Behavioral Health Stabilization Assistant Coordinator; Homeless Services Bureau

Description

The Boston Public Health Commission's Homeless Services Bureau (HSB) provides emergency shelter, job training, behavioral health support, and housing services to unhoused individuals in Boston. The HSB serves close to 5,000 individuals every year and is one of the largest providers of emergency shelter in New England. HSB aims to make homelessness in Boston rare, brief, and one time. It does that by problem-solving with new guests at the front door to try to prevent anyone from entering homelessness to begin with.

For individuals who do become homeless and use our shelters, HSB endeavors to help them quickly move out of homelessness and find a safe and stable place to live. After a client is housed outside the shelter, HSB staff provides in-home supports to help individuals avoid someone a return to homelessness. The HSB uses a Housing First and racial justice framework, which is built on the foundation that housing is a social determinant of health, a basic need that everyone deserves, and does not require sobriety.

HSB believes that everyone, with the right support, can succeed in housing. HSB fosters evidence-based approaches such as trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and motivational interviewing in the delivery of services, and strives to deliver services that are accessible to all clients.

Reporting to the Social Worker, the Assistant Coordinator assists clients of Homeless Services Bureau emergency shelters in all facets of housing stabilization and retention including improving the health and wellbeing of shelter and former shelter guests, providing crisis intervention, safety planning, clinical consultation, referrals and support, connections to alternative placements, and support to mitigate barriers to housing and housing retention.

• Provides follow up case management services to individuals in shelter, including assistance with connection to benefits, obtaining vital documents, and connecting individuals with community resources and supports.
• Hosts internal and community-based housing agencies (BHA, Home Start, etc.) in providing on site housing search assistance. Completes intakes and assessments on shelter guests to determine needs and eligibility for services and public benefits. Provides case management, crisis intervention and supportive counseling to clients.
• Transports guests to housing appointments as needed.
• Coordinates the delivery of services and referrals in areas of family reunification, DSS, obtaining benefits, etc. Provides support and assistance to clients with legal issues (probation, parole, courts).
• Maintains up to date and accurate service plan contacts, and progress note records for the department.
• Works in a multi-disciplinary team approach with other social service, work rehab and health services departments of the shelter. Develops and facilitates budgeting, money management and other life skills groups. Participates in weekly social service treatment team and other assigned meetings and trainings. Compiles records and statistical reports.

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable. The BPHC envisions a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of antiracism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum one (1) year human services experience. College level course work equivalent to an Associate's degree with two (2) years human services experience or High School diploma/GED and three (3) years human services experience may be substituted for above requirements.
• Valid driver's license and good driving record.
• Previous experience working with homeless, diverse ethnic, racial, or low-income populations with an understanding of mental health, substance abuse and recovery issues.
• Knowledge of Boston area housing resources and social service agencies.
• Experience in transitional housing or community residential programs helpful. Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Computer literacy preferred.