Community Health Specialist 2 - Housing

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$28.45 - $34.99 Hourly

Department:

Health Department

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

• October 29, 2026
• The Opportunity:

Overview:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

We are expanding our Outreach Specialist team and have a couple of positions available at the Multnomah County Health Department to help bridge the gap between addiction recovery and permanent housing. Join us in building a culture of trust, respect, and equal opportunity for every community member we serve.

The primary purpose of this position is to conduct outreach within Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and other SUD services and shelters within Multnomah County. The goal is to increase the number of unhoused individuals leaving SUD services to access housing. Identified individuals will be offered PATH (Promoting Access to Hope) services and additional community services providers that can address their immediate needs. This role will collaborate with internal and external partners, and develop and implement strategies to meet those needs.

Outreach and Partnership Building

• •Provide direct outreach within SUD treatment and other SUD services within Multnomah County and refer those individuals to housing services
• •Conduct outreach including street and shelter outreach
• •Essential to this position will be to build and maintain relationships with the various provider organizations and shelters from which referrals will be received
• •Work with groups of clients to help them move from addiction towards recovery by helping them receive the housing necessary for them to stay in recovery

Team Collaboration

• •Develop and maintain effective working relationships with team members and assigned communities
• •Participate in regular team, group and individual case conferences
• •Maintain effective relations and regularly collaborate and communicate with patients, community partners and co-workers
• •Understand the challenges of individuals and families of varied ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic background, and ages
• •Knowledge and experience working with individuals using compassionate communication and empathy
• •Provide direct outreach activities to individuals experiencing street homelessness while connecting to behavioral and health services
• •Participate on committees and workgroups with internal and external partners to communicate and improve program services and outreach

Documentation

• •Complete and maintain all required documentation in the assigned tracking sheet and/or assigned electronic health record, and any other required data systems
• •Follow reporting requirements for documentation of any services provided and coordination of care with internal and external organizations
• •Ensure that data and electronic records maintain client confidentiality and adhere to Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements

Quality Improvement

• •Attend and participate in collaborative outreach meetings with internal and external stakeholders to build-out and improve new or existing programs, services and events to support the PATH Program and the community
• •Provide feedback and suggestions to leadership, community-based agencies, etc. for ways to evaluate and improve services and service delivery to meet client, community and program needs and requirements

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required . Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Required Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

Education/Training:

• •Equivalent to an associate's degree and one (1) to four (4) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 3-6 years of qualifying training and/or experience).
• •Attach a copy of the required license/ certifications
• •Valid Driver’s License - Access to a vehicle must be able to travel around
• •BLS CPR Certification with the American Heart Association (AHA) or similar agency - more information can be found at the AHA website . Current BLS - CPR (Required - must have by date of hire)
• •KSA: Certification in Oregon as a Community Health Worker (CHW), Peer Support Specialist (PSS) or Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS)

Other:

This position requires a background investigation, which may include being fingerprinted.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

• •Demonstrated proficiency in Motivational Interviewing, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), de-escalation tactics, and crisis intervention techniques
• •Working knowledge of client confidentiality laws, including HIPAA compliance
• •Housing navigation experience specifically serving individuals experiencing substance use disorders (SUD), severe mental illness, or unsheltered homelessness
• •Experience with reporting and documentation in electronic health records system
• •Understands cultural, racial and ethnic factors, including systemic advantage or disadvantage; acculturation, intergenerational immigrant family challenges, effects of trauma during immigration, war, separation from family and/or primary supports, detention, refugee camps, etc.; generational trauma, and any factors related to non-dominant culture affecting mental health and treatment.
• •Ability to apply an equity, intersectional and anti-racist lens
• •Knowledge of cultures, customs and social experiences of communities experiencing marginalization and barriers to opportunity
• •Ability to exercise good judgment, diplomacy, and tact in dealing with sensitive, complex, confidential information and situations, in addition to acting professionally, and empathically, with individuals, internal/external partners and communities

SCREENING & EVALUATION:

REQUIRED :

The Application Packet: You must submit ALL requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.

1. Attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND

2.2. Supplemental questions addressing the following (please provide thorough answers):

• •Walk us throught the process you use to typically initiate a conversation with an individual during street or community outreach?
• •Please share a specific approach or opening strategy you use to build trust and rapport quickly with someone who may be hesitant or in crisis.

• •Why are you interested in this position? share how your lived and professional experience have helped you build your skill set and how will you utilize them to support the clients?
• •Are there any additional skills, experiences or trainings you have that aren't on your resume that would help you succeed in this role? (ex: deescalation techniques/safety best practices, dealing with law enforcement, knowledge of housing programs or other community resources)

Note: The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the ‘Overview’ and ‘To Qualify’ sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials will be scored and determine your eligibility to advance in this recruitment process.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

Initi