Advocate, PSH Program

Position Summary

POSITION: Housing Advocate, Permanent Supportive Housing Program

REPORTS TO: Manager of Supportive Housing

LOCATION: Woonsocket, RI

SCHEDULE: Full-time (37.5 hours/week)

COMPENSATION: Nonexempt position; hourly range is $25 to $26 per hour, depending on experience and language skills. Eligible for benefits that include health/dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, 15 paid holidays, accrued vacation/sick/personal time, an Employee Assistance Plan, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

About Us: Sojourner House is a comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault agency that provides residential, educational, and community-based interventions to families and individuals impacted by abuse. We have offices in Providence and Woonsocket, and programs that operate statewide. Our goal is to help our clients rebuild their lives, piece by piece, through a variety of services. All of our programs work from the premise that violence is an unacceptable means to solving interpersonal conflict, and we encourage only non-violent methods of working out conflicts.

To learn more about our work, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). . We are also active on social media at @sojournerri.

Position Summary: The Housing Advocate (PSH Program) is responsible for helping to execute the different components of Sojourner House’s housing program and provide support to Sojourner House’s larger residential team as well. The Advocate will primarily provide direct services and programming to clients in our permanent supportive housing programs. Our Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program houses chronically homeless individuals who are disabled, which includes those with mental health and substance use diagnoses.

Some of these clients need assistance with overcoming barriers to attend to daily living skills through education and support. The Advocate will also provide back-up advocacy support to shelter clients. The Advocate will work alongside other staff of the Housing Program to provide clients with support and empowerment as they seek to rebuild their lives.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide individual case management services to clients in Sojourner House’s Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program. This includes assessment of the client’s needs using Housing First Model and Trauma-Informed Care, weekly 1:1 client meetings and in-person visits to their apartments. Develop action plans with clients that outline goals related to housing stability, education, employment, child care and benefit acquisition. Assist clients in obtaining appropriate substance abuse, mental health, and/or medical services as needed.
• Provide supportive services to individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges, utilizing a housing-first, person-centered, and recovery-oriented approach.
• Participate in team meetings and case conferences to discuss client progress and plan therapy
• Assist with housing clinics that are held regularly in Providence, Woonsocket, Central Falls, and West Warwick.
• Develop and implement programming to benefit clients in the housing program, which can include units statewide. At a minimum, the advocate will facilitate 1-2 support groups, meetings and/or programs per week that will benefit housing clients and other community members. The advocate will regularly assess the needs of Sojourner House’s housing clients and offer programs reflective of those needs.
• Working with the Child and Adolescent Clinician to coordinate children’s services and make referrals as necessary for permanent supportive housing families with minor children, which may include but are not limited to: enrollment in the local school system, art expressive therapy groups, tutoring sessions, play groups, field trips, after school, recreational and enrichment activities, child care and mental health programs.
• Answer phone calls, conduct intakes of new clients, and provide referrals and information to potential housing clients.
• Provide advocacy and coverage as needed at Sojourner House’s office in Woonsocket.
• Provide shelter coverage when needed at Sojourner House’s emergency shelter(s).
• Monit…