Staff Positions

Job Description
Position Title: Street Outreach
Employment Status: Full-time, Regular
Reports to: Rehousing Program Manager

Primary Work Location: 14825 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80014

Our Mission: The mission of RecoveryWorks is to create access to opportunities for community, recovery and resource alongside our un-housed neighbors.

Job Summary
The Street Outreach Specialist is a field-based position responsible for providing direct services and housing-focused case management to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Working primarily outdoors in parks, encampments, and public rights-of-way in the City of Lakewood, the outreach position builds relationships with individuals disconnected from formal systems of care, with the primary goal of transitioning them into shelter and permanent housing. The role emphasizes trauma-informed practice, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and wrap-around care coordination, in close partnership with Lakewood’s Homelessness Response Coordinator, Police and Housing Navigators, and community partners. The Outreach Specialist works collaboratively as a team with RecoveryWorks staff and with external partners to ensure a continuity of care for unhoused neighbors.

Primary Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

• Outreach & Engagement
  • Deploy to identified outreach locations, including encampments, parks, commercial corridors, and public spaces.
  • Engage individuals using trauma-informed and low-barrier approaches, prioritizing those who are disconnected from services or have experienced service-related trauma.
  • Provide direct engagement during encampment resolutions, including relocation support, safety planning, and connection to services.
• Housing-Focused Case Management
  • Conduct initial housing assessments using Coordinated Entry tools and HMIS.
    RecoveryWorks 
  • Develop and implement individualized housing case plans with clients, focused on positive exits from homelessness.
  • Assist clients in acquiring housing readiness documentation (IDs, Social Security cards, income verification, disability documentation, etc.).
  • Coordinate referrals and warm hand-offs to housing programs, shelters (including Lakewood’s Navigation Center), and behavioral or primary health providers.
• Service Navigation & Wrap-Around Support
  • Provide direct or referral-based access to services including health care, mental health, benefits enrollment (e.g., Medicaid/SNAP), outreach courts, employment services, and legal support.
  • Monitor progress and adjust plans as needed; build collaborative networks that support client success.
• Data Management & Reporting
  • Maintain accurate and timely entries in HMIS and other databases in compliance with Colorado CoC and HUD standards.
  • Complete quarterly Performance and Evaluation Reports and meet all data quality and timeliness benchmarks.
  • Ensure compliance with privacy, data security, and record-keeping protocols.
• Collaboration & Partnership
  • Work in close coordination with the City of Lakewood’s Homelessness Response Team, including police navigators, housing outreach staff, and parks personnel.
  • Establish and maintain partnerships with nonprofits, healthcare providers, libraries, and local businesses.
• Crisis Response & Risk Management
  • Provide support and intervention during crises, including mental health episodes or safety risks.
  • Develop and implement safety plans for clients at risk of harm.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary case conferencing and outreach strategy meetings.
• Field Preparedness
  • Carry outreach supplies (e.g., hygiene kits, food, resource materials) for basic support.
  • Utilize agency phones and transportation (personal or agency vehicle) to engage in mobile outreach safely and effectively.

Education and Work Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s degree in social/behavioral sciences preferred.
• Lived experience in homelessness and/or addiction/mental health recovery preferred.
• Preferred at least 2 years’ experience in street outreach, case management, or behavioral health services with vulnerable populations.
• Familiarity with Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and Coordinated Entry systems preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of homelessness, mental health and substance use challenges faced by underserved populations.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and motivational interviewing.
• Commitment to client confidentiality and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Effective verbal and written communication; active listening and creative problem-solving skills.
• Skilled in conflict resolution, negotiation, and de-escalation, particularly in sensitive or high-stress situations.
• Comfortable navigating physically demanding environments, including encampments and inclement weather.
• Ability to work independently in the field and as part of a multidisciplinary team that will include with law enforcement, government personnel, non-profits, healthcare providers, faith-based community and local businesses to support client-centered, housing-focused outcomes.
• Proficient in basic office technology (e.g., email, Microsoft Word, phones, data entry systems).
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred, but not required.
• Strong organizational skills; able to prioritize multiple responsibilities and respond flexibly to changing needs.
• Demonstrated commitment to advocacy and client empowerment across service systems.

Licenses & Requirements
• Valid Colorado Driver’s License, reliable transportation, and insurable driving record.
• Must pass a criminal background check per City of Lakewood grant requirements.
• Must complete HMIS training within 2-3 weeks of hire.
• CPR, First Aid, and Narcan training required or must be completed upon hire.

