Practitioner, LOVE

JobDescription

Position:         Practitioner,LOVE

Term:              Full-time,hourly

Pay:                $19/hour+healthinsurance,paidtimeoff,andotherbenefitsLocation:        Santa Fe, NM

Reports To:     Supervisor, LOVE Direct Reports: None

Updated:         May 5,2026

OrganizationDescription:

UrbanAlchemyhiresindividualswhowereonceincarceratedandtrainsthemtotransformpeopleandplaces throughloveandrespect.Weprovideservicesthathealcommunitieschallengedbytheintersectionofextremepoverty, mental illness, addiction, and homelessness. When individuals are suffering in our public spaces, Urban Alchemy offers solutions. When a neighborhood, street, or intersection earns a reputation as a place to avoid, weturnitaround.UrbanAlchemystaff,knownasPractitioners,createapeacefulandsupportivepresence,helping ourcommunitiesrebuildasenseofprideonepersonatatime.UrbanAlchemyisanonprofitorganizationfounded in 2018. We quickly grew from a small program in San Francisco to a thriving social enterprise with over 1,000 staff. We currently operate in California, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico, and Oregon. Over 95% of Urban Alchemy employees, including leadership, experienced incarceration and/or homelessness. For more information visit ourwebsite.

ProjectDescription:

Urban Alchemy operates the LOVE (LeadingOutreach withValuedEngagements) team in Santa Fe, engaging individuals living unsheltered in public spaces and connecting them to services and housing pathways through trauma-informed, harm reduction, and person-centered outreach. The LOVE team establishes relationships with community members, residents, business owners, and individuals experiencing homelessness in target areas.

Urban Alchemy also operates Agape House, a congregate interim housing facility for adults experiencing homelessness in Santa Fe, where the LOVE team collaborates with site staff to support guests in transitioning to stable housing.

PositionSummary:

The Practitioner, LOVE is part of Urban Alchemy’s Community Outreach and Engagement initiative designated as the LOVE (Leading Outreach with Valued Engagements) team. The Practitioner establishes positive relationshipswithcommunitymembersintargetareas.Communitymembersrangefromresidentsofthearea,businessowners and their patrons, and members of the unhoused community. These relationships are critical to leverageeffectivecommunicationandde-escalation.ThePractitionermustpossesshighlyattenuatedemotionalintelligence to accurately assess individuals they are responding to, understand and regulate their own emotions and triggers, and quickly develop a strategy to respond to the crisis in a calm and warm manner that deescalatesthesituationandresultsinsatisfactoryresolutionofthepresentingissue.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:PositionSpecific

• Provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, gender-responsive, harm reduction, and person-centered mental health and substance use crisis assessment, intervention, and de-escalation
• Engage with individuals in distress to assess the cause of their distress, determine strategies that will be useful in decreasing distress, support individuals to resolve any identified issues, de-escalate potential or existing conflicts and/or heightened emotions, and support individuals to connect to supportive services, as appropriate
• Show competency in use of Narcan for opioid overdosereversal
• Work collaboratively with other team members and the person in crisis to quickly assess the needs of theindividualexperiencingmentalhealthcrisis;andcreatearesponseplan
• Practice self-awareness and cultural humility as member of a diverse team; be conscientious and sensitiveto power and other interpersonal dynamics with team members and with members of the unhousedcommunity
• Ability to engage and connect with individuals in crisis, a strong ability to remain calm and attentiveduringcrises,aswellastoworkthroughseveralseparatecrisesduringasingleshift
• Demonstrate a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a high crisis and first responder position
• Know and adhere to Urban Alchemy’s critical incident policies, including reportingrequirements

General

• Demonstrate compassion and respect in all interactions with guests, staff, andstakeholders
• Apply emotional intelligence to build effective, meaningfulconnections
• Follow all safety procedures and ensure compliance with OSHA, state, local, and companypolicies
• Attend orientation and complete required training mandated by the company orfunders
• Work flexible hours and/or shifts, weekends, and on-callshifts
• Follow appearance standards by wearing designated uniforms and ID badge
• Perform additional duties as assigned bysupervisor

PositionRequirements:

PositionSpecific

• Experience with incarceration strongly preferred and Urban Alchemy’s model values Practitionerswho

bring lived experience and can authentically connect with our mission and the guests weserve

• 1+ year working in outreach, street-based services, or a related fieldpreferred
• Demonstratesstrongemotionalintelligencewiththeabilitytoread,regulate,andrespondtoothersinhigh-stress situations
• Able to engage and build rapport with individuals in crisis; remains calm, attentive, and focused across multiple situations in a single shift
• Understands barriers facing individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance use, or involvement in the justice system
• Maintains ethical and professional standards and boundaries
• Handles sensitive and confidential information withdiscretion
• Demonstrates high resilience and commitment to self-care in a demanding, first-responderenvironment
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; communicates clearly and respectfully with guests,communitymembers,andteammembers
• Reads, understands, and follows instructions, procedures, and safetyguidelines
• High school diploma, GED, or professional trainingpreferred
• Bilingual(English/Spanish)preferred

General

• Values kindness and respect in allinteractions
• Genuinely aligned with the company’s mission, values, andmodel

• Collaborative team player with a positive, solutions-orientedmindset
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamicenvironment
• Compassionate and emotionally resilient when serving individuals experiencing poverty, mental illness,addiction,orhomelessness
• Able to obtain and maintain background clearance in accordance with companypolicy
• Lived experience with incarceration and/or homelessness isvalued
• Abletouseasmartphoneortablettoenterdatainthefield
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record preferred

PhysicalRequirements:

• Walking: 7+hours
• Standing:4-7hours
• Sitting: less than 1hour
• Lifting: up to 25 lbsoccasionally

WorkEnvironment:

• Work is performed in public outdoor spaces including streets, sidewalks, parks, and encampments, withdirect,regularexposuretothecommunityandindividualsserved
• May involve exposure to extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loudnoises
• Expected to work in all weatherconditions

Statement of Non-discrimination:

Urban Alchemy shares a special bond with society’s most vulnerable because we see ourselves in their struggle.Whendoing ourwork,we recognize thehumanity inthosewhoarestruggling andtreatthemhowweoncewished others had treated us. People who have been incarcerated, experienced homelessness and/or come from marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply because we believe they have unique skills andabilitiestoengagewith peoplewhoare struggling.UrbanAlchemy providesequalemploymentopportunitiesto allemployeesandapplicantsfor employmentwithout regard torace,color,religion,age,sex, nationalorigin,disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Urban Alchemy prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.

How toApply:

If you have questions, please emailhr@urban-alchemy.us and indicate the position you are interested in. You canapplyforthispositionbyvisiting:https://www.paycomonline.net.