Housing Specialist

Housing Specialist

The Housing Specialist is responsible for identifying suitable housing options for program participants and their families, and assisting the participants to achieve sustainable and healthy independent living. Part of services team for the program, the Housing Specialist participates in all stages of client service: assessment, services planning, engagement and delivery. Assists program case management, outreach and community engagement as directed.

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless participants, including referral to VOALA shelters as appropriate;
• Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
• Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the VOALA programs and the unique needs of participants
• Conducts habitability and lead-based paint inspections of housing options as needed
• Works directly (One on One) with landlords on behalf of clients and program
• Develops support systems to meet individual client's housing needs; coordinates and facilitates move-in activities, rental negotiations, and service referrals as needed
• Facilitates the use of community resources to assist both tenants and landlords in the event of problems leading to potential eviction
• As a member of the program case management team, provides information referrals, crisis intervention, and assistance with permanent housing placement for participants
• Assists case managers in conducting the comprehensive screenings and assessments to collect functional, environmental, financial, employment, housing, educational, and health information, as appropriate, to develop an Individual Service Plan
• Coordinates follow-up services with case management team
• Additional duties as assigned

Essential ability acknowledgement:

Ability to work and deal with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs, which may include clients with homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration, and other challenges.

Essential duties:

• Services for this position must be provided on-site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on-site each day of active employment.
• Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless program participants.
• Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
• Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the program
• Works one-on-one with landlords to help clients, and represent program
• Develops support system for clients to achieve and keep permanent housing, involving landlords and services available in the community.
• Coordinates efforts with Case Management team, supporting Case Management initiatives for clients served, meets regularly to stay current with client needs
• Participates in Community engagement and outreach efforts
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

Mandated reporter:

As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflicts dealing with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs which may include clients with homelessness, mental-illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration and other challenges.
• Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or related discipline, Or Equivalent combination of education and work experience (four years)
• One year of experience working with veterans, people in recovery and or homelessness individuals
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (written and verbal)
• Experience and familiarity using a HMIS (homeless database)