Advocate, Supportive Program

Job Title:

Housing Advocate, Permanent Supportive Housing Program

Job Location:

Woonsocket, RI

Reports To:

Manager of Supportive Housing

Compensation:
Full-time (37.5 hours per week); 26-27 an hour based on experience, with benefits that include health/dental insurance, paid holidays, accrued vacation/sick/personal time, an Employee Assistance Plan, and a 401(k) plan.

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.

The Housing Advocate, Permanent Supportive Housing Program ("The Advocate") 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 needs 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 in the Housing Program to provide clients with support and empowerment as they seek to rebuild their lives.

• Provide individual case management services to clients in Sojourner House's Permanent Supportive Housing 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 Youth Advocate and/or 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…