Housing Specialist

Housing Specialist

Established in 1973, Young Community Developers (YCD) is a nonprofit organization who serves residents of all ages living in the most historically underserved communities of San Francisco. YCD takes a holistic approach via a delivery eco-system of services designed to empower residents in achieving economic mobility, in turn building and sustaining a positive community by providing them with education opportunities, workforce development training, and social services. YCD's philosophy is that every individual should have the right to sustainable and generational economic mobility, aiming to break the cycle of poverty. Each year YCD provides around 1,200 community members with employment and training services through their programs and partnerships. YCD is also proud to share that they have been voted by Non-Profit Times as one of the top 50 best nonprofits of its size to work for in the United States!

Project Overview

Committed to serving the Southwest Sector and in an effort to address the affordable housing crisis in San Francisco with a priority on the Southeast Sector exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Community Developers (YCD) is looking to hire a Housing Specialist to join the Housing Team to provide direct services and administration of Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) AND Rental Housing Counseling (RHC). This team member will work directly with clients who are low-income tenant households at risk of homelessness, eviction, displacement, and/or housing instability.

Position Summary

To address the housing crisis in San Francisco with a focus on the Southeast Sector, the role of Housing Specialist is to deploy vital housing assistance. Managed by the Program Coordinator, the Housing Specialist is a field based and maintains direct contact with clients to ensure that households receive the appropriate level of wrap-around services and financial assistance based on identified needs. This role is key to providing our community with excellent services through intake, client engagement, case management, referrals, community engagement, landlord engagement, and processing Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) AND Rental Housing Counseling (RHC) applications.

Responsibilities:

Manage a moderate case load average of 20-30/week ERAP AND RHC clients: guiding clients through the City's requirements and application process, verifying documentation, case notes, and processing clients in need of housing assistance through ERAP AND RHC.

• Based on client assessment, make appropriate referrals to other resources internally and externally
• Case notes and documentation entry tasks using Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, Google workspace and other technology platforms as directed by grant contracts
• Landlord engagement as it relates to the requirements of ERAP AND RHC
• Maintains data quality assurance in both the funders and internal platforms: documentation, case notes and general compliance with data as stated in grant contracts
• Assists in preparation for program audits and monitoring visits
• Demonstrates an understanding of compliance with agency, funder, and governmental reporting requirements
• Participate in regular team, agency, funder, and community meetings/outreach
• Uphold YCD's mission to break the cycle of generational poverty for communities of color through the day-to-day task
• Support YCD's growth and evolving nature to best support our community
• All other duties as assigned

Lead by example using YCD's Core Values and Key Performance Indicators:

1. Knowledge, Skills, and Awareness (KSA's): Having achieved a satisfactory level of professional/technical knowledge and/or skill in position-related areas; Keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise. Demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the community YCD serves while embracing the movement for which it stands.

2. Performance: Attendance- Reporting to work regularly within timekeeping guidelines. Planning and notifying for most absences. Arrives and departs, as scheduled, in a timely manner. Arranges schedule or workload coverage upon absence. Punctual and timely meetings start and end when chairing or participating. Attentive engagement during meetings.

3. Accountability/Results : Assuming responsibility for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing excellence standards rather than waiting for others to impose or enforce them. Takes personal ownership, encouraging others to do the same, for actions and outcomes, regardless of positive or negative consequences. Monitors results and takes action or notifies appropriate others of problems or issues. Keeps commitments and promises to the best of one's ability; demonstrates sensitivity, good judgment, and sincerity when meeting expectations or disappointing others is unavoidable. Admits mistakes and provides explanations without rationalizing or justifying judgment or actions; refocuses efforts to remedy, when necessary, in a humble and timely manner.

4. Adaptability: Dealing effectively with change and acclimating or adjusting to a dynamic environment. Easily adapts to changes in the work environment. Manages multiple tasks and competing priorities. Changes approach or methods as needed to fit the situation. Readily deals with unexpected delays, events, or changes.

5. Ethics/Integrity: Exhibit practices & behaviors reflective of applicable laws, rules and regulations governing proper and appropriate moral business conduct. Respects others. Maintain consistency, commitments, and confidentiality. Earn and affords trust. Characterizes personal & professional honesty, integrity, and ethics. Supports and upholds organizational vision, mission, values, principles, climate, culture etc. Avoid conflict of interest and/or illegal or illicit business activity.

6. Professional Impact Creating a good impression by commanding attention and respect; Displaying a confident demeanor. Dresses appropriately and maintains professional business-like image and attire. Displays professional disposition with an open and warm demeanor by appearing composed. Communicates assertively with poise and a self-assured tone and volume. Demonstrates confidence and maintains calm composure.

What You Will Bring

A successful candidate will possess:

• B.A./B.S. degree in a related field OR at least 3 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Cantonese or English and Spanish will receive a bilingual pay differential of 8%.
• Ability to meet the needs of the community by working non-traditional hours as needed, which may include evenings and weekends.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and the ability and willingness to work with economically and culturally diverse clientele from various professional and ethnic backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written communications, patience, diplomacy, and high level of customer service skills.
• Ability to think critically, problem solve and be resourceful.
• Must have proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Must be comfortable with and adapt quickly to organizational, program and departmental changes.
• Strong values, alignment and commitment to the mission of Young Community Developers and to individuals from diverse populations.
• Well organized, ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet targeted outcomes, excellent team player. True attention to detail, ability to complete paperwork accurately and in a timely manner.
• Continuous commitment to improve occupational knowledge.

Location: San Francisco, CA

Job Type: Full Time, Exempt Supervisory: Yes

Compensation: $55,000-$67,500 Annually Final offer amounts are based on multiple factors such as the specific role, hiring location, as well as the individual's skills, experience and qualifications.

Benefits Package We recognize there are many factors that influence your overall satisfaction, both at work and in your personal life. Under our Total Rewards Package, we provide an integrated mixture of compensation, benefits, company culture, and resources to our employees that help you reach a happier, more balanced life. Our work environment is built around collaboration and partnership, teamwork, community, diversity, and inclusion. Some of these offerings include:

• Competitive compensation to reward you for your hard work every day.
• Generous zero to low-cost Medical, Dental, Vision premiums, and Life insurance
• Free life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Employer-sponsored Health Spending Account with eligible plans
• 2 weeks of vacation accrued annually for the first 2 years of employment
• Accrued paid sick time; 80 hours max
• 16 paid holidays annually (Presidential Election Day added every 4 years)
• Personal Birthday Holiday
• End-of-Year paid Respite Week
• Employee Assistance Program
• Mental Health