Housing Specialist

Who We Are:

Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.

From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.

Job Summary:

Hours: Full-time; Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm

Union: Yes

Union Name: 1199 SEIU

Patient Facing: Yes

TheHIV Housing Specialist (HHS) works within the context of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) multidisciplinary HIV Team to provide high quality, coordinated housing search, advocacy and stabilization services to patients enrolled in HIV primary care at BHCHP. You will provide housing case management, goal planning, information and referral services, advocacy, and eviction prevention services. Your key responsibilities will include, but not limited to, working with clients to develop housing plans, assisting clients in locating and securing affordable housing, and mediation with landlords. The population of focus includes individuals struggling with homelessness and facing multiple barriers to attending stable housing including active substance use, criminal legal system involvement, and concurrent medical and psychiatric illness. This position is funded until the end of February 2028 with the possibility for renewal. If this funding is not renewed, this position will end February 29, 2028.

Responsibilities:

• Provide housing search, advocacy, placement as well as eviction prevention services on behalf of clients who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless using a supportive strengths-based model that promotes client self-determination and independence
• Work in collaboration with medical case managers, medical providers, or other providers involved in client care, to provide coordinated comprehensive care to PLWHA with a focus on housing stability
• Complete comprehensive assessments for each client, including housing history, impacting social determinants of health, and barriers to housing. Proactively plan strategies to appeal housing denials and present mitigating factors
• Develop and monitor housing case management and/or housing stabilization plans; provide individual housing search support, including information about available housing resources in patients’ preferred community/communities, assistance with housing applications, and credit and CORI documentation
• Provide mobile housing stabilization services to assigned patients once they have been placed in permanent housing, with the goal of supporting them in maintaining their housing; arrange transportation and accompany patients to housing-related appointments (including interviews, appeal hearings, apartment viewings and lease signings), as well as to legal and other appointments as needed
• Collaborate and communicate effectively and sensitively with housing authorities, landlords and private management companies responsible for administering affordable housing options. Contact these providers on a regular basis to remain informed of available housing, open waiting lists, eligibility requirements and application processes
• Research and identify available rental opportunities, educate clients about the requirements to qualify; obtain and submit required documentation, and assist clients in the application process for available units and waitlists
• Facilitate meetings as needed, with collateral providers for the purpose of coordinating housing needs; research and identify available rental assistance programs, educating patients and staff about the programs and the requirements to qualify; obtain and submit required documentation, and assist patients in the application process for these funds
• Maintain and expand a network of relationships with provider organizations, housing authorities, low-income housing property managers, and potential landlords; provide outcome data via monthly tracking reports
• Enter assessments, individual service plans (ISPs), progress notes and collateral contacts in the EHR system in a timely manner; maintain professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality
• Attend weekly patient care meetings, weekly supervision, monthly clinical supervision meetings; attend All Staff meetings, monthly staff trainings, program collaborative meetings, attend staff trainings when offered
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred and a minimum of three (3) years of housing case management experience required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; good organizational and time management skills
• Successful experience and competency working with individuals of diverse race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and drug cultures, age groups, religion, country of origin, disability and economic status
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with community stakeholders; knowledge of, or openness to learning about, the Housing First Model and Harm Reduction Practices/Philosophies
• Comfort and willingness to work on a mobile basis, as part of an outreach team, serving individuals across a variety of settings; ability to work independently, cooperatively, and accountably as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team
• Ability to relate to individuals in an instructive, supportive, and compassionate manner
• Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and other database systems
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals living with HIV/AIDS
• Experience working with people with active substance use and within harm reduction frameworks
• Bilingual in English/Spanish
  
  

Compensation and Benefits:

• The compensation starts at $23.80 per hour and increases based on years of experience
• BHCHP Full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off policy of 4 weeks’ vacation, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan and employer retirement contribution, and pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount. In addition, eligible employees will receive yearly increases, additional compensation of seven thousand five hundred added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and the opportunity to work with local hospitals and community health centers
  
  

Does this amazing opportunity interest you? Then we'd love to hear from you.

As an equal opportunity employer, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Covid-19 Vaccination: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is optional for employment. Candidates who are offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination if they choose to.

Please Note: Employment at Boston Health Care for the Homeless is at-will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.

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