The Hospitality Hub of Memphis Street Outreach Specialist Memphis, TN · Full time

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The Hospitality Hub works to help people exit homelessness. Located in downtown Memphis, the Hub campus is a safe, kind, and respectful environment that serves as a single point of entry to comprehensive support services for those experiencing homelessness. We provide our guests with the stabilizing resources they need, including temporary shelter, assistance acquiring identification, employment opportunities, and referrals to community partners.

Street Outreach Specialist

About the role:

Street Outreach Specialists implement the Hospitality Hub’s efforts to enroll individuals experiencing street homelessness into the Continuum of Care. The Street Outreach Specialists are responsible for representing the Hub to individuals experiencing homelessness and for maintaining positive relationships with partners. Street Outreach Specialists build rapport with each individual experiencing homelessness. Individuals who initially refuse services may become more willing over time with proper cultivation and trust-building by the Specialist.

Team Culture and Expectations: The Hub is a human first social agency meaning our goal is to decrease suffering for the person in front of us while simultaneously building systemic solutions. While the primary responsibilities of the position are outlined below, we expect all staff to be flexible and available to respond to emergencies and fulfill programmatic responsibilities which may require working holidays, weekends, evenings, or nights. Everyone in the organization is expected to identify and solve problems. The Hub hires passionate, empathetic individuals. 

Additionally, the Hospitality Hub serves people who have experienced discrimination, violence, and other traumatic events. Many Hub clients and guests are healing from trauma related to their marginalization. It is critically important that all members of the Hub team maintain a hospitable and welcoming environment by remaining calm and kind when clients are feeling frustrated.

 

Primary Location: 590 Washington, Memphis, TN 38105

Hours: Standard hours are Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm. However, Hospitality Hub operates 24/7, and staff must be flexible to meet program needs, including emergencies, holidays, weekends, evenings, overnights, and required participation in warming and cooling center events.

Benefits: A generous paid time off policy, paid parental leave, medical insurance, and 401K are offered to all regular full-time employees. Regular training is provided to all employees.

Pay: The salary for this position is dependent on the candidate's demonstrated experience, expertise, and skill. The salary range for this role starts at $18.00/hr.

Reports to: Jessica Houari, Director of Operations

While the position's primary responsibilities are outlined below, this list is not exhaustive.  

Responsibilities 

• Work to reduce street homelessness by linking clients to mental health, housing services, and other supportive services based on eligibility
• Build rapport with each individual experiencing homelessness. Learn and memorize their names, their preferred locations, and what barriers they face in exiting homelessness 
• Coordinate refreshments and other supplies (such as PPE) needed for each trip
• Maintain thorough and accurate records in the CRM and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• Collaborate with other homeless outreach entities that are part of the Coordinated Entry System
• Be kind, inclusive, and non-judgmental toward all individuals you interact with 
• Liaise with the Downtown Memphis Commission, the Medical District Ambassadors, and four Memphis Police Department precincts to identify and respond to hot spots beyond the usual shift route
• Provide daily reports of individuals connected with, the number of individuals introduced to the Continuum of Care, and other important observations, challenges, stories, and successes
• Contribute to donor reporting to tell the Hub’s outreach story, including successes, lessons learned, and data tracked
• Participate in warming and cooling center emergency shelter events

Requirements

• Previous experience working with vulnerable populations. Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness is preferred.
• Current Driver’s License
• Safe driving record
• Punctual, task oriented
• Outgoing, trustworthy, and kind. This role requires daily interaction with strangers who may not feel comfortable speaking with anyone or entering the Continuum of Care
• High level of empathy
• Passion for creating a positive, safe, and encouraging work environment for colleagues and participants
• Work well within a team
• Leadership and conflict-management skills
• The ability to work consecutive hours outside or in a vehicle
• The ability to move safely over uneven terrain, walking on uneven surfaces 
• The ability to lift up to 50lbs.

Training provided by The Hospitality Hub

• CPR/First Aid Certificate 
• De-escalation and mediation training
• CRM and HMIS reporting and data collection 
• Diversity, Sensitivity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• Harassment Prevention For Non-Supervisors
• Stewards of Children (Memphis Child Advocacy Center)
• Training on all services offered by the Hospitality Hub, the Homeless Continuum of Care, and active partners and referral agencies

Hiring Process: 

Unfortunately, we cannot confirm receipt of or respond to every single application. If your experience matches many but not all of the qualifications, we still encourage you to apply. 

The Hospitality Hub staff works with vulnerable populations. To maintain the safety of our clients and guests, all offers of employment at the Hub are contingent on a background check. Results of the background check may not necessarily disqualify candidates from being hired.

The Hospitality Hub is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind: The Hub is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at The Hub are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, ancestry, military discharge status, source of income, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. The Hub will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. The Hub encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and people of all ages to apply.