Our outreach work sits at the centre of everything that we do. Ultimately, it’s how we work towards our mission: breaking the cycle of homelessness. Working as part of the outreach team here at Simon on the Streets is an incredibly important role, and one that comes with an abundance of rewards - there are so many advantages.
As we look to add to our incredible team, take a look at what our outreach team does, and why this might be the role for you.
What does being an outreach worker involve?
No two days are the same for our outreach workers here at Simon on the Streets. The team is consistently out there providing practical and emotional support to those facing homelessness day and night, in all weathers, all year round.
Because there are many different forms of homelessness, outreach work is about so much more than helping to source accommodation. It’s about providing support that’s individually tailored to a person’s circumstances, whether they’re sofa surfing, sleeping rough, or dealing with challenges around domestic abuse, mental health difficulties or addiction.
Practical support
For so many reasons, accessing services such as GP appointments or setting up a bank account is difficult for those facing homelessness. And these are the things we help with on a daily basis, accompanying someone to an appointment, advocating for them in meetings, and helping them to fill out forms when required.
Last year, we met Jack (not real name used) who needed some practical support. Our outreach workers found him visibly distressed as he hadn't received his universal credit for over two months. It became apparent to the team that Jack couldn't read or write, and with our support, Jack was able to understand what he needed to do in order to receive the benefits he was entitled to.
We also recently supported someone with his passport application.
Emotional support
Emotional support is critical for those experiencing homelessness, as they’re more at risk when it comes to experiencing challenges with their mental health. Crisis reports that 45% of people facing homelessness have been diagnosed with a mental health issue, rising to 8 out of 10 people who are sleeping rough.
Often with no support network from family and friends, those facing homelessness have no one to turn to. This is why we’re here to listen, and offer non-judgemental emotional support to those who need it. Read Jessica’s story to find out why this is so important.
Why our outreach work matters
In 2021, we accompanied 5560 service users to appointments, provided general support on the streets of Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield 7331 times, and helped 53 people acquire permanent housing.
Every person is different, with their own story to tell. When you work as part of our outreach team, it’s important to remember it’s not about forcing change. It’s about supporting people to make the changes they want to make, and helping them achieve the independence that they’re both capable of and deserve.
Witnessing day to day change, no matter how big or small, is a privilege. All you need to do is read the stories of those we’ve supported to see why.
What we love about being an outreach team
Every day is different. This fact alone ensures that we learn so much both from the people we support, and each other, and being part of a team with a dedicated mission opens the door for significant personal growth and development.
Raising awareness about the challenges that homelessness brings, educating wider society about the issues involved and how they can help, as well as supporting those people facing homelessness every day, makes for an incredibly varied and rewarding career experience.
It’s thanks to the outreach team that we can provide people like Jack and Jessica the unlimited practical and emotional support they need. Could you have what it takes? If you do, we’d like to have a chat with you about some of the roles we currently have available.
So if you’re ready to play your part in breaking the cycle of homelessness, all you need to do is get in touch.