Homeless Outreach Response Coordinator

Our Health Department is searching for a Homeless Outreach Response Coordinator to join the team. The Homeless Outreach Response Coordinator is instrumental in the effort to end homelessness in the Fox Cities region, encompassing Calumet, Outagamie, and northern Winnebago counties. This role oversees the coordinated entry system for the Fox Cities Coalition, ensuring a streamlined service delivery process for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. This position includes the management of the priority list, determining which clients are in the most urgent need of services, and facilitating effective service coordination with various stakeholders including law enforcement, emergency shelters, and adult crisis teams. In addition, the role serves as the City’s primary resource for community education on issues related to unsheltered residents, responding to requests for information, presentations, and guidance while monitoring and sharing data on emerging trends within the unhoused population. Within City government, this position involves significant collaboration between the Public Health Department, Appleton Police Department (APD), and Community Development; The position will have a dual office location, with time split between the Appleton Police Department’s Community Resources Unit and City Hall within the Public Health Department. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Community Health Supervisor.

In addition to coordinating services, the  Coordinator leads community outreach efforts, specifically targeting those least likely to seek assistance. This requires a proactive, compassionate, and respectful approach to connecting the most vulnerable in the community with the resources they need. The aim is to expedite the placement of clients in safe, sustainable housing, navigating the complex landscape of public health, housing resources, and social services to offer crucial support to those in need in the Fox Cities region.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
 Data Analytics and Assessment Skills

• Conducts assessments to identify the needs of clients experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, using tools such as the WISBOSCOC approved assessments intake and referrals.
• Analyzes Coordinated Entry Priority List Reports in HMIS for accuracy on a regular basis
•  Verifies the accuracy of HMIS data before project enrollment from the prioritization list, provides guidance to community agencies to maintain adherence to BOSCOC standards, and functions as a compliance resource to reduce the likelihood of audit findings.
• Tracks demographic trends within the unhoused population and illustrates emerging patterns. 

 Policy Development and Program Planning Skills

• Assists with the development, coordination, and implementation of a Coordinated Entry System for the Fox Cities coalition.

• Serves within the BOSCOC mentorship program to provide supports to new Supportive Services Only (SSO) staff within other coalitions,  helping orient them to expectations, policies & processes, and best practices.

• Participates in the coordination of overall project development and implementation within the Fox Cities.

 Communication Skills

• Ensures all participating agency staff within the Fox Cities have completed the required trainings. 
• Communicates information between the Wisconsin Balance of State Continuum of Care and the participating agencies in the Fox Cities Coalition. 

 Health Equity Skills

• Interacts with people with diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, gender identity, and sexual identity, treating all community members with dignity and respect.

• Promotes trauma-informed principles by encouraging colleagues and community partners to engage others with empathy and cultural humility, fostering environments where individuals feel safe, supported, and understood.

 Community Partnership Skills

• Works with individuals experiencing homelessness service providers, law enforcement, Adult Crisis, and Emergency Shelters to continuously update and implement the Fox Cities Afterhours Plan.
• Participates in required monthly WIBOSCOC CE-SSO meetings, as well as participates in WIBOSCOC subcommittees.

• Provides education and training to community partners, local government, and other stakeholders about homelessness issues and available resources.

 Public Health Sciences Skills

• Utilizes the HMIS and the Non-HMIS Priority lists to ensure the highest prioritized clients are served first.

• Leads the bi-annual Point in Time Count (PIT)—the HUD-mandated survey—coordinating staff, partners, and volunteers  for collecting overnight observations and post-count data from partner agencies, and ensuring all data corrections and submissions are completed in accordance with Continuum of Care (CoC) deadlines.

 Management and Finance Skills

•  Maintains copies of all annual agency agreements and staff agreements for the Coordinated Entry system.

• Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of eligible activities under CE-SSO, ESG HMIS, HOME-ARP, and CDBG grants, or shows a willingness to learn.

 Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

• Leads Coordinated Entry Case Conference meetings with all Fox Cities Coordinated Entry Providers. 
• Represents the City of Appleton at local collaborative meetings and community events.

 OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

• Maintains regular punctual and predictable attendance, works outside of office  hours as required, which may result in overtime
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual reports
• Attend meetings and training as required
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field preferred, two years’ experience working with individuals living below the poverty threshold, or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training which provides the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:

• Comprehensive understanding of the social service infrastructure, including human service organizations, and other resources accessible to individuals experiencing homelessness
• Extensive knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and other applicable local, state, and federal requirements protecting client information
• Clarity (HMIS) licensure or the ability to become certified
• Experience in community collaboration and public speaking
• Ability to effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally
• Must maintain proficient computer skills for the purposes of data collection, record keeping, and generating reports.
• Must have a valid Wisconsin Driver’s license.  Must have access to an automobile.  Must have liability insurance in force for the vehicle used for program business; or must have the ability to meet the transportation requirements of this position.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local fair housing laws
• Strong ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships

COMPETENCIES
 Communication
 Customer Focus
 Handling Difficult People
 Problem Solving
 Adaptability/Flexibility
To learn more about these competencies click here