Housing Intake & Placement Specialist

LifeWorks of Austin, TX is looking for a full-time Housing Intake & Placement Specialist to join our Housing Development team! The Housing Intake and Placement Specialist (HIPS) works as part of a team to help young people (transitioned-aged youth ages 18-24) and their families secure permanent housing opportunities. The HIPS leads the process in finding and securing apartments and other rental properties to ensure young people and their families can move into permanent housing. The HIPS cultivates a network of partnerships with various properties and landlords, leveraging housing subsidies and rental assistance resources, and helps young people navigate housing barriers such as previous rental debt, criminal background restrictions, etc. This position supports youth and collaborates closely with case managers and landlords during the housing search process, through the execution of a lease, and continues to provide support to the youth after entering into a lease agreement to ensure housing stability.

This full time, non-exempt position earns a competitive rate ranging from $24.86/hr.-$27.17/hr. depending upon experience. Benefits are also included, which consist of 24 PTO days per year (accrued); 11 paid holidays per year; a premium-free employee medical plan with $100 per month HSA contribution (plus other affordable employee or family medical, dental, and vision options!); a retirement savings plan with 50% match on the first 6% of contributions, and much more!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Delivers excellent customer service skills while collaborating with a case manager to conduct tenant barrier screenings and housing intakes with clients over the phone or in person.
• Identifies housing placement options based on individual housing preferences and barriers.
• Applies a Housing First approach throughout all functions of the role.
• Conducts outreach to rental housing providers and negotiates rental screening criteria that otherwise may disqualify youth from being approved for a unit.
• Develops, documents and incentives partnerships with property management and property owner to allow for reduced screening criteria.
• Generates, summarizes, and assesses tenant screening checks.
• Facilitates unit application process to quickly connect clients with available housing opportunities.
• Conducts physical unit inspections and walk throughs, also completes eligibility documentation based on program requirements; works in partnership with case management staff to assist with unit transfers for clients.
• Responds to escalations when conflicts arise between clients and landlords. Helps to mediate conversations amidst tension and heightened emotional responses.
• Mediates and negotiates penalties and charges when client’s units have sustained damage.
• Works to repair relationships with landlords over time when immediate conflict resolutions cannot fully satisfy landlord priorities.
• Serves as the primary agency liaison to properties when needing to evoke VAWA protection.
• Acts as liaison with Housing Authority partners to ensure continuity of care for young people supported by vouchers.
• Coordinates follow up with case management staff regarding housing stability issues including lease violations, and potential evictions.
• Negotiates mutual rescission of leases with property management to avoid eviction.
• Ensures smooth transition between program enrollment to housing in partnership with the case manager.
• Uses agency and housing database to enter and maintain case records and documentation as appropriate including all intake information and required assessments.
• Maintains client information and confidential client files, in addition to completing follow-ups with clients as required.
• Establishes an effective therapeutic alliance with clients using skill to build rapport and ask sensitive questions.
• Maintains a high level of data integrity to ensure compliance with agency and funder required data collection requirements.
• Maintains a working knowledge of all LifeWorks housing programs, including Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Transitional Housing.
• Maintains a working knowledge of local rental market conditions, applicable tenant/landlord regulations, Fair Housing, as well as forms and processes used by members of the Austin Apartment Association and Austin Board of Realtors.
• Maintains expert knowledge of protections and requirements supported by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree; and
• Requires 2 years of experience in the rental housing industry or in the homeless response system; or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficient with Microsoft products, preferably including Outlook, TEAMS, and Dynamics 365.

ABOUT LIFEWORKS
With more than 50 years of experience working with youth experiencing homelessness, youth aging out of foster care, young adults, and young parents, LifeWorks is committed to solving youth homelessness through housing, mental health, education, and workforce services. Our vision is a Central Texas where every young person has a place to call home, a sense of belonging, and the support to pursue a life they love.

We provide a full range of support services for vulnerable youth, ensuring that every young person has access to a safe home, the chance to heal, and opportunities to learn and work. Through innovative problem-solving, shared accountability, and evidence-based solutions, we are relentless in achieving real, sustainable, and measurable results for the clients we serve.

A career at LifeWorks offers opportunities to grow professionally while making an immediate, lasting impact on the lives of youth and families in our community. Join us in building a future where every young person has the stability and support to thrive.