Housing Placement Specialist

Position Summary This position is responsible for coordinating housing placement for clients with chronic conditions and behavioral health needs. As a member of the Housing/Homeless Outreach Teams, the Housing Placement Specialist will participate in daily huddles, identify client needs according to established protocols, and provide point‑of‑care services. The specialist will receive direct referrals for housing placement, collect all required documentation, complete client applications, and monitor progress toward acceptance. The specialist will update clients and outreach staff on status changes to ensure timely placement. Duties and Responsibilities Identify eligibility requirements for referrals from outreach programs. Collect required documentation for housing applications, including birth certificates, social security cards, photo identification, proof of income, and proof of homelessness. Assist clients with the housing application process and facilitate landlord‑tenant communication. Monitor completed applications for subsidies, vouchers, or low‑income units to ensure timely processing and placement. Develop housing stability plans addressing obstacles such as criminal history, legal issues, past debt, evictions, and credit history. Build relationships with public housing agencies, veterans’ housing programs, and private owners or property managers. Identify gaps in care with the care team and use process‑improvement strategies to resolve them. Provide interventions and referrals to other providers, including individual, family, and group modalities, counseling, case management, vocational rehabilitation, system coordination, advocacy, and crisis management. Offer education, links, and referrals to benefits, community resources, and support services such as treatment and skill training. Monitor, compile, and submit data, reports, and paperwork for the program. Advocate for client services with housing, community, social service, and medical providers. Participate in and coordinate care plans for clients living without shelter. Connect clients to Sea Mar and non‑Sea Mar resources, tracking all available services. Assist clients with ongoing self‑management goal setting and emphasize client decision‑making using motivational interviewing skills. Follow up with patients to evaluate condition and address barriers to the care plan. Participate in group visits and planned events, providing care coordination support. Disseminate information regarding care for chronic illnesses and behavioral issues to the homeless outreach teams. Collaborate with the Manager of homeless services to organize, design, and develop program structure. Exhibit excellent customer service skills, active listening, and a welcoming approach to meet client needs. Perform other duties as assigned by the Behavioral Health Supervisor or Community Support Services Program Manager. Qualifications Work independently, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines. Apply critical thinking skills and maintain confidentiality. Demonstrate excellent organizational skills and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Possess knowledge of medical terminology and/or behavioral health topics. Make strong decisions and prioritize effectively. Work respectfully and professionally with community members, patients, families, and staff. Operate effectively in a multicultural environment with a diverse population. Display sympathy, maturity, responsibility, and reliability. Show strong client engagement, interpersonal, and communication skills to establish a therapeutic relationship. Understand and apply the Trauma‑Informed Approach and motivational interviewing skills (preferred). Have coordination experience with individuals who have serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook proficiently. Maintain knowledge of community resources. Work efficiently in a fast‑paced community health care setting. Think analytically, solve problems in multidisciplinary teams independently. Handle difficult people and situations effectively. Communicate effectively with diverse communities. Manage time and prioritize tasks efficiently. Analyze client care data. Identify client learning needs and assess knowledge, skill level, and readiness for learning. Maintain privacy and security of sensitive and confidential information across all formats, adhering to local, state, and federal privacy requirements. Maintain excellent customer service skills. Apply critical thinking skills consistently. Understand and implement process‑improvement activities. Reasoning Ability Must be able to work independently, have good problem‑solving skills, and be open to changing processes. Education, Certifications and Licenses Peer Support Certification. Possess or obtain an agency‑affiliated credential. BA/BS/BSW in a health‑related field with one year of experience working with the homeless population preferred. Three (3) years of experience in resource facilitation with the homeless population may substitute for education. Obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire and maintain it throughout employment. Valid Washington State driver’s license and proof of liability insurance. Medical Screening Requirements Pre‑hire and annual employee health screening required. Annual influenza and COVID‑19 vaccine required; employees with approved medical or religious exemptions may wear a mask during flu season. Work Environment The position involves long periods sitting at a computer, working in a shared space with ambient noise, and frequent walking, standing, and sitting. The role also requires regular telephone communication and operating in a fast‑paced behavioral health clinic setting. Physical Requirements Use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. Walk, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, and occasionally crawl. Lift or move up to 20 pounds. Possess close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment. Supervision No supervisory responsibilities. Supervision provided by Behavioral Health Supervisor with support from the Community Support Services Program Manager. Hourly Compensation Hourly: $23.88 per hour. What We Offer Full‑time employees working 30 hours or more receive a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage. Life insurance, long‑term disability, and employee assistance program. Paid time off starting at 24 days per year plus 10 paid holidays. 401(k) retirement options. Opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment. Equal Opportunity Employment Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr 002 Sea Mar Community Health Center