Housing Specialist

Housing Specialist

Founded in 1991, Hope Solutions, formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, is a vibrant and socially responsive non-profit agency that provides permanent housing and vital support services to over 2,000 homeless or at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County. Over 40 faith-based communities support our work, although there are no religious requirements or affiliations to receive services.

Are you seeking a new role that fully utilizes your talents and potentialwhile helping to make the world a better place? If so, please read on!

At Hope Solutionswe envision a world in which everyone has a place to call home and the support of a strong community so that they can live with dignity and reach their full potential. We strive to be inclusive and responsive to community needs. We are committed to excellence and accomplish our work with integrity, respect, compassion, and humility.

Hope Solution's mission is to heal the effects of poverty and homelessness by providing permanent housing and vital support services to highly vulnerable families and individuals.

Could our mission be your mission?

We're adding to our team of passionate folks who are on a mission to improve the lives of others through services and support that lead to a higher quality of life for our clients.

Our team is made up of passionate, mission-driven people working together to advance our vision of secure housing and the dignity of self-sufficiency for homeless and at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County.

Want to learn more about Hope Solutions and the people behind our mission? Visit our website to learn more about our leadership team and us.

Who We Are Looking For:

The Housing Specialist provides an array of services to clients within the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) program in the Richmond/San Pablo Area, including case management, housing navigation, advocacy, and financial support (such as rent and move-in assistance), all in support of assessing client goals and connecting them with safe, sustainable housing options. The Housing Specialist works primarily with individuals and families exiting encampments, offering intensive support to help them transition into stable, permanent housing. As part of a small, collaborative team, the Housing Specialist also provides support to the Senior Housing Specialist and fellow Housing Specialists when needed, ensuring continuity of care and consistent service delivery across the ERF program.

This role includes outreach and engagement with local landlords and property owners, working to identify appropriate housing opportunities and supporting clients throughout the housing placement process. Through a trauma-informed and client-centered approach, the Housing Specialist contributes to the success of the ERF program and the broader mission of Hope Solutions.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

What Will You Do:

Client Support:

• Meet with identified clients to complete housing needs assessments and create plans for obtaining safe, sustainable housing.
• Assist with data entry, rental subsidy, program incentive tracking for program participants, and tracking/reporting program data.
• Assist Team members on an as-needed basis with assessing client needs and service planning.
• Assist clients with "document readiness" (gathering and maintaining verification documents required for housing applications)
• Research and identify housing opportunities for clients as requested or needed.
• Assist clients in identifying and seeking desirable, appropriate housing options and mitigating screening barriers.
• Provide applicants with housing-related resources necessary to obtain and sustain housing placement, including information regarding tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities.
• Partner with Department staff and other community partners as needed to ensure coordination of care.
• Transport clients to meet with prospective landlords, complete housing applications, and inspect potential units on an as-needed basis.
• Apply knowledge of residential leases to educate clients regarding their rights and responsibilities.

Landlord/Community Outreach and Engagement:

• Work with community partners to assess housing barriers and the needs of clients experiencing homelessness who are eligible for services.
• Maintain key relationships with community service providers, Probation referral sources, and Coordinated Entry programs.
• Develop outreach and marketing strategies to identify landlords and build housing inventory. Present to interested parties: target audiences will vary but may include faith communities, rental associations, board and care facilities, elected officials, and property management companies.
• In partnership with Hope Solutions, brokered housing and property management staff collaborate regarding shared housing resources.
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on clients' behalf to assist with obtaining and/or maintaining housing.
• Create and maintain consistent verbal and written communication channels between collaborating parties (i.e., tenant, landlord, referral sources, service agencies, debtors, and creditors).

Cultural Responsiveness:

• Awareness of and aptitude to understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based differences within group environments appropriately and effectively.
• Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice and housing justice.
• Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences, cultures, personal humility, authenticity, backgrounds, and goals.
• Participate in and complete our new employee onboarding process, which includes reading and discussing a short chapter in the book, The Color of Law.

Organizational/Administrative Responsibilities:

• Professionally represent Hope Solutions in all circumstances.
• Comply with all legal/ethical professional guidelines for maintaining consumer confidentiality, adhering to HIPAA guidelines, protecting consumer rights, advocating on consumers' behalf, and assuring consumer safety.
• Comply with all local, state, and federal regulations and Hope Solutions policies and procedures.
• Complete required administrative paperwork and reports in a timely and accurate manner.
• Attend all required meetings, including but not limited to Hope Solutions staff meetings, team meetings, consumer case conferences, and linkage meetings with other agencies.
• Complete required personnel-related paperwork and complete expenditure reports for food supplies, petty cash expenses, and/or mileage in a timely and accurate manner.
• Document all services provided in a timely manner.
• Assist with data generation for reports and funding applications as needed.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• On-call, after-hours, and backup work may be required.

Work Location Classification:

• Mobile: Work is performed across multiple locations and in the field rather than at a single fixed site. Staff travel as needed to meet with clients, partners, and operational needs. This classification applies to all Program Direct Service staff.
• Work from home must be approved in advance by the Program Director or Manager. Written approval (email) is required.
• All new program employees are expected to work on-site for the first 90 calendar days. Any exception requires approval from the Program Director or Manager.
• Program staff are expected to structure the workday with approximately six hours of face-face work and approximately two hours of administration/documentation time (this time can be averaged during a given week or month, depending on client and program need and with approval of the supervisor).
• Client-facing work may occur on-site or in the field, depending on the role and program needs, and may include appointments, sessions, engagements, support services, client-present coordination of community resources/services, and other direct service activities.
• This expectation may flex to accommodate operational needs, client availability, safety concerns, or urgent program priorities while still meeting performance expectations.
• When requesting to work from home, the employee must make the request to their direct supervisor in advance. The request must include the requested date/hours, business reasons, and a work plan for the day. For urgent same-day situations, the employee must notify leadership as early as possible and follow directions regarding work-from-home approval, schedule adjustment, or use of leave time.
• When approved to work from home, employees must maintain confidentiality, work from a professional/private environment, complete assigned tasks and documentation on time, and track time accurately.

Position Qualifications:

• Knowledge of and belief in "Housing First" philosophy and strategies.
• Passion for and demonstrated experience successfully supporting vulnerable populations, especially homeless clients with mental disabilities.
• BA degree in social work or related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum of two years' experience in the human service field, preferably with housing retention barriers such as substance abuse, mental health, and/or income challenges.
• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish preferred.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills