Street Outreach Specialist

Position Open Date: 01/27/2026

Position Close Date: 02/03/2026

Interested in making a difference in your community while building a career? Join our team as a Street Outreach Specialist!

WHO WE ARE:

For 60 years, Opportunity Council has worked throughout Northwest Washington to build just, equitable communities through service, investment, and collaboration. Our mission is to help people improve their lives through education, support, and direct assistance while advocating for just and equitable communities. Part of a national network of Community Action Agencies, we are dedicated to helping people help each other and themselves—building a community where everyone has the chance to thrive and contribute.

OUR VALUES:

At Opportunity Council, our values guide everything we do. Collaboration, respect, integrity, passion, and learning shape how we show up for each other and for our community. We’re also committed to weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion into every part of our work—from the help we offer in the community to the kind of workplace we create for our staff. To learn more about us and our work, visit our website: www.oppco.org

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

The Street Outreach Specialist reaches out to individuals and families with a goal of connecting them to housing and services to stabilize their lives and address health and safety needs, according to HOT’s Main Five Commitments of being ethical, logical, safe, abiding by Best Practices, and honoring Client Rights. If OSUD designated: Additionally, reaches out to individuals and families with a goal of connecting them to opiate use disorder treatment and support, and offering Harm Reduction techniques according to Best Practices.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Employs various strategies to engage with unsheltered homeless individuals and families with a goal of connecting them to services and housing.
• Employs various strategies to engage with unsheltered homeless individuals and families with opiate and substance use disorders with a goal of connecting them to services and housing.
• Provides crisis intervention to clients on the street, including some evenings, to maintain a safe and secure environment.
• Screens potential program participants for housing placement prioritization using the Vulnerability Index Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT).
• Follows all expectations of HIPAA and protects all confidential information properly.
• Provides support and guidance to participants as they transition from street to shelter and/or permanent housing.
• Provides support to various community resources that require members of HOT to help facilitate relationships to become comfortable with/accept/properly utilize resources and services.
• Maintain community relationships to create referral pathways for program participants into coordinated entry housing services and other community-based services, including mental health and chemical dependency services.
• Collects and manages data describing outreach activities, contacts, locations, etc. Assist in data uploading tasks to WHSC’s Housing Interest Pool (HIP), Sales Force, maintain OC vehicle mileage logs, and the City of Bellingham’s Homeless Encampment Mapping Tool.
• Actively participates in the Homeless Outreach community meetings.
• Coordinates activities with various partner-providers as deemed appropriate.
• Implements Best Practices on street outreach.
• Very little time spent in office, with a focus on staying available and visible in the community to offer support as needed.
• If OSUD Designated:
  • Employs various strategies to engage with unsheltered homeless individuals and families with opiate and substance use disorders with a goal of connecting them to services and housing.
  • Provides face to face screening of homeless individuals with opiate and other substance use disorders (SUD).
  • Attends Safe Syringe Program (SSP) twice weekly to connect with clients and properly reflect contacts in Sales Force and Housing Interest Pool.
  • Coordinates care for individuals to obtain SUD assessments and medication assisted treatment for those who are ready.

BILINGUAL POSITIONS ONLY:

Specialize in providing services to clients and families who speak a language other than English as a primary language. May occasionally be asked to support with translating/interpreting a language other than English to assist potential or current clients.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Attends and participates in staff planning and operations related meetings.
• Other related duties and special projects as assigned.
• Assists in the ongoing development of the Homeless Outreach Team program.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Strong analytical skills.
• Remain keenly aware of the difference between helping and harming clients.
• Remain objective and neutral while conducting outreach. Including refraining from creating personal relationships with clients.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to train/interact with others, particularly with vulnerable people with challenging issues.
• Excellent teamwork skills, able to participate with team staff in addressing challenging individual issues.
• Sensitivity to issues surrounding individuals and families experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, or physical ailments.
• Knowledge of current substance use disorder service delivery system and skilled in accessing resources.
• Ability to work under pressure. Experience in crisis intervention and problem solving with ability to diffuse situations without heightening the conflict.
• Excellent record keeping skills, ability to obtain and maintain accurate, detailed reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to train/interact with others.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to establish and maintain schedules and processes and prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work with and maintain confidential information.
• Ability to be creative in the field and regularly consults with assigned Manager to create potential support/solutions for clients.
• Ability to be flexible, adapt and adjust to rapid changes within a fast paced and growth-oriented environment. Possess and maintain a positive, solution-oriented approach.
• Ability and willingness to be trained to use the VI-SPDAT and other homeless services tools.
• Trained in de-escalation skills.
• Computer literacy required. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

• Two years’ experience working directly with people who are chronically homeless. Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Street outreach experience preferred.
• Computer literacy required. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
• If hiring for a bilingual position. Must be able to speak, read, and write with proficiency and fluency in the required language.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and five-year driving history within Opportunity Council’s Auto Insurance Standards.
• If hiring for OSUD designated position:
  • HS Diploma or higher degree in a social science or equivalent field.
  • Must possess valid driver's license.
  • Must be willing and able to travel/drive throughout the City of Bellingham, and, occasionally to offsite trainings in other parts of Washington State.
• Must be able to travel/drive throughout the City of Bellingham and various parts of Whatcom County. Additionally, and must be able to navigate difficult terrain access and engage clients.

We place a strong value in hiring individuals with lived experiences of, poverty and/or homelessness or who have previously participated in Opportunity Council programs or other social services.

OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance.

• Paid time off earned on an accrual basis (vacation, sick, personal, holidays)
• Paid time off for wellness needs
• Employer-paid holidays
• Employer-paid HDHP and low-cost traditional health care options
• HSA and FSA plans, subject to plan terms
• Eligibility for critical illness insurance coverage
• 403(b) Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Eligibility for health coverage for legal dependents
• Eligibility for employee/family dental and vision coverage
• Voluntary benefits such as life insurance, long-term disability, and long-term care and personal legal services

ABOUT WHATCOM COUNTY:

Working with Opportunity Council in Whatcom County is more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, our community is rooted in compassion, collaboration, and a shared commitment to positive change. Whether you're supporting local families, advocating for equity, or building programs that uplift our neighbors, you'll find purpose and connection here. Join us in building a stronger Whatcom County where everyone has the chance to thrive and contribute

We believe our team should reflect the communities we serve. That’s why we strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, Veterans, and people with disabilities to apply. Opportunity Council is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not permit discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, marital or family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, age, genetic information, disability, use of a service animal, or any other status protected by law.