Outreach Specialist

Housing Works requires employees working in our Health Services division to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless approved for a legal accommodation. If you need an accommodation for any reason, including related to this job requirement, please contact Human Resources. 

 
Job candidates should be aware that scammers may pose as employers and create fake job postings in order to extract personal information from individuals for financial gain.  Housing Works will never ask job candidates for personal information, such as social security numbers or bank account details, over the phone.  If you suspect that a job posting may be fake or wish to confirm that a job posting from Housing Works is genuine, please contact us at recruitment@housingworks.org 

Housing Works was founded in 1990; With a long-term commitment to AIDS advocacy. Housing Works established New York State’s first harm reduction-based, OASAS-licensed outpatient drug treatment program. Other services include Health Home care management, behavioral health, and syringe exchange programs. A pioneer in the social entrepreneurship movement, Housing Works operates 10 high-end thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a much-loved Bookstore Cafe in Soho. For more information, visit www.housingworks.org 

 
Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services. 

 
Benefits: 
We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books. 

 
Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

 
This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works’ New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (“RWDSU”). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a “CBA”) between Housing Works and the RWDSU 

Compensation Range: $19/hr - $21/hr commensurate with experience.
 

Overview: 

It is an essential job requirement to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for this role. If you need accommodations of any kind for religious or disability reasons, including accommodations related to this job requirement, please contact Human Resources. The Outreach Specialist will focus on identifying individuals at points of entry and expanding access to voluntary HIV rapid testing in community-based settings. In addition to testing, they will provide targeted HIV education and counseling, outreach services and health education, and referral to prevention services if someone is HIV negative, or linkages to treatment if they are HIV positive.

Responsibilities: 

• Foster relationships with community partners and participate in community events, such as health fairs, LGBTQIA+ events, testing events, etc.
• Responsible for conducting daily community-based outreach according to the outreach plan
• Provide rapid HIV and Hep C Testing at mobile and venue-based events including Housing Works internal rapid testing as needed
• Provide pre and post-test counseling and partner notification services in accordance with State and Federal regulations
• Perform sexual history assessments utilizing the GOALS framework
• Provide comprehensive HIV and sexual health education
• Provide presentations for internal and external programs to promote the program services
• Assist with the planning and implementation of events to increase client engagement
• Participate in weekly supervisory sessions with the Program Manager
• Complete appropriate rapid HIV testing documentation
• Participate in weekly staff meetings

Other functions that may be required with this position include:

• Participate in Housing Works advocacy events (minimum 4 per year July-June)
• Participate in monthly coalition meetings, committee meetings, community meetings and assigned task force meetings
• Participate in department activities such as new staff onboarding, CQI efforts, etc
• Participate inreoccurringinteragency meetings, as well as external community meetings to improve integrated care andmaintain relationships with community partners
• Perform other duties as assigned

• High School Diploma or GED with relevant work experience required
• Minimum 1 year of relevant non-profit employment experience required (i.e. outreach, testing, group facilitation, case management, etc)
• Knowledge ofHIV/AIDS, homelessness, substance use and mental illness,LGBT youth issues andYMSMnetworks/hot spots
• Good problem-solving skills and ability to work autonomously