[Hiring] Housing Specialist @YWCA Charleston

Role Description

The Housing Specialist under the supervision of the Program and Assistant Directors, is responsible for the orientation of eligible participants into a rapid rehousing/transition-in-place program and to provide housing search and supportive services to promote the participant’s self-sufficiency, integration into the community, and permanency in housing.

Qualifications

• Two-year degree in human services, or related field, with two years of rapid rehousing experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in human services preferred.

Requirements

• Requires knowledge and belief in the “Housing First” philosophy and strategies.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly listening, mediation, and writing skills.
• Possesses strong organizational skills and is detail-oriented for completing the requirements to maintain contract compliance, while handling a potentially demanding workload.
• Knowledge or understanding of tenant’s rights and responsibilities and trauma-informed advocacy.
• Possess adequate record-keeping, budgeting, and mathematical skills and the ability to produce required reports to federal, state, and local government agencies and funding sources.
• Demonstrate knowledge of community resources, social service agencies, and landlords.
• Sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the population served.
• Establish and set appropriate goals with people served to help them gain skills and confidence.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and service providers or professionals.
• The capacity to empower and hold participants accountable to reach the objectives of their initial stabilization plan and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
• Work around moderate noise, stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift or carry up to 25 lbs.
• Have and maintain a valid driver’s license and a vehicle.
• Must pass a criminal background check.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess housing barriers of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to determine housing and service needs.
• Develop a housing procurement, financial, and self-sufficiency case management plan with participants. This shall include an intake interview to determine the participant’s needs, goals, and eligibility.
• Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice while providing mediation and advocacy with landlords on the participant’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing.
• Create and maintain consistent communication channels that are both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e. tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors).
• Serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers and participants and between participants and neighbors.
• Assist in developing and encouraging a participant's adherence to a personal budget through pro-active housing and budget counseling sessions; provide budget counseling and education to assist participants in establishing payment plans for bills and past debts and assist in obtaining and maintaining their housing.