Housing Specialist

This is a professional position responsible for providing housing case management services to families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with a focus on families involved in the child welfare system. This position will utilize Housing First approach to prevent homelessness, promote family reunification and secure sustainable housing solutions.

Establishes and maintains positive working relationship with HFC internal and external customers, to include the Homeless Coalition of Polk County, landlords, and other service providers

Meets monthly and annual contract deliverables

Screen potential housing clients to determine and document eligibility

Performs intake, case management, and billing duties for housing clients

Identify, develop, maintain, and facilitate relationships with landlords and providers of housing resources in the community with a goal of identifying physical housing locations for participants

Provides assessment, monitoring, planning, linkage and advocacy for the most appropriate services for individuals and families

Assess individual and family members of their strengths, needs, abilities and preferences to assist in the development of housing goals

Will maximize the annual funding by maintaining an active case load up to 25 households at any time

Utilize best practices with participant engagement to meet unique needs of the individuals

Work from a housing focused, strengths based, trauma informed perspective

Develop housing stability plan with client, address crisis intervention, potential barriers, housing identification, move-in, self-sufficiency and budget for individuals

Monitor progress of client and maintain accurate documentation of progress towards goals and services provided

Monitor participants housing stability and be available to resolve crisis

Provide referrals and facilitate access to services and community resources as needed

Conducts home visits as required

Responsible for collecting all necessary documentation for client files according to established guidelines

Process requests for rental assistance, utility assistance, application fees and other forms of assistance

Process, submit, and track the monthly program billing and adjust spending as needed to maintain the established budget set forth in the contract

Utilizes and inputs data in the housing management information system

Participate in monthly, annual and audit reporting as needed

Performs special projects as assigned

Bachelor’s degree in Social work or related field. Minimum of two years of experience working with children, teens, young adults and/or families.

Housing experience preferred.

Excellent benefits package with tuition assistance, domestic partner coverage, retirement and generous paid time off.

Drug free workplace. Drug testing required. EOE/M/F/D/V.