Overview:
Make a meaningful difference by helping individuals find stability, independence, and a place to call home. Join a great team with supportive leadership, strong teamwork, and a shared commitment to serving our clients with compassion and respect.
GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB
The role of the Housing Support Specialist is to support program participants with their housing needs and other services that may be needed by clients to help attain and retain housing. Housing support includes a wide array of services intended to support homeless, housing insecure, or other vulnerable individuals gain permanent housing and support those individuals in maintaining housing. Housing assistance and counseling may be part of a HUD-funded program or part of a healthcare program, and client needs may be different based on their specific situations and/or diagnoses.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The following statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the major functions of this position and are not intended to be a detailed description of all the work/functions that may be required. Other duties may be assigned.
● Assistance with rental applications, financial planning and assistance, reducing rental barriers (ex., Payment of arrears, references for clients, getting legal documentation, etc), client advocacy, landlord relationship development, and ongoing support for clients once in housing, among other supports.
● Work closely with Care Managers from insurance providers to triage which participants need assistance. This includes the development of the initial intake/assessment and person-centered plan.
● Promote consumer choice and control of housing, and access to housing that is affordable and promotes community inclusion.
● Counseling and assistance in identifying and exploring different types of housing options, financial resources and determining affordability.
● Counseling and assistance in identifying preferences of location, accessibility and modification needs, explaining the rights and responsibilities of a tenant with disabilities.
● Ability to provide on-going management and maintenance as needed.
● Ability to work with clients on the development of life skills and other educational opportunities.
● Maintain client privacy.
● Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
● Ensure daily documentation is completed on time and with 100% accuracy.
● Ensure billing is entered correctly and timely.
● Participate in case conferencing meetings with other team members (both internal and external) as needed.
● Update HMIS as needed for clients – including program enrollments and disenrollments.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
· High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and 1 year or more of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Associate or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
· Proven proficiency with Microsoft Suite of products.
· Previous experience working with vulnerable populations and/or experience with rental assistance programs preferred.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
· Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
· Ability to write simple correspondence.
· Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
· Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide by 10's and 100's.
· Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.
REASONING ABILITY
· Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
· Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
· Ability to work independently with limited supervision.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
· Ability to stand 1/3 to 2/3 of the time.
· Ability to walk less than 1/3 of the time.
· Ability to sit 1/3 to 2/3 of the time.
· Ability to use hands greater than 2/3 of the time.
· Ability to reach with hands and arms less than 1/3 of the time.
· Ability to climb or balance less than1/3 of the time.
· Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl less than 1/3 of the time.
· Ability to talk and hear greater than 2/3 of the time.
· Ability to push or pull up to 25 pounds less than 1/3 of the time.
· Ability to lift up to 25 pounds less than 1/3 of the time.
· Ability to use close vision (20 inches or less) greater than 2/3 of the time for computer work.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Noise level in the work environment is moderate.
· Work may be in an office setting or in the community based on client needs.
· Valid driver’s license required.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
