Supportive Housing Specialist

We are currently looking for a Permanent Supportive Housing Specialist within our Housing Retention Services department. This is an excellent opportunity to join the Housing Retention Services team, where you can gain a deep understanding of our business, make a difference in people's lives every day, and advance your career.

Burlington Housing Authority serves the greater Burlington community with affordable housing, rental assistance, and support services. Our mission is to provide low‑income, vulnerable members of our community access to safe, affordable housing and retention support services in ways that encourage stability, improve quality of life, end homelessness, and foster vibrant neighborhoods.

BHA serves a diverse population of tenants and partners with a variety of community agencies. To most effectively carry out our vision of delivering safe and affordable housing to all, we are committed to cultivating a staff that reflects varied lived experiences, viewpoints, and educational histories. Therefore, we strongly encourage candidates from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women to apply.

Multilingualism is a plus!

The Permanent Supportive Housing Specialist (PSHS) position provides assistance to community members within Chittenden County who are without housing and have significant medical/mental health barriers to locating and securing housing in Burlington Housing Authority’s service area. The PSHS works collaboratively with community service agencies and providers in addition to Chittenden County’s Coordinated Entry System, and reports to the Director of Housing Retention and Services.

This position is in person in Burlington, VT.

A valid driver’s license along with reliable personal transportation, vehicle insurance and registration, is required to carry out the duties of this position.

While all applicants need to demonstrate a passion for supporting our residents and helping advance Burlington Housing Authority's mission, we recognize that some applicants may not possess all qualifications listed. We are willing to consider individuals with comparable life experience and education in lieu of specific requirements, and/or the will, ability, and initiative to grow into new areas of responsibility.

• Respond to referrals from Coordinated Entry to assess need for housing search services and level of support needed to secure housing
• Provide direct retention services including home visits, supportive counseling, make referrals on behalf of household, accompany member(s) of household to appointments, provide or coordinate transportation when needed, coordinate services which may benefit the household, and work to stabilize the housing as necessary
• Support households in meeting with landlords and attending showings in BHA’s service area
• Support the household’s awareness of resources, increase overall resiliency, and promote stability and proactivity over crisis management
• Collect and maintain required data and case notes in centralized database
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Housing Retention and Services

• Preferred:
  Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field.
• Required:
  
  Previous experience in direct service and advocacy.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of the social services network.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and internet navigation.
• Excellent time‑management skills and ability to work independently.

Occasionally:

• Move oneself in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces
• Remain in stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Adjust or move objects up to 20 pounds in all directions

Constantly:

• Communicate with others to exchange information
• Move about to accomplish tasks or move from one worksite to another
• Repeat motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Operate motor vehicles
• Assess the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the…