PDX Outreach Practitioner

Position: Outreach Practitioner
Term: Full-time, hourly
Pay: $20-22/hour + health insurance, paid time off, and other benefits
Location: Portland, OR
Reports To: Care Coordination Manager
Direct Reports: None

Organization Description:

Urban Alchemy is a nonprofit organization with the mission of transforming people and places through respect,
compassion, and love to heal communities challenged by the intersection of extreme poverty, mental illness,
addiction, and homelessness. The name Urban Alchemy references the process of spiritual and social
transformation that our staff engage in – both internally and in practice with all members of the public. Since our
founding in 2018, Urban Alchemy has grown into a thriving social enterprise with over 1,100 employees. We
provide community outreach and engagement, temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, mobile
bathrooms and showers, and street cleaning services. Urban Alchemy currently operates in the San Francisco Bay
Area, Los Angeles County, Austin, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. Over 95% of Urban Alchemy employees, including
leadership, experienced incarceration and/or homelessness. For more information visit: https://urban-
alchemy.us/.

Project Description:

Urban Alchemy conducts outreach designed to help adults experiencing homelessness who are living in
encampments or the streets in Portland. Urban Alchemy has Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Teams
that each consist of two Outreach Practitioners and one Care Coordination Practitioner. The teams conduct
outreach and connect guests to services designed to meet their immediate and long-term needs with a focus on
housing.

Position Summary:

The Outreach Practitioner must establish positive relationships with individuals in unhoused communities and
encampments in the target areas. These relationships are critical to leverage effective communication and de-
escalation when responding to unhoused community member’s needs. The Practitioner must possess highly
attenuated emotional intelligence to accurately assess individuals they are responding to, understand and
regulate their own emotions and triggers, and quickly develop a strategy to respond to the crisis in a calm and
warm manner that de-escalates the situation and results in satisfactory resolution of the presenting issue. The
Practitioner is expected to work collaboratively with members of their team to implement evidence-based
strategies that contribute to the well-being and successful resolution of unhoused individuals experiencing
distress.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Position Specific:

• Promote health and safety in the assigned area.
• Build positive relationships and trust with community members in the assigned area.
• Support unhoused individuals by connecting them with services and referrals.
• Work collaboratively with other Urban Alchemy staff and partners to serve people in need.
• Help meet immediate needs of guests, including the use of Narcan for opioid overdose reversal.
• Complete all required data collection using the digital platforms required by Urban Alchemy.
• Provide trauma-informed, harm reduction, strengths-based, and person-centered outreach.
• Use a housing first approach when working with guests.
• Engage with individuals in distress, assess the cause, and use strategies to de-escalate the situation.
• Support individuals to resolve any identified issues, deescalate potential or existing conflicts and/or heightened emotions.
• Remain calm and attentive during crises, which may occur multiple times during a shift.
• Practice self-awareness and cultural humility; be conscientious and sensitive to power and other interpersonal dynamics.

Project Specific:

• Provide transportation for guests to get to appointments and make home-visits as needed.
• Work flexible hours and/or shifts, weekends, and on-call shifts.
• Will support all staff with meeting the needs of guests.
• Will work primarily in the field at various assigned locations, some of which may be remote.
• Lead Outreach Practitioner will also assist with scheduling and supervision.

General:

• Will treat all Urban Alchemy guests, staff and stakeholders with compassion and respect.
• Use emotional intelligence to effectively engage and connect with others.
• Adhere to established procedures to provide a safe working environment including complying with OSHA, state, and local regulations as well as Urban Alchemy’s policies.
• Attend orientation and any additional training required by Urban Alchemy or our funders.
• Must wear an Urban Alchemy uniform and ID badge.
• Must carry all required safety and communications equipment.
• Follow all Urban Alchemy’s policies and procedures, including all safety guidelines.
• Will complete other duties as assigned in service to our guests and stakeholders.

Position Requirements:

Position Specific:

• Must be able to work compassionately and respectfully with people from all backgrounds
• Sensitivity to individuals with substance abuse and/or mental health issues such as PTSD, psychosis, borderline behaviors, bi-polar, etc.
• Working knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and be able to implement them.
• Understanding of housing first, trauma informed care, and harm reduction.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and coordinate with other staff and agencies.
• Possess ethical and professional standards and boundaries.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Work well in a team environment with diverse populations while providing excellent customer service.
• Ability to work in a high-stress, dynamic environment while maintaining a calm demeanor.
• Ability to listen actively and communicate information and resources based on the guests’ needs.
• Understand barriers that guests might be facing to advocate for them as needed.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow instructions, procedures, safety procedures.
• Willing to execute tasks in a timely fashion.
• Communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to comfortably interact with guests and staff.
• Time management skills to coordinate complex tasks in the most efficient manner.
• 6+ months experience doing similar work is preferred.
• High school diploma, GED, or professional training is preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

Project Specific:

• Will be required to work outdoors during most of the day, sometimes in demanding physical conditions.

General:

• Must be prepared to deal with challenging circumstances related to serving people struggling with poverty, mental health, addiction, and/or homelessness.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain background clearance based on Urban Alchemy’s policies.
• Requires the ability to use a smart phone or tablet to enter data.
• Excellent at being reliable, punctual, and dependable.
• Must by 18 years of age or older.
• Lived experience with incarceration and/or homelessness strongly preferred.
• Driver’s license and a good driving record preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Expected to work in all weather conditions.
• Work may involve exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises.
• Must be able to assist physically disabled guests if there are mobility issues.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 25lbs.
• Standing: 4-8 hours per day.
• Walking: 4-8 hours per day.
• Sitting: 1-2 hours per day.
• Bending at Waist: less than 3 hours per day.

Statement of Non-discrimination:

Urban Alchemy shares a special bond with society’s most vulnerable because we see ourselves in their struggle.
When doing our work, we recognize the humanity in those who are struggling and treat them how we once
wished others had treated us. People who have been incarcerated, experienced homelessness and/or come from
marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply because we believe they have unique skills and
abilities to engage with people who are struggling. Urban Alchemy provides equal employment opportunities to
all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin,
disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other
characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Urban Alchemy prohibits discrimination and harassment of
any type.