Family Support Specialist

Support Specialist

While this position is intended to land with one Family Housing team, it will initially be a temporary capacity building position between the Non-Time Limited and Time Limited Supportive Housing Teams.

The Non-Time Limited Supportive Housing portion of this position works with families to improve the quality of individual lives, strengthen family functioning, and achieve independence through stable housing. This position is part of the family housing team at Simpson Housing Services.

The Time Limited Supportive Housing for portion of this position provides temporary financial assistance for families experiencing homelessness to achieve permanent housing. This position will work as part of our Family Housing team to support families with locating and securing housing, along with leveraging support services that will help families maintain permanent housing.

The goals of both programs are to partner with families to move into and retain stable housing, increase economic resources, and simultaneously address the needs of parents and children to improve outcomes for the whole family.

Hours for this position are generally Mondays-Fridays, 9am-5pm, with some flexibility based on participant needs.

Provide effective case management to participants families:

• Complete intakes and assist with housing placement of new participants.
• Orient participants to Simpson policies/procedures.
• Meet weekly for 60 minutes or more with families at their place of residence
• Partner with participants to develop self-defined goals focused on improving stability and achieving greater independence.
• Provide transportation assistance and accompany to appointments related to their goals.
• Support and explore community resources when participants are struggling with mental health concerns and healthy family functioning.
• Support skill development to achieve a greater level of autonomy.
• Simultaneously working with parents and children to improve health and educational outcomes and strengthen community connections.
• Formally review individual initial and ongoing goal plans every 90 days with your program manager and make recommendations for discharge or extension.

Partner with participants for housing stability:

• Partner with participants to address barriers to housing: such as a lack of proper  self or children, evictions and/or criminal record expungement, etc.
• Build relationships with property managers and facilitate communication with families regarding finding and securing housing, ongoing tenancy concerns, and property issues.
• Partner with families to complete tenancy education to understand their lease and know their rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
• Partner with participants to obtain furniture and other necessary household items.
• Partner with families to address housekeeping needs.
• Partner with participants to prepare for independent housing without services.

Partner with program participants to increase financial stability:

• Partner with participants to access and maintain government benefits
• Partner with participants to connect with education, training, and/or employment.
• Explore banking, savings programs, debt management, credit counseling, and budgeting tools to achieve a sustainable financial life.

Work as part of an effective team to meet goals of program:

• Demonstrate the ability to work within a team setting, with an emphasis on leadership, self-initiative, patience, creativity, maturity and tact.

• Communicate and coordinate services with all team members. Attend regular team meetings, other required meetings.

• Collaborate with Early Childhood and Children and Youth Specialists

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with staff, volunteers, and participants.

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