Job Information
Eliot Community Human Services Homeless Engagement Counselor (Bachelors level) in Boston, Massachusetts
Description
Eliot looks forward to hiring an engagement and outreach counselor to support our service provision in the Boston Metropolitan area. This position will engage with various agencies in partnership to provide mental health focused services to adult individuals experiencing homelessness.
Eliot’s statewide Outreach and Engagement service model structure is based on integrating an array of services and supports that can be utilized and tailored to the needs of each individual serve. We understand the unique needs of each client and the county, municipality, and DMH region in which we serve.
. Responsibilities:
Perform outreach and engagement activities to identify homeless people living in public places, drop in centers, meal sites and shelters.
Provide concrete services such as warm clothing, blankets, and food to reduce risk of harm on the streets.
Encourage use of shelter, meal sites, and other services and public entitlements and facilitate linkage to these when accepted by homeless individuals.
Maintain a thorough, current knowledge of local public and private resources including housing, residential programs, and other community organizations. Maintain positive working relationships with representatives of these organizations.
Coordinate efforts with the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Public Health to ensure the effective use of resources.
Provide supportive contact, including active listening to individuals, as appropriate, to alleviate distress and support transition to services and housing.
Provide linkage and referral to emergency shelter, meal sites, mental health and substance abuse treatment, public entitlements, and other community services including follow-up and case management.
Conduct assessments of each individual and document eligibility in the consumer record.
Schedule: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Bilingual preferred.
Eliot is committed to identifying and dismantling barriers that prevent people with marginalized racial identities from actualizing their full employment potential, assuming leadership roles, or from fully engaging at all levels in the workplace.
Qualifications
Skills
Preferred
Bi-lingual Spanish: Intermediate
Communication Skills: Intermediate
Computer Software Skills: Intermediate
Experience with population: Intermediate
Behaviors
Preferred
- Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
Motivations
Preferred
- Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization
Education
Required
- Bachelors or better in Social Work
Licenses & Certifications
Preferred
- MA Driver's License
Experience
Required
- 2 years: Experience working with homeless population and/or individuals with substance abuse/mental illness or co-occurring illness