Summary

This job involves working directly with people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, helping them access housing, health services, and support by conducting interviews and navigating resources in the field.

It's an emergency role to address the homelessness crisis, starting with a 90-day appointment that could lead to permanent employment.

A good fit would be someone passionate about outreach, with hands-on experience supporting vulnerable communities and a commitment to making a difference in public service.

Key Requirements

At least six months of outreach experience providing direct, client-facing, field-based support to individuals or groups experiencing homelessness
Experience working with multidisciplinary, street-based outreach teams, preferably in a public agency like LAHSA
Familiarity with LAHSA outreach models such as HOST (Homeless Outreach Services Team) and HET (Homeless Engagement Team)
Knowledge of navigating complex, multi-agency environments integrating housing, behavioral health, and supportive services
Relevant certifications or trainings in areas like field safety, de-escalation, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, Housing First, cultural humility, coordinated entry, system navigation, and mental health/substance use disorders
Ability to conduct client interviews, assess needs, and collect documentation in the field for housing and services eligibility

Full Job Description

Use Your Outreach Experience to Make a Real Impact

We are hiring 97 Community Health Workers who possess at least six months of outreach experience providing direct, client-facing, field-based support to individuals or community groups experiencing homelessness on behalf of Los Angeles County. The ideal candidate has experience working with multidisciplinary, street-based outreach teams, preferably within a public agency such as the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Familiarity with LAHSA outreach operations, particularly Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) and Homeless Engagement Team (HET) models, is highly desirable, as is experience navigating complex, multi-agency service environments that integrate housing, behavioral health, and supportive services.

Even more desirable are candidates with relevant certification in trainings conducted by LAHSA, the Department of Homeless Services & Housing (HSH), or the Department of Mental Health (DMH), such as field safety, de-escalation, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, Housing First, cultural humility, coordinated entry, system navigation, and foundational knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders.

Type of Recruitment
Open Competitive - Emergency

Filing Dates

Applications will be accepted from Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (PT). All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, to be accepted.

Exam Number

R8103A-EA

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

We are seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Community Health Worker vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Community Health Worker.

Requirements

This recruitment will be used to fill Community Health Worker vacancies across four County departments: the Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH), Department of Health Services (DHS), Department of Mental Health (DMH), and Probation.

While specific assignments may vary by department, examples of responsibilities include:

Conducts client interviews and collects documentation in the field to assess housing needs, barriers, risk factors impacting client safety and stability, health, mental health, family, social, educational, and employment information, and eligibility for emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and supportive services.
Identifies areas with growing or large encampment sites and conducts encampment resolutions.
Receives and responds to referrals related to homelessness, and related health, mental health, and social service needs from County staff, partner agencies, and community-based organizations.
Collaborates with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to conduct joint outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Assists with coordinating access to emergency shelters, motel vouchers, eviction prevention resources, and other immediate supports for homeless or housing-insecure clients.
Responds to urgent housing needs with a focus on safety, stabilization, and rapid connection to services.
Serves as a liaison between clients, the agency, and community partners as it relates to homelessness and service coordination, by participating in meetings and providing written updates, as needed.
Maintains current and accurate data on county-approved databases, such as the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
Updates spreadsheets containing various client information.
Communicates updates on engagements and outreach efforts through email to upper management and other stakeholders.
Transports clients and their belongings to and from housing and/or medically-related appointments, as needed.

Qualifications

Specialty Requirements

Six (6) months of full-time work experience providing direct, client-facing and field-based support to individuals or community groups experiencing homelessness on behalf of Los Angeles County. Experience must include engaging unhoused or housing-insecure clients, gathering and documenting housing, social, health, or service-related information, responding to questions from unhoused or housing-insecure clients, and providing information or assistance related to housing navigation, coordinated entry, benefits access, or supportive services.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

Desirable Qualifications

Experience working in an agency such as Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) participating on multidisciplinary, integrated, street-based outreach teams delivering homelessness response services on behalf of Los Angeles County, including engagement, housing navigation, coordinated entry, and connection to supportive services.
Experience working in LAHSA’s Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) or Homeless Engagement Teams (HET).
Experience with coordinated service models that align housing, behavioral health, and supportive services across multiple providers in complex, multi-agency environments.
Certification in the following areas of training conducted by LAHSA: Field Safety, De-escalation strategies, Homeless Engagement techniques, Trauma-informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, Cultural Humility, Mental Health 101, Substance Use Disorders, Coordinated Entry System, Accessing system resources / System Navigation.
Experience driving unhoused or housing-insecure clients to supportive service, medical, document, Department of Public Social Services, and interim housing placement appointments.
Experience developing reports for field activities.
Experience establishing ongoing rapport and engagement with challenging personalities during outreach encounters.
Experience working with a dual agency framework (city and county agencies).
Experience participating in various encampment resolution operations, including multi-jurisdictional responses to address encampments, such as RV encampments, in city or county initiated efforts (Encampment protocols or Pathway Home Encampment resolutions).

License

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Class

Physical requirements vary depending on departmental assignment and work location.

Physical Class II – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Physical Class III – Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

Additional Information

Work Schedule

This position may involve field-based and/or office-based work or may be assigned to a correctional facility depending on departmental assignment, including direct engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness and those seeking health, mental health, social, or reentry-related services. In emergency situations, incumbents may be required to respond promptly by entering encampments and assisting individuals in reaching a safe location. Work schedules will vary by department and assignment, and incumbents may be expected to work nights, weekends, holidays, and other non-traditional hours.

Exam Content

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

Application and Filing Information

Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add AAvetyan@hr.lacounty.gov, as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com, and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Social Security Number
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Name: Armen Avetyan

Department Contact Email: AAvetyan@hr.lacounty.gov

Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929

✓ Fresh Listing

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT (HOMELESSNESS)

Job Description

Summary

Key Requirements

Full Job Description

Requirements

Qualifications

Additional Information

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