Housing Specialist

Housing Specialist

Founded in 1991, Hope Solutions, formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, is a vibrant and socially responsive non-profit agency that provides permanent housing and vital support services to over 2,000 homeless or at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County. Over 40 faith-based communities support our work, although there are no religious requirements or affiliations to receive services.

Are you seeking a new role that fully utilizes your talents and potential—while helping to make the world a better place? If so, please read on!

Hope Solution's mission is to heal the effects of poverty and homelessness by providing permanent housing and vital support services to highly vulnerable families and individuals.

Could our mission be your mission?

The Housing Specialist provides an array of services to clients within the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) program in the city of Richmond, including case management, housing navigation, advocacy, and financial support (such as rent and move-in assistance), all in support of assessing client goals and connecting them with safe, sustainable housing options. The Housing Specialist works primarily with individuals and families exiting encampments, offering intensive support to help them transition into stable, permanent housing.

As part of a small, collaborative team, the Housing Specialist also provides support to the Senior Housing Specialist and fellow Housing Specialist when needed, ensuring continuity of care and consistent service delivery across the ERF program.

This role includes outreach and engagement with local landlords and property owners, working to identify appropriate housing opportunities and supporting clients throughout the housing placement process. Through a trauma-informed and client-centered approach, the Housing Specialist contributes to the success of the ERF program and the broader mission of Hope Solutions.

Client Support:

• Meet with identified clients to complete housing needs assessments and create plans for obtaining safe, sustainable housing.
• Assist with data entry, rental subsidy, program incentive tracking for program participants, and tracking/reporting program data.
• Assist Team members on an as-needed basis with assessing client needs and service planning.
• Assist clients with "document readiness" (gathering and maintaining verification documents required for housing applications)
• Research and identify housing opportunities for clients as requested or needed.
• Assist clients in identifying and seeking desirable, appropriate housing options and mitigating screening barriers.
• Provide applicants with housing-related resources necessary to obtain and sustain housing placement, including information regarding tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities.
• Partner with Department staff and other community partners as needed to ensure coordination of care.
• Transport clients to meet with prospective landlords, complete housing applications, and inspect potential units on an as-needed basis.
• Apply knowledge of residential leases to educate clients regarding their rights and responsibilities.

Landlord/Community Outreach and Engagement:

• Work with community partners to assess housing barriers and the needs of clients experiencing homelessness who are eligible for services.
• Maintain key relationships with community service providers, Probation referral sources, and Coordinated Entry programs.
• Develop outreach and marketing strategies to identify landlords and build housing inventory. Present to interested parties: target audiences will vary but may include faith communities, rental associations, board and care facilities, elected officials, and property management companies.
• In partnership with Hope Solutions, brokered housing and property management staff collaborate regarding shared housing resources.
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on clients' behalf to assist with obtaining and/or maintaining housing.
• Create and maintain consistent verbal and written communication channels between collaborating parties (i.e., tenant, landlord, referral sources, service agencies, debtors, and creditors).

Cultural Responsiveness:

• Awareness of and aptitude to understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based differences within group environments appropriately and effectively.
• Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion and belonging.
• Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences, cultures, personal humility, authenticity, backgrounds, and goals.
• Participate in and complete our new employee onboarding process, which includes reading and discussing a short chapter in the book, The Color of Law.
• Review and commit to our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging Commitment.

Organizational/Administrative Responsibilities:

• Professionally represent Hope Solutions in all circumstances.
• Comply with all legal/ethical professional guidelines for…