PSH Housing Specialist

ABOUT MIRIAMS KITCHEN

Miriams Kitchen works to end chronic homelessness in Washington DC. We advocate for permanent supportive housing as a long-term solution while meeting short-term needs by providing healthy meals and high-quality social services to individuals who are chronically homeless.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The PSH Housing Specialist will support a reduced PSH caseload and provide primary programmatic support to frontline case managers in navigating the housing process including reviewing housing applications and liaising with the Housing Authority. They will support case managers and supervisors in advocating for complex and escalated cases with landlords and DCHA and ensure that housing application records are maintained.

The PSH Housing Specialist will provide community-based support services to a primary caseload of up to 9 residents who were formerly chronically homeless with flexibility to increase primary caseload as determined by the Senior Director of Housing and staffing needs. PSH Case Managers work together as a team to help individuals from homelessness to housing through the housing identification process and to provide support services to chronically homeless individuals in permanent supportive housing to help residents maintain stable housing and achieve the highest level of self-sufficiency and quality of life possible.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Housing Specialist Role

• Lead the team as the main point of contact and internal coordination for submitting all paperwork for voucher applications initial lease-ups and relocations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key external partners at DCHA and DHS.
• Communicate evolving DCHA and DHS program policies/procedures to MK Direct Service teams.
• Deliver as-needed internal trainings on the housing process and resources across departments.

PSH Case Manager Role

• Develop trusting relationships with Permanent Supportive Housing residents. Engage residents to collaboratively develop goals and service plans for housing mental health substance abuse health education income employment and other goal areas. Support residents work toward goals through individually tailored services and by facilitating effective connections to community services and resources. Examples of support services include successful tenancy problem-solving independent living skill-building connection to public benefits and employment assistance money management support and connection to medical mental health and substance abuse services.
• Provide outreach case management crisis support advocacy and other needed services to residents primarily in the community and residents homes but in any setting necessary including streets shelters jails hospitals program office etc.
• Meet or exceed the monthly client contact requirements of two contacts per month including one home visit per month. (Note: DHS requirements may at times be altered in response to the COVID public health emergency).
• Support residents wellness and independence.
• Monitor residents medical and mental health needs and facilitate referrals for support as necessary.
• Act as a liaison with landlords and other community stakeholders to promote the success of residents and the PSH program.
• Collaborate with other service providers in the community to ensure that residents are receiving high-quality effective services to meet their needs.
• Maintain written and computerized records compile reports and complete other program documentation (e.g. case notes incident reports home visit reports monthly and quarterly reports). Maintain appropriate confidentiality of residents information and records.
• Actively look for ways for Miriams Kitchen to expand or change PSH program to better meet residents needs.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Enthusiastic about Housing First approach.
• Strong familiarity with housing process and related systems (especially DCHA and housing providers).
• Proficiency in Spanish is preferred.
• Ability to work as a member of a culturally diverse team. We are actively recruiting diverse applicants.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Strong sense of boundaries.
• Valid drivers license and ownership of a motor vehicle.
• Strong interest in and commitment to ending chronic homelessness in DC.
• An understanding of the structural and systemic causes of homelessness.
• Ability to pass background checks as required by government contract.
• Comfort working with a diverse population with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences.

Education/Experience

• A bachelors degree in a human service field PLUS one year of experience providing case management services or a masters degree in a human services field is required per our contract for services.

EOE STATEMENT

Miriams Kitchen values a diverse workforce reflective of the community we serve. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on race color national origin sex age ethnicity disability sexual orientation religion political beliefs or any other factors prohibited by law.