Housing Specialist - Adult Shelters
Housing Specialist - Adult Shelters
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Job Description
Job Title: Housing Specialist Adult Shelters
Reports to: Community Programs Manager
Hours: Full Time nonexempt generally 85 MF (occasional evening and weekend work)
Location: Gresham Womens Shelter/Chestnut Tree Inn Shelter (East Multnomah)
Compensation: $21.65/hour to $25.70/hour depending on experience
Benefits: Medical dental short and long term disability AD&D insurance holidays and paid leave
Want to help make a differenceOur Just Future formerly known as Human Solutions counters the forces that keep people and communities in poverty by building relationships and assets that create opportunity today and for future generations.
We partnerwith people and communities impacted by poverty so they can achieve longterm housing and economic security. We investin affordable housing and community assets that contribute to strong inclusive neighborhoods. We advocatewith our community for policies and investments that expand housing and economic opportunity eliminate wealth inequality and end poverty.
East Portland/East Multnomah County Oregon is our home and the heart of our investments advocacy and programs.
Our Just Future envisions vibrant healthy neighborhoods where all people can share in the security hopes and advantages of a thriving supportive community.
Our Just Future operates as a nimble financially strong organization driven by our passion strategic goals andguiding principles.
Our Just Future is working to end homelessness and poverty in our community because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
What Our Just Future Can Offer You: We offer a comprehensive array ofbenefits in support of your physical emotional and financial wellbeing. A few highlights:
- Employer paid premiums for employee health insurance.
- Generous paid time off 13 paid holidays a floating birthday holiday and the ability to maintain a great work/life balance.
- Employer paid premiums for shortterm and longterm disability insurance and life insurance.
- Access to an employee assistance program.
- Flexible spending accounts for health and for dependent care.
- Professional development opportunities including employee driven committees and monthly optional staff workshops.
- Access to wellness initiatives and resources including things such as walking groups yoga classes workshops on stress management selfcare and healthy living.
- Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement plan with a 2 employer match after three months of employment.
- A sixweek paid sabbatical afterevery seven years of consecutive employment with the agency.
SUMMARY
Provide housing search support temporary rental assistance and supportive services to vulnerable homeless single adults staying at the Gresham Womens Shelter and the Chestnut Inn Womens Shelter so they can secure safe and stable housing. These shelters are available to women transwomen nonbinary or gender fluid/queer individuals. Work with participants to identify their natural supports and explore housing options. Provide strengthsbased advocacy that may be intensive and could include persons with disabilities mental health diagnosis and/or substance use addictions (past or present). Build working and collaborative relationships with landlords and other agencies in the community to help facilitate viable and appropriate housing options and resources for participants. This position will work with our Adult Shelter Housing Team which consists of a Community Programs Manager Housing Program Coordinator Housing Specialists Retention Workers and a Peer Support Specialist as well as work with the shelter staff members.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential
- Perform housing intakes with homeless single adults staying at shelter and set housing goals with them based on their strengths and barriers.
- Conduct indepth strengthbased assessment with shelter participants to identify housing and work history physical/emotional health legal issues debt social support strengths struggles and available resources. Monitor progress and needs.
- Assist participants with housing search including helping them to overcome barriers to housing assisting with letters of explanation and requests for reasonable accommodation where applicable.
- Complete Coordinated Access for Adults assessment with participants as needed.
- Work collaboratively with a broad diversity of homeless single adults including people of all races nationalities languages ages and abilities.
- Facilitate budget discussions with participants to formulate and implement a plan that allows them to successfully manage financial resources provide for current needs pay down debts where possible and plan for the future.
- Apply program funds appropriately to each household based on their goal plan and assess the duration of participation in program based on their identified needs.
- Deliver culturally responsive services within the framework of Assertive Engagement and Trauma Informed Care to effectivelymotivate individuals to achieve their goals.
