Housing Diversion Specialist

Housing And Diversion Specialist

The Housing and Diversion Specialist is a front-line member of the Wake County CoC Coordinated Entry Team who helps people access homeless resources by providing triage, assessments, and Coordinated Entry support through a variety of virtual and in-person methods. This role focuses on housing problem-solving, completing CE enrollments and assessments, and placing households on the Community Queue, a prioritized list used to match people to available shelter and housing programs within HMIS.

In 2025, Wake County established a new Continuum of Care department to fulfill its role as the CoC Lead Agency and key functions as Collaborative Applicant, HMIS and Coordinated Entry Lead. Wake County is operating under an MOU with the CoC Governing Board approved November 2024. The CoC Lead Agency is accountable to the CoC Governing Board consisting of representatives from local government, homeless and housing service providers, and people with lived experience of homelessness. The CoC Governing Board is the policy-setting and decision-making body for the Wake CoC, which is responsible to the Wake CoC Membership for fulfilling its Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-defined responsibilities. The Wake CoC Governing Board is responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination of resources, and evaluation of results for the community. This role is critical in the work to end homelessness and will be joining a passionate team focused on system improvement and client wellbeing.

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Familiarity with HUD CoC, HMIS and CE policies and procedures
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Human Services, or a related field
• Three (3) years or more of job-related experience including work as a case manager, intake specialist or care coordination
• Experience facilitating case conferencing meetings, collaborating with providers to track client progress and ensure timely housing placements
• Experience working with HUD funded programs, including but not limited to Continuum of Care and/or Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) for documentation, reporting, and communication
• Multilingual skills, with Spanish strongly preferred, to support language access and effective communication with diverse households

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• Demonstrated knowledge of diversion strategies and housing-focused best practices
• Comfort with public speaking, stakeholder engagement, and meeting facilitation
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting policies and procedures
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, officials and the public
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively and empathetically with clients, providers, and community partners
• Ability to analyze and manage large datasets, ensuring data accuracy and informed decision-making for housing placements
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and priorities

Location: Justice Center Raleigh, NC 27602

Employment Type: Regular

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 5:15 pm

Hiring Range: 26.16 - 31.99

Market Range: 26.16 - 37.81

Posting Closing Date: 7:00 pm on 6/2/2026

What Makes Wake Great

Consistently ranked high among the best places to live and work in America, Wake County is home to NC State University, Research Triangle Park, and 2006 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. In addition to being Wake County's seat of government, Raleigh is also the center of state government, with the Capitol Building, legislature and many state government offices located in Raleigh. With an estimated population of just over 1.2 million residents, Wake County is North Carolina's most populous county. Entertainment, recreation, and art and culture abound with the North Carolina Museum of Art, JC Raulston Arboretum, and the Neuse River Trail all in the heart of Wake County. Wake County uses the Council/Manager form of government. Currently, the seven members of the Board of Commissioners are elected by district on a partisan basis and serve four-year terms. In Fall 2026, two at-large seats will be added for nine total commissioners. The County is regarded as a fiscally responsible and well-managed government, enjoying a AAA bond rating. The County's FY2026 General Fund budget is approximately $2.1 billion, and the County has over 5,100 full time employees. Wake County Government came in at #2 on the Healthiest Employers list for 2024. This year, US News & World Report ranked Raleigh #5 on its list of Best Places to Live, and the Milken Institute ranked Raleigh #1 on its 2025 list of Best-Performing Cities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Wake County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Background Check Statement

Position may require a background check that may include: criminal, credit, motor vehicle, education, and sexual offender registry or others based on job requirements. Unless required by state law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude you from consideration for employment. Wake County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Emergency Service Worker Statement

In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations should be expected. Employee may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during and after the emergency. Employee may also be required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.