INDEPENDENT LIVING SPECIALIST HOUSING

Independent Living Specialist Housing

Atlantis Community Inc. (ACI) has been advocating for people with disabilities for 50 years. Atlantis serves a seven-county catchment area (Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, and Jefferson Counties). As a Center for Independent Living, we support the rights of people with disabilities to direct their own lives by providing advocacy, life skills training, transition services (youth, from nursing homes, and diversions from institutions), information and referral, and peer support. The mission of Atlantis is to advocate for all people with disabilities to be a meaningful part of an integrated community of their choice.

The Independent Living Specialist Housing is a position within ACIs Independent Living (IL) Department, providing dedicated, consumer-directed support to individuals working toward a housing goal, such as finding a place to live, applying for a housing voucher, developing self-advocacy skills to navigate housing-related issues, or accessing rental assistance to remain housed. This role combines a direct caseload with department-wide housing education, resources, and outreach. Working collaboratively with IL Specialists, it ensures consumers with a housing goal receive focused, timely support while maintaining their existing relationship with their IL Specialist for their other goals.

To be successful in this role, you will bring strong organizational and documentation skills, working knowledge of housing voucher systems, rental assistance programs, and Fair Housing Law- or a willingness to learn them. You'll be comfortable managing a focused caseload while also supporting the wider IL team through workshops, resource-sharing, and coordinated application support when a time-sensitive opportunity like a voucher application window opens. Success in this position requires working within ACI's independent living philosophy: the consumer directs their own housing goal, and you support that process rather than manage it. This position reports to the Director of Independent Living Programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Accept direct intake for consumers whose only identified need at referral is housing
• Support the IL team by conducting general intakes as needed
• Carry a caseload of 75+ consumers, phased in gradually
• Support consumers with housing search, rental applications, recertification paperwork, and housing stabilization and retention planning
• Support consumers with completing voucher compliance and recertification, annual and interim recertification, required reporting, and disability-related accommodation requests
• Help consumers identify and resolve housing barriers, including application barriers, accessibility needs, and discrimination concerns
• Teach self-advocacy skills to support consumers navigating issues with landlords, property managers, and housing authorities
• Support consumers in navigating housing discrimination or Fair Housing complaints; make legal aid referrals for representation and appeals
• Connect consumers experiencing or at risk of homelessness with emergency shelter, coordinated entry, and other homelessness-specific resources and programs
• Support Information & Referral Specialist on housing-related questions from people who are not yet ACI consumers
• Document all services in CIL Suite, including timely and accurate service notes
• Track and update consumer progress on housing goals
• Meet regularly with supervisor to report on caseload, goal progress, and case updates

Housing Resources & Community Engagement (20%)

• Share housing resources, application guidance, and voucher or waitlist opening updates with IL Team and consumers
• Maintain and regularly update ACIs internal housing documents and resource materials
• Monitor voucher and subsidized housing openings and opportunities, including Section 8, Section 811, project-based housing, and local housing authority waitlists
• Plan and facilitate housing-focused workshops or presentations for consumers and community members, either leading the education directly or coordinating with outside presenters and partner organizations

Essential Qualifications

• Experience with housing search, or housing-focused case management with IL philosophy
• Working knowledge of Fair Housing law and the reasonable accommodation process, or willingness to be trained
• Familiarity with coordinated entry systems (such as OneHome) and homelessness service providers (such as the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless), or willingness to learn
• Familiarity with local rental assistance programs and housing voucher or waitlist systems (Section 8, Section 811, project-based housing)
• Strong understanding of independent living philosophy and consumer-directed, consumer-controlled services
• Ability to engage respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds and abilities, including in high-stress or complex situations
• Strong communication skills, including active listening, clear documentation, and professional boundaries
• Ability to problem-solve using creative, individualized, consumer-centered approaches
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, given a caseload that phases in over time
• Basic computer skills and ability to document services accurately and timely in CIL Suite
• Ability to work independently while maintaining communication and coordination with the IL team

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with housing navigation support
• Experience with Fair Housing law
• Familiarity with Section 8, Section 811, or local housing authority waitlist systems
• Ability to communicate using Spanish and/or American Sign Language

Education and Experience

• Four years of related work experience or a Bachelor's Degree in a related field. A combination of education and related work/lived experience will be considered.
• Experience in navigating housing systems or rental assistance programs, personal or professional
• Familiarity with independent living
• Personal experience with the disability community

Physical Demands

• Must be able to travel occasionally
• Must be able to sit for 30-60 minutes at a time at a desk
• Must be able to practice self-care techniques at work to avoid occupational burnout

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications, working environment, and physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Important Notes

• This position is full time, and fully benefited. Hours are 32/week.
• Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30am-5:00pm. Schedules will be set between those times. The office closes from 12:00pm 12:30pm for lunch daily.
• Background and reference checks are conducted
• E-Verify employer
• ACI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization

Atlantis Community Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are strategically invested in creating an equitable, diverse, just, and inclusive work environment. All interested individuals, especially those with disabilities and multi-marginalized people with disabilities, people of color, LGBTQ+, women, and those with multi-marginalized identities are particularly urged to apply. For more information on our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, visit our website.

Benefits

• ICHRA Medical Plans with ACI paying 100% of base premium for the employee with buy-up options available, and a Health Reimbursement of up to $500.00/Month to assist with dependent medical coverage
• Employer-paid Life and Short-Term/Long Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Paid Holidays
• 4-day workweek

How to Apply

Submit a resume and cover letter to View email address on click.appcast.io, with IL Specialist - Housing in the subject line. Resumes will be accepted until Monday, October 26, 2026 at 5:00pm. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.