Youth Rapid Rehousing Specialist

Description

Job Overview:  The Youth Rapid Re-housing Specialist assists with housing search and placement along with leveraging supportive services that will assist the participant household to maintain housing. The Youth Rapid Re-housing Specialist will orient all program participants to the program and assist in housing searching and supportive services to promote participants self sufficiency, integration into the community, and permanency in housing: performing administrative task involved in the review and maintenance of a caseload of program participants age 18-24. This position performs duties both in an office environment and in the field and community where program participants reside.

Responsibilities/Duties:

• Models positive and healthy relationship building by treating all participants, staff and volunteers equitably with caring, kindness, respect, safety and dignity
• Assess housing barriers of youth and families experiencing homelessness to determine housing and services needed.
• Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice.
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on the client’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing.
• Create and maintain consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e. tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors and creditors).
• Assist participants in development of a strength-based /solution-focused individualized goal and action plan that promotes permanent housing and self-sufficiency; develop an effective, timely referral network in order to ensure ongoing direction and support as needed.
• Provide pro-active follow-up home visits to ensure stability and further progress towards self-sufficiency; this includes support, advocacy, reducing isolation, listening, problem solving, and identification of resources to assist with reintegration of participants in the community.
• Apply knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate clients of their rights and responsibilities.
• Coordinate continuity of services with collateral agencies and coordinate services in the community.
• Attend required agency and community meetings (community, all-staff, etc.)
• Form and maintain positive relationships with housing providers (public housing, Section 8, private landlords)
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date client charts and provide timely documentation in HMIS
• Developing a goal plan and revising goal plans regularly to ensure clients are maintaining their housing
• Other duties as assigned
• Bending, stooping, walking, standing, sitting and reaching is required.  The team member must be able to lift 25 lbs.
• Be able to travel between locations for meetings and training throughout the local community
• Attend required weekly supervision prepared and ready to report on program.
• Meet with all client’s weekly at their homes while doing home inspections.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services related field. Master’s preferred, Veteran preferred
• 3 years of relevant experience working with homeless individuals/families, veterans and/or other underserved populations preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a culturally and socioeconomically diverse population of participants, service providers and staff
• Values diversity and possesses an understanding of multicultural and cultural competencies; understands power, privilege and inequity
• Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, policies and procedures relating to housing assistance programs
• Adapts to changing business needs, conditions and work responsibilities; responds to change with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn new ways to accomplish work activities and objectives
• Knowledge and demonstrated ability to provide clinically guided supervision and services related to mental illness, physical disability, substance use, domestic violence and the LGBTQ population.
• Demonstrates responsible personal and professional conduct; accepts personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work
• Applies effective written and verbal communication techniques to convey clear and timely expectations, listens to people’s ideas and concerns, resolves confrontations, disagreements and complaints in a constructive manner
•  Ability to exercise independent judgment, using analysis, experience and perspective in solving problems or communicating decisions or actions
• Effective interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively to garner trust, respect and confidence from others
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast paced environment
• A collaborative team member who is also a strong leader with well-developed organizational and time management skills
• Ability to develop effective working relationships; works cooperatively, exchanges ideas and addresses issues in a constructive manner
• MS Office experience, especially Outlook
• Must pass a criminal records check and pre-employment drug screening
• Must have valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance

Hours needed:  Business hours, Monday-Friday