Street Outreach Leader

Position Type: 25-30 hours per week; on/off-site; hourlyCompensation: $20-$30 hour- depending upon experience levelReports to: Executive DirectorLocation: Thurston CountyApplication Deadline: Rolling deadline; posting will be removed when the job is filled.                                                                 
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Benefits:

• $200 paid upon hire.
• Quarterly raise for 6 months.
• Holiday Bonuses.
• Higher Learning Training Certificates.
• Paid time off.

Candidates who identify with one or more of the following are STRONGLY encouraged to apply:  

• Have lived experience with mental health and/or substance abuse in long-term stable recovery. 
• BIPOC identified individuals. 
• LGBTQIA+ identified individuals. 
• Veterans.

Application Interviewing: February 3-17, 2025
Application Hire Dates: February 24-28, 2025

Job Description:The Street Outreach Lead (SOL) conducts street-based outreach and one-on-one peer support with a 2-4 person team. Street Outreach is conducted multiple times a week reaching out to youth experiencing homeless, runaway adolescents, and young adults predominantly in the Thurston County area in the district of Olympia. Many youths we work with are substance users and experience high levels of trauma. The SOL promotes an understanding of the risks associated with homelessness, drug use, and alcohol use, including hepatitis and overdose. The SOL builds non-judgmental, supportive relationships with young people, guides them to appropriate referral resources, and advocates for their care. Most importantly, the SOLP accepts youth exactly the way they are and allows them to set their own goals at their own pace. (Although HYA has an administrative office the majority of our work is street-based.).
Our Ark brings the inside of a loving caring hopeful home to the outside where our kids can feel loved, cared, and hopeful in a better future.

General Responsibilities:

• Oversees and determines the location and hours of outreach activities.
• Ensures that volunteers are qualified to work with homeless and street kids.
• Ensures that all outreach activities are within the mission of OUR ARK.
• Completes and submits Outreach Reports for each outreach activity-anytime contact is made with a kid.
• Completes and submits, included in monthly Program Reports.
• Coordinates food distribution. (often with the Housing Parents of POSH).
• Maintains a positive street image with our kids, volunteers and local businesses.
• Responsible for managing the vehicle’s use within the program.

Essential Job Functions:

• Treat all participants and team members with kindness, respect, and dignity.
• Provide services and support free of judgment.
• Contact and build relationships with participants in the target population during daily street outreach and at syringe access and disposal sites.
• As needed, engage with youth experiencing homelessness around housing resources. (primarily through the Thruston County Coordinated Entry System)
• Distribute harm medical, and hygiene supplies, clothing, educational materials, and snacks. 
• Provide preventive health education around substance and alcohol use and safer sex practices, using harm-reduction techniques.
• Refer participants to counseling, mental health, and medical services.
• Refer participants to drug treatment and housing.
• Attend staff meetings, staff groups, training, and conferences as assigned.
• Maintain good self-care.
• Role model healthy and professional behavior.
• Perform manual duties, such as cleaning, preparing snacks, and stocking supplies.
• Maintain confidentiality, appropriate boundaries, and a sense of humor.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Personal experience with homelessness or extensive knowledge of issues facing youth experiencing homelessness.
• Must be streetwise and be able to think critically and solve practical problems.
• Must be comfortable and confident approaching and engaging with a diverse population of young people.
• Must be able to advocate for participants with medical, treatment, and other social service providers and police.
• Must be able to keep consistent written records and be proficient with Google programs (docs, word, excel, calendars, email, etc.) and basic math skills.
• Must be able to read and write in English at a functional level.
• Must have excellent communication and listening skills, including the ability to speak with, understand, and have clear communication with participants and other service providers. 
• Must maintain strong confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
• Must be sensitive to multicultural issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality.
• Must have strong self-awareness, be open to learning new approaches and concepts, and be open to giving and receiving feedback.
• Must be able to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Must have Valid WA Driver's License a plus.
• Familiarity with Thurston County and local services for youth experiencing homelessness is a plus.
• If in recovery, two continuous years are suggested.

Physical Demands:Must be able to walk and stand multiple for hours a day and walk on uneven ground.  Must be able to lift and carry 30 lbs.

Application Instructions:The position is posted until filled. A complete application package must include: a cover letter, resume, and responses to the questions–click on the link below. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications will not be considered. You must be available to come to our office for an in-person interview. 

Our Ark Team Application

In addition to providing an up-to-date resume, in your application, please respond to the following questions: (applicants who do not respond to the questions will not be considered)Again, to be considered for this position you must send:a cover letter, a resume, AND answers to the questions 

About Our Ark:

Our Ark is a community-based nonprofit corporation that works directly with homeless street youth and young adults, ages 13-25 in Thurston County, Washington. Together, we are making great strides in our community by helping street youth create their own paths to success. YOU can help Be their champion and join our teams. The further we reach, the more success our community will have in ending youth and young adult homelessness for future generations.

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