Housing Stablilization Specialist

Housing Stabilization Specialist

The Housing Stabilization Specialist provides assistance with Transitional Housing and Rapid Rehousing services, engaging in a collaborative process of assessing, planning, facilitating, and advocating to meet the needs of individuals experiencing a housing crisis. This role entails coordinating various housing services, collaborating with community partners, and monitoring program compliance.

This position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team. The Housing Stabilization Specialist also works to improve the quality of services by providing support to tenants by conducting home visits, maintaining accurate records, and addressing tenant and landlord concerns.

Key responsibilities include initiating housing-focused case management services for all enrolled participants, completing intake and assessments with program participants, meeting with clients in their homes to assist clients with their Activities of Daily Living and refer to appropriate resources, conducting a review of program participants' needs and connecting them to appropriate resources to meet them, utilizing crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, trauma informed care, and problem-solving techniques to engage and establish rapport with participants, building and maintaining partnerships with landlords, management companies, and non-profit providers to identify and secure and maintain affordable housing within Arlington County for participants, assisting program participants with mitigating barriers to housing, determining program participants goals using a person-centered, strengths-based /solution-focused individualized goal and action plan that promotes permanent housing and self-sufficiency, developing individual service plans (ISP) for individuals (includes the goals, objectives, steps and timetable participants will follow to secure and maintain housing), reviewing case plans regularly and providing participants with the information, resources and encouragement necessary to complete plans, maintaining accurate case notes, client data (HMIS) and other records according to agency and professional standards, providing referrals and educating participants about available resources, to include but not limited to transportation, food, housing, behavioral health, physical healthcare, etc, advocating on behalf of PathForward/participants as needed to help them access essential social services and other programs that will improve their ability maintain housing, approaching challenging program participants with understanding, optimism, and compassion, assisting in tracking program participants' outcomes and service trends to promote on-going evaluation and improvement of services, working with Housing Locator to assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice, within reason, working with Intake & Data Quality Coordinator to ensure correct intake information and assessments for program participants, working collaboratively with PathForward staff to address program participants needs and offer resources and expertise, as needed, keeping supervisor up to date and aware of program participants interactions and progress of the program participants, reviewing participant cases on a bi-weekly basis to ensure progress towards permanent housing, maintaining a complete working file providing activity documentation and copies of all corresponding paperwork, establishing and maintaining partnerships with local organizations, and community groups to collaborate on housing needs, whether individually or organizationally, maintaining a professional atmosphere, communicating regularly with supervisor, colleagues, and stakeholders, relaying necessary/essential information, attending training and professional development opportunities regularly, supporting team building and teamwork opportunities and events, performing other general duties to support the organization's mission, as requested, and other duties as assigned.

Supervisory responsibilities include none.

Qualifications and skills include the ability to interact and communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, ability to prepare written reports, proficient knowledge of Word, Excel, and Outlook, bi-lingual in Spanish and English with the ability to converse proficiently both verbally and in writing is a plus, CPR/First Aid Certification must be acquired and maintained once employed, ability to maintain accurate records and client confidentiality, must have a valid driver's license and clean driving record, proven experience in housing coordination, program management, or a related area, strong knowledge of housing laws, policies, and community resources, excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

Experience and education requirements include a B.A. Degree in Human Services or related field; or Associate Degree and at least 2 years' community based social services experience or other related experience with homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, housing instability, or lived experience.

Physical requirements include ability to travel within different sites, flexibility to work nights/weekends, works primarily in a sedentary environment, utilizing various means of technology, and occasionally required to lift up to 25 lbs.