FHSP Support Specialist

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Salary: $26.44 per hour, non exempt

Organization Overview

Founded in 2004, Brilliant Corners provides innovative housing and housing-related services to California’s most vulnerable individuals, with an emphasis on those transitioning from, or at risk of, homelessness or institutionalization. We develop, own, and manage multi-family supportive housing and licensed residential care homes. We implement a broad array of scattered-site, one-on-one supportive housing, and clinical case management programs through partnerships with developmental services, homeless services, veterans’ services, and health care sectors.

In short, we do good work.

We have offices statewide with a staff of passionate people. While we are growing rapidly, we are also selective: We’re seeking inspired, talented people who want to be effecting profound change and who have fun doing it.

Department Summary

The Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool (FHSP) is a supportive housing rental subsidy program of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS), along with other governmental partners, managed-care organizations, and foundations. The goal of the FHSP is to secure quality affordable housing for extremely vulnerable Angelenos. Brilliant Corners, the central coordinating community-based partner for FHSP, works to secure a broad range of housing options, including individual apartments, blocks of units, and entire buildings. Brilliant Corners identifies and secures units Countywide, provides move-in assistance and rental subsidy disbursements, coordinates with case managers, and assists with neighborhood relations.

Position Summary

Housing Coordinators provide direct services to formerly homeless individuals throughout Los Angeles County—this includes support with all aspects of the housing process. Brilliant Corners has program participants living in scattered-site settings, project-based settings, and residential facility settings that can have either FHSP locally funded subsidies or a federal voucher to subsidize their rent. Housing Coordinator applicants may work with program participants in any of the settings or subsidy types listed above. With guidance from the Program Supervisor, the Housing Coordinator will help formerly homeless individuals move into housing in Los Angeles County and subsequently provide housing retention services after move in. The Housing Coordinator will work directly with tenants and ongoing case management to ensure that program participants successfully retain their housing over time. The Housing Coordinator will ensure program participants’ well-being and unit habitability by conducting weekly, monthly, and quarterly home visits. The Housing Coordinator will work creatively to prevent eviction and other housing-related issues. Housing Coordinators that work with federal voucher holders will learn about the public housing agency (PHA) system as well as Brilliant Corners’ policies and procedures to serve as a subject matter expert to their program participants in all housing-related issues.

The Support Specialist does not have a fixed role within the FHSP, but instead works where they are needed for limited time periods in vacant Housing Coordinator positions. This position will not hold a permanent caseload or position in a specific team, instead, they will play an integral role with coverage for temporarily vacant Housing Coordinator positions. The Support Specialist is a versatile employee who are cross trained to have comprehensive knowledge of the various housing processes and programs within the FHSP to substitute for any Housing Coordinator role within the FHSP. This position will support various teams and focus on essential duties until the permanent employee returns, or the vacant position is filled. This position may also take on special projects as needed. It is an ideal role for those who are adaptable, enjoy variety, and want to broaden their knowledge across the FHSP and within the homeless system.

Position Responsibilities

• Assist program participants, case managers, and property providers in navigating the public housing agency (PHA) system, if applicable.
• Coordinate program participants' move-ins into scattered-site units, project-based units, and enriched residential facilities.
• Liaise between program participants and case management services.
• Work with the Housing Acquisitions team to assist with housing placements and assignments.
• Ensure program participants well-being and unit habitability through a regular schedule of unit inspections and wellness checks.
• Respond to housing and tenant-related emergencies during normal business and after hours.
• Assess the need for reasonable accommodations/unit modifications and ADA compliance and assist program participants through the process of obtaining the appropriate information and documentation, if applicable.
• Educate community members about the housing needs of identified program participants and the importance of supportive housing.
• Submit and follow up on tenant maintenance requests.
• Maintain thorough and accurate progress notes, files, and correspondences while maintaining the confidentiality of program participants, staff, and organizational information at all times.
• Update multiple data systems with appropriate participant information.
• Routinely make home visits and phone calls to program participants while still exercising appropriate boundaries with them.
• Attend all agency staff meetings and trainings, as well as department meetings and case conferences.
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Supervisor or Program Manager.

Requirements

Professional Experience

• One year of work experience in non-profit human services
• Experience with homeless, veterans, and/or people with health conditions or impairments a plus
• Knowledge of different housing models – such as permanent supportive housing or rapid rehousing – or the public housing agency (PHA) system a plus

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Willingness to travel all over Los Angeles County and make regular in- person visits in the community
• Possession of a valid California driver’s license, a clean driving record, and automobile insurance
• Access to reliable transportation
• Basic computer knowledge, MS Word and Excel required; PowerPoint preferred
• Flexibility is required regarding scheduling and prioritizing tasks
• Ability to utilize critical thinking skills in decision-making situations, good organizational and record-keeping skills, and good independent judgment

Core Competencies

• Approachability: Is easy to approach and talk to; spends the extra effort to put others at ease; can be warm, pleasant, and gracious; is sensitive to and patient with the interpersonal anxieties of others; builds rapport well; is a good listener; is an early knower, getting informal and incomplete information in time to do something about it.
• Conflict Management: Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities; reads situations quickly; good at focused listening; can hammer out tough agreements and settle disputes equitably; can find common ground and get cooperation with minimum noise.
• Strategic Agility:  Sees ahead clearly, can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans

Organizational Values

• Humanity:  Putting people first: We are committed to meeting people where they’re at, honoring their dignity, diversity, and experience.
• Community:  Building a better future: Sustainable housing solutions are fostered through partnership, collaboration, and human connection.
• Ingenuity:  Innovating for transformation: Systems-change requires relentless determination, thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations 

A valid, clean CA driver’s license and a personal insured vehicle are required.

Travel Requirements

This position requires frequent visits to properties, attendance to on-site vendor meetings, community meetings, funding workshops, trainings, and other events in the greater Los Angeles County. Occasional attendance at events outside Los Angeles County, including Brilliant Corners’ events throughout California, may also be required.

Physical Requirements

Candidates should have physical mobility for tasks such as standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, twisting, and walking on uneven surfaces. They should be capable of performing stationary tasks like sitting for up to 6 to 8 hours a day. Additionally, candidates should be able to lift, carry, push, pull light to moderate weights up to 15 pounds safely. Requires mental acuity for analytical reasoning and document interpretation.

Salary range for this position is $26.44 - $28.25 per hour. This position is being offered at $26.44 per hour.

Brilliant Corners does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. W e will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (With 5% Match)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary and AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Resources
• Hybrid Work