Housing Specialist

Description:

At Cocoon House, we empower young people, families, and communities in Snohomish County to break the cycle of homelessness through outreach, housing, and prevention. The Young Adult Housing Specialist (Rover) provides flexible, cross-program support within Cocoon House's Young Adult Housing department. Reporting to the Director of Young Adult Housing, this position assists Coordinated Entry, Journeys Permanent Supportive Housing, and Snohomish Young Adult Housing (SYAH) Rapid Rehousing based on program needs, staffing coverage, participant priorities, and contract requirements.

The Young Adult Housing Specialist (Rover) engages young adults ages 18-24 who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness and provides outreach, housing navigation, resource connection, case management support, and practical assistance that promotes housing stability. Assignments may shift among programs and locations. The position must quickly learn and follow each program's eligibility rules, workflows, documentation standards, and service model while maintaining continuity, clear communication, and participant-centered care.

Cocoon House is committed to continually growing in our equity, diversity, and inclusion journey, and candidates with lived experience or who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply! We will also provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities upon request.

Young Adult Housing Specialist (Rover) Duties & Responsibilities:

Full-Time (40 hours a week) | On-site in Everett

Starting Wages: $23-25/hr DOE | +$1.50/hr pay differential for multi-lingual skills with additional paperwork

Department-Wide Rover Support

• Provide short-term, scheduled, or emergent coverage across Coordinated Entry, Journeys, and SYAH as assigned by the Director of Young Adult Housing in coordination with program managers.
• Learn and follow program-specific contracts, policies, eligibility requirements, service expectations, and documentation procedures before completing assigned work.
• Maintain a flexible schedule and travel throughout Snohomish County to meet young adults, support program operations, and respond to changing coverage needs.
• Build rapport with young adults using trauma-informed, harm reduction, strengths-based, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Support participants with immediate needs, housing stability, goal planning, life skills, education, employment, health care, behavioral health, legal services, transportation, and other community resources.

Coordinated Entry Support

• Respond to referrals and conduct outreach and engagement with eligible young adults throughout Snohomish County within required timelines.
• Assist young adults with Coordinated Entry enrollment, needs assessments, housing navigation, crisis intervention, emergent resources, advocacy, service referrals, and follow-up.
• Collaborate with Cocoon House programs and community partners, including resource centers, schools, shelters, law enforcement, churches, and detention facilities, to identify and connect young adults to services.
• Support active caseload movement and completion of required program outputs while providing accurate information about available housing and community resources.

Journeys Support

• Engage tenants in voluntary, client-driven services that support lease compliance, independent living, housing retention, and stronger community support networks.
• Assist tenants in setting and progressing toward goals related to basic needs, life skills, education, employment, physical health, mental health, substance use, and financial stability.
• Support assessments, unit-related follow-up, community events, tenant council, workshops, resource connection, and daily communication logs as assigned.
• Help maintain safe and welcoming communal spaces, including light cleaning of common areas when needed.

Snohomish Young Adult Housing Support

• Assist participants through transitional housing, housing search, lease-up, and rapid rehousing stabilization activities.
• Support housing searches, landlord and property manager communication, pre-leasing inspections, certifications, and other required housing documentation within the position's training and authorization.
• Help participants create and work toward individualized goals focused on income, education, employment, tenancy skills, and long-term housing stability.
• Assist with resource connections, mobile case management, rent or financial assistance documentation, and follow-up according to program policy and supervisor direction.

Documentation, Compliance, and Collaboration

• Complete timely, accurate, and organized participant records, case notes, assessments, logs, files, and data entry in CaseWorthy, HMIS, or other required systems.
• Collect and submit information needed for weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and other assigned reporting deadlines.
• Protect confidential information and follow all agency, funder, database, and records-management requirements.
• Attend program, department, agency, community, and partner meetings and trainings as required.
• Work collaboratively with program managers, case managers, navigators, housing staff, peer leaders, landlords, vendors, and community partners.
• Maintain a cooperative and effective work environment free from discrimination, retaliation, and harassment.
• Support other Young Adult Housing duties and special projects as assigned, within the employee's training and role scope.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision health options with employer contribution*
• 403(b) retirement plan with agency match*
• 21 days PTO accrual in first year*
• 10 agency-recognized holidays
• Multilingual pay differential opportunities
• Paid training & testing: CPR/first aid, food handler's permit, blood borne pathogens, abuse awareness, TB testing, and additional in-depth practical trainings

Requirements:

Skills needed to be successful in this role:

• Experience working with young adults experiencing homelessness, or a similar population.
• Ability to diffuse escalated young people.
• Ability to record and document information on forms as required for case planning.
• Familiarity with local services and how to access them. Ability to assess situations and gather pertinent information.
• Ability to assess dangerous situations and access emergency services.
• Ability to relate with young people and staff.
• Ability to maintain boundaries with young people.
• Must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to assess and prioritize young peoples needs developmentally.
• Be able to assess emergencies and get proper support.
• Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.
• Commitment to Agencys mission and positive youth development model.

General:

• High school diploma/GED or high school equivalency
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Experience working with young adults experiencing homelessness, or a similar population.
• Must attend weekly team meeting and weekly supervision
• DCYF background clearance
• Acceptable driver's abstract with no more than 2 violations within last 3 years
• Possess a valid driver's license, auto insurance, and reliable transportation

Physical:

• Ability to effectively communicate with all internal and external clients
• Be able to hear voices and alarms.
• Ability to read and comprehend a variety of materials
• Ability to operate phone, computer, and record information for files and logs
• Must be able to lift up to 50 Ibs
• Must have ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of youth emergency.
• Go up and down stairs

Compensation details: 23-25 Hourly Wage

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