EHE - OUTREACH HOUSING SPECIALIST

JOB SUMMARY

The EHE Outreach Housing Specialist is responsible for coordinating the assessment to Individual and Families with Homeless needs and subsequent engagement for Shelters, Rapid Re-housing, Permanent Support Housing, and referral to access medical, dental, mental health, substance use disorder care, pharmaceutical, treatment education, and other services needed by Care Resource clients. Outreach Housing Specialist should provide housing assistance through available resources including the homeless continuum of care’s coordinated entry system. EHE Outreach Housing Specialist participate in homeless coalition and EHE meetings, coordinated entry case conferencing, maintain appropriate client data in client case file, the Provide Enterprise System (PE), and PATH-specific data systems, including spreadsheets and grant-prescribed data systems.

The EHE Outreach Housing Specialist provides Financial, rental, utilities, incidental assistance, and others to maintain housing stability. Also, moves homeless individuals and families into permanent rental housing as quickly as possible, in conjunction with case management, workforce and support services being provided simultaneously. After rental assistance ends the clients will move into aftercare case management to provide on-going support and assistance to prevent homelessness in the future. The EHE Outreach Housing Specialist assists program participants in locating and securing permanent housing as quickly as possible. Works and collaborates closely with landlords and Case Managers to mediate landlord-tenant issues and ensure successful tenancies.

The EHE Outreach Housing Specialist is responsible for coordinating the assessment to Individual and Families with education, and other services needed by Care Resource clients. The EHE Outreach Housing Specialist should provide coordinated entry case rehabilitation services for job skill development, assist individuals in developing necessary employment skills to apply for and retain viable employment. S/he develops community relationships with viable employers to link individuals to improve and sustain successful employment. Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of Individual Placement and Support. Provides case management support including following-up on the status of assessments performed, follow-up on the status of service of process, communicating regularly with treatment facilities to obtain status.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Serves as a liaison, coordinator and/or advocate between the Homelessness, Housing case Management, Medical Care departments or other community medical or agency service provider to remove Homelessness or risk of homeless barriers to House /care for clients.

Accompanies clients to Housing, medical, mental health, substance use disorder treatment or social service appointments to improve Housing Stability and medical care.

Creates rapport within client interaction to help each progress in their Housing and Financial Issue to avoid homelessness situation.

Interviews prospective clients to determine financial needs, individual needs, and eligibility for various medical and social services, enrolling them into available community programs.

Maintains organized system of tracking client outcomes through the Provide Enterprise systems (PE) and follow up with the goal of seeing clients progress toward improvements in their lives.

Conduct initial interview/intake and client housing and financial barriers and other assessments. Gather and document all necessary information for program eligibility and case plans.

Help program participants identify potential neighborhoods where they wish to live, conduct housing, searches in said areas and negotiate with potential landlords on behalf of the participants.

Services Planning and Documentation:

Financial and Employment.

Conduct research, outreach, education, and public relations to build a pool of Companies and Community management companies willing to offer employment to program participants.

Coordinates, support and follows up on medical treatments.

Maintains an average annual active caseload as assigned by the supervisor.

Assist in the processing and submission of applications for EHE housing (subsidized and unsubsidized).

Input client information using electronic data entry according to agency and departmental guidance.

Manages Resources:

Maintains comprehensive knowledge of community services to apply knowledge of services to individual client needs.

Supports billing through concurrent documentation of service provided and budget activities as required (i.e., reconciling billing across data systems including: PCIS, Web-based systems, CASEWATCH, HIMS, Provide Enterprise NextGen and client electronic health records).

Participates in staff training sessions within the timeframes specified and as required by the agency and the funding source.

Other

Participates in agency developmental activities as requested.

Other duties as assigned.

Community Involvement:

Participates in agency developmental activities as requested.

Other duties as assigned.

Safety

Ensures proper handwashing according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Understands and appropriately acts upon the assigned role in Emergency Code System.

Understands and performs assigned roles in the organization’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

Culture of Service: 3 C’s

Compassion

Greets internal or external customers (i.e., patient, client, staff, vendor) with courtesy, making eye contact, responding with a proper tone and nonverbal language.

Listens to the internal or external customer (i.e., patient, client, staff, vendor) attentively, reassuring and understanding of the request and providing appropriate options or resolutions.

Competency

Provides services required by following established protocols and when needed, procures additional help to answer questions to ensure appropriate services are delivered.

Commitment

Takes initiative and anticipates internal or external customer needs by engaging them in the process and following up as needed.

Prioritize internal or external customer (i.e., patient, client, staff, vendor) requests to ensure a prompt and effective response is provided.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the following physical activities: constant sitting, walking, and hearing, talking in person and talking on the phone. Occasional driving stretching/reaching, and standing are required. Work is performed in an office setting.

Travel Requirements and Details:

Own transportation is required. Local travel to Client Homes, Airport and Street Visits. 

Education:

High School Diploma required.

Work Experience:

Knowledge of LGBTQ homeless community resources and community financial services is required. Experience working with multicultural and diverse population. Experience in EHE, HOPWA, Rapid Re-Housing program, Permanent Supportive Housing and FQHC program.  

Skills:

Customer Service

Critical Thinking

Planning & Organizing

Written Communication

Verbal Communication

Bilingual (English, Spanish and Creole)

Interpersonal Skills