Housing Specialist

Housing Specialist

The Housing Specialist provides comprehensive case management, and housing assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability. This role combines direct client interaction, needs assessment, housing plan development, and rental assistance application processing to empower clients to achieve and maintain stable housing. This position is a key part of our Housing Stability Program. The goal is to help clients in achieving and maintaining both housing stability and improved health outcomes through targeted support, resource connection, and skill development.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Housing Specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Client Intake & Assessment: Conduct standardized housing intakes and needs assessments, verifying documentation and determining program eligibility (includes EPIC documentation).
• Housing Stabilization Planning: Initiate and maintain Service Agreements, develop individualized housing stabilization plans, and ensure timely documentation updates.
• Housing Search & Placement: Assist clients in locating, securing, and moving into affordable housing, including providing related support.
• Rental Assistance Acquisition & Management: Assist clients with obtaining/maintaining rental assistance (applications, landlord liaison) and administer related funds (security deposits, arrears, etc.).
• Case Management & Referrals: Provide ongoing case management, including referrals to internal (Community Health team) and external resources (legal aid, healthcare).
• Client Education & Advocacy: Educate clients on tenant rights, housing laws, and regulations, and mediate tenant-landlord disputes.
• File & Records Management: Maintain accurate client files and electronic records, documenting all service activities.
• Caseload Management: Manage assigned caseloads of assisted/applicant households.
• Outreach & Networking: Conduct outreach activities and attend relevant meetings.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor's degree in health related field or other relevant area of study or High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs with 3 years of experience
• Minimum of 2 or more years of experience in the housing field.
• Experience with accessing social service resources available for New Jersey.
• Must be proficient in computer data entry.
• Reliable transportation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Prior experience as an outreach worker (or related title).
• Excellent time management skills.
• Bilingual/Multilingual.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Valid Driver's License from a USA state.

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!

Compensation Minimum rate of $27.13 Hourly HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to:

• Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.
• Experience: Years of relevant work experience.
• Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training.
• Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies.
• Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location.
• Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization.
• Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered.

Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts. In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.

HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH (HMH) IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding, genetic information, refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available to an employer the results of a genetic test, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, national origin, nationality, ancestry, disability, marital status, liability for military service, or status as a protected veteran.