Family Advocate - Alder Housing

Family Advocate – Alder Housing Program

Job Announcement

Job Title:

Family Advocate – Alder Housing Program

Group:
Community Programs for Social Justice

Reports to:

Interim Community Programs Manager

Hours:

Full time, Non-Exempt, generally 8-5 M-F.

Compensation:
Starting at $21.65-$25.70/hour, plus $1/hour bilingual premium pay and generous benefits package

$21.65/yr - $25.70/yr

• Employer paid premiums for employee health insurance.
• Generous paid time off, 13 paid holidays, a floating birthday holiday and the ability to maintain a great work/life balance.
• Employer paid premiums for short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• Access to an employee assistance program.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and for dependent care.
• Professional development opportunities, including employee driven committees and optional staff workshops.
• Access to virtual yoga classes and resources for stress management, self-care and other wellness initiatives.
• Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement plan with a 2% employer match after three months of employment.
• A six-week paid sabbatical after every seven years of consecutive employment with HSI.

Provide telephone and in-person screening for families with children attending Alder Elementary who need rental assistance due to being homeless or at risk of homelessness. Assist families in finding and/or stabilizing housing within Alder Elementary school boundaries. Explain agency and community services and eligibility guidelines. Administer short- and long-term rent assistance with supportive services. Many applicants face multiple challenging issues that may create barriers to housing and self-sufficiency.

The office environment is extremely busy and there are many more people seeking services than resources available. Advocate will need to effectively manage time between working at Alder Elementary and Our Just Future’s Rockwood Office and/or working remotely.

• Check in regularly with the family while they are in the house searching process.
• Assist each household receiving rent assistance to develop and track implementation of a goal plan that systematically addresses the actions needed to achieve self-sufficiency; including but not limited to development of personal and work skills, employment, increased income, housing, transportation and childcare. (Overall goals of program are income self sufficiency, housing stability and academic success of children.)
• Perform at least monthly home or office visits with families receiving long term rent assistance.
• Refer households to other services provided by Our Just Future as appropriate, including but not limited to anti-poverty educational groups and domestic violence and employment support services.
• Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date documentation of service activities using Our Just Future procedures, forms and data reporting systems. Submit paperwork in a timely manner.
• Compile monthly information and referral and short-term intervention statistics.
• Maintain current case notes and goal plan for each household and make regular entries regarding the status of their situation and their activities to achieve goals.
• Conduct telephone or written follow ups with each family in accordance with requirements of funding sources.
• Participate in bi-monthly department staff meetings and monthly all staff trainings.
• Participate in community meetings as appropriate, including but not limited to information and referral and interagency housing.
• Other duties as assigned.

The successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and abilities required.

• Social and economic issues creating poverty, working successfully with practices and techniques related to people with low income to achieve greater self-sufficiency.
• Community resources and agencies providing social services needed by the homeless population.
• Knowledge of, and/or willing to learn, practice, and apply Assertive Engagement and Trauma Informed Care models of providing services.