- Use creativity and resourcefulness to ensure that participants are aware of all community resources available for them and advocate with other service providers as appropriate which may include but are not limited to counseling services and legal services.
- Keep current on regional housing laws renters rights including Fair Housing.
- Attend Coordinated Access Adult Case Conferencing meetings and related meetings.
- Maintain accurate complete and uptodate documentation of service activities using agency procedures forms and data reporting systems (ETO and Service Point/HMIS). Submit paperwork in a timely manner.
- Prepare and submit monthly/quarterly/yearly reports to the funder.
Secondary
- Assist with establishing and maintaining relationships with community partners including landlords.
- Provide retention services to participants as needed.
- Work with property managers to resolve any issues arising from the tenancy of single adults and assist other staff in this area as needed.
- Conduct telephone or written follow ups with each household in accordance with requirements of funding sources.
- Participate in regular supervision checkins monthly department staff meetings and all staff trainings.
- Participate in community meetings/outreach events as appropriate including but not limited to information and referral and interagency partnerships.
- Work collaboratively with shelter staff to meet the needs of the participants.
- Other duties as assigned. It is impossible to predict the many requests and assignments that can and will be made in this position. Flexibility and a cooperative spirit are important for the successful operation of our agency.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and abilities required.
Knowledge of:
- Development and implementation of client centered service planning.
- Local and regional housing markets basic landlord tenant laws and tenant rights.
- Social economic and systemic issues creating poverty working successfully with practices and techniques related to people with low income to achieve greater selfsufficiency.
- Community resources and agencies providing social services needed by the homeless population.
- The effects of trauma on individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.
- Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) programs.
Ability to:
- Coordinate delivery of services with theAdult Shelter Housing Team and the Gresham Womens Shelter and Chestnut Tree Shelter Managers and staff.
- Knowledge of and/or willingness to learn and apply an Assertive Engagement model of providing services and incorporating TraumaInformed principles to services rendered.
- Empower and support homeless and low income persons in life choices and change.
- Nonjudgmentally elicit information and help problem solve around sensitive issues including but not limited to alcohol/drug use domestic violence mental health and criminal background.
- Work cooperatively and productively with volunteers and staff.
- Develop and maintain productive working relationships within Our Just Future public and private agencies the general public landlords and participants.
- Be culturally sensitive and competent when working with diverse populations.
- Partner with participants to identify their strengths needs options and effective solutions.
- Complete paperwork documentation and data requirements in a timely manner.
- Maintain accurate and organized files with required documents.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries with all households served.
- Understand and follow complex written and oral instructions rules and procedures.
- Work independently and be a vital and contributing part of a team.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Any combination of education and work experience in social services housing assistance and case management totaling one year or a Bachelors Degree in social service/social sciences field with at least six 6 months case management experience
- At least one year experience developing and/or implementing individualized service plans.
- Experience with crisis intervention community networking and resource development.
- Experience delivering services in a culturally responsive approach using Assertive Engagement techniques (i.e. Strength Based Case Management Motivational Interviewing Assertive Community Treatment).
- BiLingual/BiCultural preferred but not required.
- English fluency required written and spoken.
- General computer word processing and spreadsheet skills and willingness to advance computer skills
- Experience and intermediate skills with Microsoft Office (Word Excel Outlook)
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 use hands to finger handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop kneel crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.
TRANSPORTATION
Possession of a valid drivers license clean driving record and reliable transportation required. Vehicle insurance coverage limits must be $100000 bodily injury liability for one person $300000 bodily injury liability for all people in an accident and $100000 property damage liability.
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. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
TO APPLY
Please have resume cover letter and three professional references (include: name phone email job title and professional relationship to you (for example: supervisor or coworker) ready upon applying. Letters of reference are not necessary. This position is open until filled. Please no phone calls.
Human Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to equity diversity and inclusion. We strive to build a diverse workforce that reflects the population we serve. We strongly encourage people of color to apply for this position.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full Time
