – health care, mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment and supportive housing. The position will support overnight shelter graveyard shifts between November and March.

The Coordinator will primarily work daytime hours, approximately 80% time mobile, providing outreach services to individuals who experience homelessness outside of the City Center. The Coordinator will occasionally do night outreach and provide overnight shelter support with a team of UGM program residents and volunteers.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide basic needs such as food, water, clothing, and temporary shelter in emergency situations.
• Respond to people experiencing acute crisis or escalated/unregulated states through a trauma informed and strengths-based approach.
• Provide case management to connect people, primarily women and children, to transitional services through Union Gospel Mission and other organizations.
• Provide individual care coordination to support people in navigating systems of care.
• Schedule appointments and make referrals for individuals with health/social services agencies.
• Provide advocacy at the individual and community levels.
• Have an understanding or willingness to learn about local resources and develop meaningful relationships with partner agencies.
• Manage overnight shelter at Portland Central Nazarene Church (9715 SE Powell Blvd) with one other staff or LifeChange resident, between November and March, 8:30pm-7am, one or two shifts each week.
• Coordinate closely with the Homeless Services Director and on-site Coordinator to support people experiencing homelessness who express a desire to enter LifeChange recovery and/or other services.
• Monitor and report on quantitative and qualitative progress and outcomes.
• Meet with volunteers, churches, and non-profit organizations to represent Union Gospel Mission, network, and build partnerships.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Committed Christ-follower.
• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in case management, mental health, or related field.
• Knowledge of specific challenges faced by women, children and marginalized genders experiencing homelessness, including domestic and sexual violence, physical and mental health challenges and impacts from substance abuse or a demonstrated willingness to learn.
• Experience with a diverse group of church denominations.
• Strong personal, organizational, and project management skills.
• Warm yet professional demeanor.
• Comfortable working with a wide diversity of stakeholders including volunteers, the LifeChange recovery community, daily mission visitors.
• Able to deal with tense interactions with skill and diplomacy.
• Excellent de-escalation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and public-speaking skills.
• Able to quickly problem-solve; creative, and a self-starter.
• Proven ability to collaborate with a team and produce excitement and support for new initiatives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Internet.
• Driver license/clean record.
• Experience driving 15-passenger van or equivalent sized vehicle.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• A criminal history and background check are required and must be successfully completed
• Ability to lift at least 50 lbs. unassisted
• Ability to walk up and down steep, muddy hills
• The Bible is the Word of God

QUALIFICATIONS:

Character: Strong commitment to the vision and values of Union Gospel Mission, have a passion for the gospel, and a desire to serve the homeless, broken, and addicted. Must be a follower of Jesus Christ and actively involved in a local Christian church. Must adhere to UGM’s statement of faith and standards of conduct.

As a faith-based non-profit, UGM seeks individuals who align with our understanding of biblical and moral teaching as expressed in the UGM Statement of Faith:

We believe:

• There is one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and will come again in power and glory
• People are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and that faith is expressed by confession and repentance
• The Holy Spirit empowers believers to know and worship God

Please send resume to Shannon Davidson at shannond@ugmportland.org.

Union Gospel Mission

3 NW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97209

503-274-4483