Housing Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Housing Specialist provides functions supporting the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Housing Assistance Fund (HAF). This position will represent ABH® and its services in a positive and professional manner and adhere to ABH®’s best practices, guidelines, policies and procedures as established, promoting ABH® as a leader in behavioral healthcare in all interactions and work.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide support to business support services;
• Provide telephone coverage for incoming telephone calls for information and referral calls; the hours of coverage and call volume are assigned by the Project Specialist Supervisor and Program Director and are determined by business needs;
• Develop and maintain a full understanding of available benefits and eligibility criteria of the DMHAS Housing Assistance Fund, as well as other relevant ABH housing programs;
• Perform eligibility verification checks to determine that DMHAS criteria has been met;
• Collect and review required documentation for review of DMHAS HAF applications; 
• Routinely travel statewide to perform site visits assessing applicant housing arrangements for safety and habitability standards as outlined by DMHAS;
• Collaborate with supervisor and other staff as needed to ensure that projects meet the funder’s expectations;
• Provide support to state-level committees or departments to update them on the goals and process of the projects;
• Promote the equitable distribution of HAF services as appropriate across all regional networks;
• Meet all contract performance standards;
• Demonstrate ethical behavior and cultural sensitivity in all activities involving individuals of diverse backgrounds;
• Maintain confidentiality of all client protected health information and adheres to all HIPAA related policies and procedures;
• Perform other tasks/responsibilities as required to support the business operations.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, with 5 years’ experience;
• Experience with community engagement and in facilitating effective partnerships across disciplines.
• Preferred candidates will be able to demonstrate ability to work with groups of people; to make presentations; to write brief reports; and to communicate effectively.

 KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Must have valid Driver’s license and reliable transportation as this position includes regular travel statewide;
• Strong attention to detail; ability to work on multiple tasks and meet deadlines;
• Excellent PC skills with demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office Package (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook) and Internet;
• Competencies in the following areas: Administrative, Project Management, Business Management, Accounting, and culture;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.