Shelter Diversion Specialist
Shelter Diversion Specialist
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Job Description
Company Overview:
New Reach is undergoing an exciting transformation in order to bring the organization to its next level of success. Working to provide shelter housing stabilization and support for children families and individuals experiencing homelessness across CT since 1990 New Reach inspires independence for those affected by homelessness and poverty. Using the most innovative and progressive methods through a continuum of housing and support New Reach has grown to be one of the most effective nonprofits of its kind in the United States.
Primary Purpose:
The Shelter Diversion Specialist is responsible for supporting and coordinating requirements and needs between department direct staff and Management.
Essential Functions:
- Perform assessments to homeless and unstably housed populations within Greater New Haven with the goal of diverting people from having to enter shelter
- Provide services in different office locations as required
- Provide referral and support to clients being diverted from shelter to help stabilize their households
- Confirm eligibility criteria for any family entering the shelter system provide client/ landlord mediation and/or family mediation interventions as diversion techniques as appropriate
- Assist in program development and quality assurance activities as directed by the Program Manager and make recommendations on systems changes to homeless community workgroups including on best practices concerns necessary course corrections and reporting needs
- Participate in daily phone calls to advocate for prioritization
- Creatively access utilize and monitor use of flexible funds for clients when available
- Assist families receiving financial diversion with the leasing process and perform housing inspections to ensure compliance with Housing Habitability Standards and Lead Visual Assessments
- Ensure all documentation is entered into Homeless Management Information System Database (HMIS) and any other data database within 24-48 hours of incident/contact
- Follow all mandated reporting requirements per Department of Children and Families when applicable
- Develop a strong profile within the homeless services community to strengthen diversion referrals and increase accessibility for collaboration with partnering agencies
- Attend required trainings programs and community meetings and regularly scheduled supervision staff and or other meetings as assigned
- Other duties as assigned to ensure successful programmatic operations
Qualifications:
- Bilingual English and Spanish required
- Associate Degree plus 3 years human services experience; Bachelors degree preferred
- Desire to promote equal access and opportunity for families experiencing homelessness
- Experience in housing housing law and other related areas preferred
- Highly motivated creative with excellent interpersonal skills and crisis intervention abilities
- Strong advocacy documentation and computer skills required
- Ability to work with a team and independently with initiative
- Access to reliable transportation
Expectations:
- Have a solutions-based approach to presented problems.
- Be supportive engaging and encouraging to peers and staff.
- Be adaptable to change and willing to take on more responsibility.
- Maintain strict confidentiality concerning any clients or employees personal information living information and/or HIV status
- Provides a commitment to the values of New Reach: Professionalism Integrity Compassion and Initiative
- Adheres to all New Reachs Policies and Procedures
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 occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger handle or feel objects tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop kneel crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
