Community Outreach Specialist

About the role

Access Services is seeking a full-time Community Outreach Specialist to serve communities throughout Montgomery County, with an office base in Plymouth Meeting, PA. In this meaningful role, you will engage individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, behavioral health challenges, and substance use disorders, helping them access the services and supports they need to move toward stability and wellness. Through street-based outreach, relationship-building, housing navigation, and community collaboration, you will serve as a bridge between vulnerable community members and resources including housing, healthcare, treatment providers, benefits, and basic needs services. This position also plays an important role in mobilizing community members, volunteers, faith communities, and professional partners to develop sustainable, community-driven solutions to homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Conduct street-based outreach and community engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, behavioral health challenges, and substance use disorders.
• Build trusting relationships with unsheltered and vulnerable individuals, using creative and persistent engagement strategies to assess needs and connect individuals with appropriate services and supports.
• Provide housing and shelter navigation, helping individuals access stable housing opportunities and overcome barriers to care.
• Connect individuals with healthcare, behavioral health, substance use treatment, recovery supports, benefits, identification documents, and other community resources that promote stability and wellness.
• Collaborate with healthcare providers, behavioral health agencies, drug and alcohol programs, overdose response teams, and other community partners to coordinate care and improve outcomes.
• Provide education and referrals related to mental health, behavioral health, substance use disorders, overdose prevention, HIV, Hepatitis, TB, treatment options, and recovery-oriented services.
• Distribute basic needs supplies, share resource information, and participate in coordinated community efforts that support individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Engage and mobilize community members, volunteers, faith communities, service providers, and other stakeholders through outreach, presentations, training opportunities, and relationship-building activities that advance community-driven solutions.
• Maintain accurate documentation, participate in team and partner meetings, stay informed about local community needs and resources, and maintain the flexibility needed to respond to changing community priorities.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance, work scheduled or unplanned overtime as necessary to meet program needs; this is a client‑facing, on‑site role requiring travel during the workday using personal or agency vehicle, with safe driving expected per agency Motor Vehicle Policy.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in public health, social work, or related field required. Master's degree in public health preferred.
• Certification: American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) training or certification preferred.
• Experience: Experience working with individuals with housing instability or who struggle with substance use disorder and/or mental health diagnoses is desirable.

Skills

• Ability to communicate well, and to develop positive, creative and programmatic goals.
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as direct and prioritize own work and be flexible.
• Knowledge of homelessness and housing system and the ability to enhance understanding to maximize the level of service delivery.
• Skill in person centered screening and assessment.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Word and Outlook, Evolv (or similar electronic health record software) and use of the Internet.
• Proficiency in, or ability to learn and use, workplace applications, platforms and technologies.
• Comfortable working outdoors.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, plus company-paid life insurance, disability protection and catastrophic sick leave; Access Services covers up to 88% of health premium with many employees paying less than $150/month.
• Full-time employees start their first year earning up to nearly 6 weeks of paid time off (20+ PTO days plus 9 paid holidays), with additional time accrued as career progresses.
• 401(k) with company match, tuition reimbursement program, and access to college tuition discounts.
• Mileage & toll reimbursement built into the job.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free, confidential resources for you and your family, including counseling and emotional support (in‑person, telehealth, text therapy), financial and legal guidance.
• Paid training, ongoing professional development, and opportunities to learn and advance across diverse roles and programs.

Pay

$20.50/hourly

Schedule

40 hours per week, Monday‑Friday, 9am‑5pm