Description:
Hourly Pay Range: $22.31 - $29.90 - Pay will commensurate with qualifications and experience.
This position typically pays the minimum of the pay range.
Summary
Perform diversified job duties to support and advocate for assigned individuals, in particular individuals identified as “high risk” due to involvement in violent crime(s) who may be homeless or at risk of housing instability, to facilitate successful reintegration into the community following a period of incarceration, and to perform specified duties as described below.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Work as part of the interdisciplinary team and ensure the provision of necessary services and supports to assist participants in identifying and making choices about their housing needs and goals to support successful community reintegration. Provide information and referral for housing services and opportunities, as appropriate. Ensure that a signed Release of Information form for all applicable external service providers is obtained.
All services shall be developed to meet the individualized needs of each program participant, maximizing their participation in the planning process, to achieve successful program and service outcomes.
Maintain professional and ethical boundaries with participants and community partners and stakeholders at all times.
Develop individualized housing plans for participants identified as in need of housing assistance.
Assist participants in completing housing applications, rental assistance forms, and securing documentation required for housing placement.
Develop and maintain relationships with community providers that focus on assisting the unhoused population.
Develop and maintain relationships with peer staff, program management, participant family members, residential and community service providers, funders and representatives of funders, landlords, property management companies, and any other internal and external contacts to insure pertinent resources are available to participants. Specifically, knowledge of and relationships with community service providers should be developed to include, but not be limited to collaborating agencies, New Haven Housing Authority, CT Coalition to End Homelessness, 211, legal aid, CT Fair Housing Coalition, United Way CAN collaboration, and other housing resources in the community.
Participate in collaborative meetings or forums with community providers to address housing issues.
Accompany participants to appointments with landlords or property managers to provide support and advocacy for housing placement.
Ensure that confidentiality is maintained in all areas of program operation. Criminal records of each program participant should be maintained and disclosed only as allowable under state and federal law, in accordance with Agency privacy practices and on a need to know basis.
Facilitate, coordinate or attend staff in-service training and related support services, when needed (i.e. program events and/or activities, community outreach/marketing of program).
Assist team members with the intake of new referrals, as needed.
Provide crisis intervention in the event that a program participant is in danger of losing their housing, and assist in the development of responsible behaviors to ensure successful retention of current housing, if appropriate. Act as substitute for other direct care reentry staff, as needed.
Use a computer to complete required communication and documentation of all activities, including data entry into the data management system of Agency programs (SETWorks) and of stakeholders (i.e. City of New Haven’s Apricot 360 data platform).
Documentation will be completed to meet agency, state, federal and funding source guidelines in a timely, accurate and professional manner.
Track and document all participant programmatic expenditures in the Agency programs data management system (SETWorks) and provide monthly reports to Program Coordinator, as needed.
Ensure that HIPAA privacy and security regulations are consistently met and enforced.
Work with service team to ensure that safe, accessible and respectful service environments are provided, oriented toward reentry into the community.
Assist with participant transportation as required, including use of personal vehicle.
Together with program participants, staff and co-workers, participate in continuous assessment of the effectiveness of service delivery.
Perform other related essential duties as required or as directed.
Requirements:
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
Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university; plus two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience, including previous experience providing housing navigation or assistance.
Language Skills
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to assist participants with appropriate social behavior to facilitate successful community reintegration and inclusion. Ability to act as an advocate for participants and to counsel in crisis or when facing a challenging situation.
Leadership Responsibilities
Position does not require direct supervision of staff to include such job duties as hiring; firing; evaluating performance; addressing performance concerns. Position does require facilitation of team meetings, delegation of day-to-day responsibilities to ensure provision of quality services; and ongoing communication with community professionals in a leadership capacity.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Valid Connecticut Driver's License, auto registration and insurance
Other Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of the criminal justice system, probation, parole and unique barriers faced by justice-involved individuals is preferred.
Ability to obtain clearance to enter CT Department of Correction facilities.
Ability to obtain approved Behavior Management, CPR and First Aid certification.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 lbs. and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work near moving mechanical parts. The employee may work in outside weather conditions. The employee may occasionally be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, cold and heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Attire: Business Casual Attire is required while performing daily duties with program participants. Professional Attire is required when representing the Organization at meetings, conferences or any other professional activity. Personal Grooming should be neat at all times.
Equal Opportunity Employer
