Housing Advocate

Job Title: Housing Advocate (non exempt)

Reports to:     Clinical Director

Salary: $39K - $44K

Responsibility Areas:

Client Services  |  Client Outreach  |   General Agency Duties  |  Consultation  |  Training

Minimum Requirements:  Bachelor’s degree in social science field (ex. Social work, psychology, counseling, criminal justice, women’s studies, or related field) preferred. 5 years of experience working in domestic violence field may be substituted for 2 years of college education.

Professional Standards

All services are provided in a manner which is consistent with agency philosophy, which empowers clients, avoids judgment and victim-blaming, and is coordinated with other community systems. All performance, with respect to clients and colleagues - both within and outside of the agency - is conducted in a manner which affirms the value of diversity and which is respectful of others in regards to gender, class, race, ethnicity, ability, religion/spirituality, and sexual orientation. All employees participate in the establishment of individualized annual goals and objectives. All employees must exercise the ability to work with individuals of different backgrounds and act as a role model in using non-violent behavior in resolving conflict, as well as possess flexibility, mature judgment, and competency in emergency situations.

I.         CORE COMPETENCIES

           1.        Adaptability

           2.        Building strategic work relationships

           3.        Building trust

           4.        Communication

           5.        Contributing to team success

           6.        Continuous learning

           7.        Client focus

           8.        Initiating action

           9.        Job fit

10.      Managing work/Time management

           11.      Planning and Organization

           12.      Quality orientation and high work standards

           13       Stress tolerance

           14.      Technical/Professional knowledge and skills

II.        Specific Job functions for Client Services

1.        Complete coordinated intakes, assessments, and screenings to determine housing eligibility based on HUD guidelines.

2.        Complete survivor-centered, strengths-based housing plans that identify barriers to housing and set a path to housing stability; reviewed and updated monthly.

3.        Support in designing and implementing safety plans and housing risk assessments.

4.        Home/Hotel visiting, safety permitting, at a minimum of once per month, with each survivor enrolled in the program.

5.        Provide case management services focused on increasing income, access long-term housing subsidies, establishing and/or expand family and community-based supports, and assisting in increasing access to mainstream services.

6.        Develop a relationship within the local CoC/homeless solutions policy board. Work with landlords to provide safe and affordable housing.

7.         Assist in program development and quality assurance activities as directed by the Housing manager.

8.         Assist survivors with locating available housing units, the leasing process, landlord mediation, and tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities.

9.        Submit requests for rental payments for survivors enrolled in the RRH program and reimbursement for TH program.

10.       Attend Continuum of Care and other housing meetings.

11.      Assess the need for crisis intervention counseling and/or advocacy.

12.     Participate in the annual Point-in-Time count.

13.     Educate each client about benefits, procedures, and resources related to the Ohio Domestic Violence Law.

14.      Arrange and/or provide limited transportation for clients to necessary appointments, to retrieve belongings, and to out-of-county shelters/locations, according to agency procedures.

15.      Maintain strict client confidentiality, provide services with a client-centered approach, and according to the ethical standards dictated by profession and/or license, and practice within the scope of personal limits and expertise.

16.      Provide services in a manner demonstrating knowledge, sensitivity, respect, and competency with clients from a wide range of demographic, religious, and cultural identities.

17.      Actively seek supervision, participate in supervision meetings determined by supervisor, keeping supervisor informed of activities/cases.

18.      Document all client contacts, within the same day as service provided, in accordance with agency documentation guidelines.

19.      Complete and submit accurate statistics of services rendered on a regular basis, as directed by agency procedure.

20.      Empower clients to problem solve, serve as advocate for clients as needed, and provide case management services.

21.      Facilitate educational and/or support groups, as needed.

22.      Network with, and act as a liaison to other Artemis clinical projects and programs and outside community agencies to coordinate and ensure delivery of services.

III. Consultation

1.        Assist service agency staff in identifying and responding with appropriate case consultation regarding intimate partner violence.

3.        Provide safety planning and case planning suggestions to partner agency staff on assessment and open cases.

3.        Attend supervision and clinical meetings at Artemis and consult as appropriate with other Artemis staff.

4.        Provide training and consultation to referring partners’ staff on questions to ask adult victims and how to ask them.

5.        When possible, work as a partner on cases where a team approach in needed, for example: home visits, office visits, case conferences, or attending other meetings, as requested.

6.        Facilitate communication between all professionals working with identified intimate violence victims.

7.        Assist with case plan review, as needed.

8.        In cases where a client refuses to sign a release of information or the release has expired, work within that limitation by sharing only information that informs assessment of risk to the intimate partner victim and/or child.

1.        Assist in the development and delivery of training on domestic violence, the intersectionality of homelessness and domestic violence.

2.        Participate in tabling events when appropriate.

V.        General Duties

 1.         Follow agency procedures to post schedules and arrive for work as                                              scheduled. Note: Some evening work availability is required.

2.        Record all appointments and meetings in agency scheduling system.

3.        Participate in staff meetings and clinical case meetings.

 4.        Participate in training and development opportunities provided by the agency.

 5.        Participate in training of volunteers/interns and new advocates.

6.        Provide supervision, support, and evaluation of volunteer and interns assigned to this position.

7.        Participate in the on-going process of evaluation and revising policies, procedures, and clinical forms for client services, as appropriate.

8.        Promote a positive image of Artemis, its mission, and its services: work to build positive working relationships with community agencies, founders, courts and organizations.

9.      Assist with community presentations, in-services, and agency events and media exposure as assigned.

10.      Engage in ethical communication, as defined by Artemis policy.

11.      Work cooperatively with volunteers, interns, colleagues, and supervisors.

12.      Manage schedule to balance workload and effectively use time during less active periods.

13.      Know personal limitations and communicate them with a supervisor before they interfere with performance.

14.      Accurately document and submit mileage on monthly transportation log.

15.      Maintain access to reliable transportation and maintain insurance on vehicle used for duties.

16.      Perform other duties as assigned.