Working Conditions
Works primarily in outdoor environments – parks, encampments, streets with frequent interpersonal interactions. Home base office is RecoveryWorks’ Mountain View Flats at 14825 W. Colfax. May include transporting clients to and from appointments as necessary, and interacting with clients in the community.

Compensation & Benefits:
Annual Salary/Hourly Pay Range: $50,000 – $63,000
Bi-weekly pay periods

Benefits:
__Full-time Regular Benefits: 100% Employer paid employee medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee plus one dependent; IRA with up to 3% employer’s match and 11 paid holidays, 2 paid Personal Days, accrued Health Time and Personal Time Off.

EEO Statement:
RECOVERYWORKS is an equal opportunity employer. RECOVERYWORKS is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for staff, volunteers vendors, and guests. RECOVERYWORKS welcomes applications from all, and strongly encourage women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ people to apply.

How to apply:
External applicants email a resume and cover letter to Rebecca Martinez (rmartinez@recoveryworkstoday.org)). Resume and cover letter should inform RECOVERYWORKS of your experience and how it relates to the position.

Internal applicants email a letter of interest and a summary of qualifications or resume to Rebecca Martinez (rmartinez@recoveryworkstoday.org) within 48 hours. All internal applicants can apply for positions anytime the position remains open, however, RECOVERYWORKS requests that internal applicants notify and apply for positions within 48 hours for business purposes.

NOTE: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees performing this job. Furthermore, this job description does not establish a contract of employment. RecoveryWorks may change job descriptions at any time, with or without notice as service needs require.
RecoveryWorks is committed to delivering services, making employment-related decisions, selecting volunteers and selecting vendors without regard to age over 40, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression, military status or any other applicable status protected by law.

Volunteer Board Member

For RecoveryWorks

Job Description

RecoveryWorks is a Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to create opportunities for community, resources, and recovery with our unhoused neighbors. Founded in 2021, RecoveryWorks has grown to fill a critical gap in the provision of services to unhoused adults in Jefferson County and the west Denver metropolitan area.^[1]

The RecoveryWorks Board is seeking to grow by one or more members. As a Board Member, your duties would include: developing and supporting implementation of the mission; overseeing finances; hiring and evaluating the Executive Director; fundraising; creating and maintaining a strategic vision; and acting as a representative of RecoveryWorks in the community.

Job Requirements:

• Interest in the RecoveryWorks mission
• Commitment to understanding and supporting the organization’s mission, policies, programs, and needs
• Demonstrated skills and experience in collaborating and communicating effectively with others who may have varying viewpoints
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to solve challenging problems

• Commitment to reading and understanding financial statements and Board materials, and providing feedback
• Full engagement as a fundraiser, active advocate and ambassador. This includes:
  • Collaborating with RecoveryWorks marketing and development staff
  • Participating in and/or hosting fundraisers or campaigns
  • Promoting RecoveryWorks
  • Leveraging connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to achieve RecoveryWorks’ mission
  • Making an annual, personal financial contribution in an amount of your choice
• Prepare for, attend, and participate in monthly Board meetings, special Board meetings, and committees
• Engage in learning opportunities to better understand the community your organization serves and nonprofit Board service
• Time commitment of 3-5 hours per month
• Ability to complete a 2-year term of Board service

 Preferred qualifications. In addition, preference will be given to candidates who:

• Have previous experience serving as a Board member for a nonprofit; or
• Demonstrate specific interest and passion for the RecoveryWorks’ mission through work or lived experience, volunteer work, or by other means;
• Have expertise in a subject matter area relevant to work on the Board. Examples include but are not limited to: marketing, development, legal, finance, accounting, or community development. The board currently particularly welcomes finance and legal expertise, but encourages everyone who meets the requirements to apply.

 Our Commitment to our applicants

Board Members will be selected based solely on their qualifications as outlined above. RecoveryWorks welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, and we understand that not every candidate will meet every requirement listed in the job description. If you’re excited about the role and believe you can contribute to our Board, we encourage you to apply, even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed. We believe that diversity of perspectives and experiences is essential to our success as an organization. Don’t hesitate to take the leap and apply today!

 For More Information:

Email Colleen Osborne, Board Chair, at cosborne@recoveryworkstoday.org with any questions.

To Apply:

Complete this Google Form and send a resume to cosborne@recoveryworkstoday.org

^[1] We utilize evidence-based practices of trauma-informed and person-centered care to provide and facilitate access to comprehensive and integrated services including: case management, housing navigation, employment supports, behavioral health services and primary care.