Community SOAR Specialist

About Community Housing Network

Community Housing Network (CHN) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing homes for people in need through proven strategies of homeless prevention, housing assistance, affordable housing development, community education, advocacy, and referrals. Since 2001, CHN has served as the leading housing resource nonprofit organization in southeast Michigan and serves thousands of families and individuals annually who are facing homelessness, people with disabilities, low-income households, and other vulnerable Michigan residents.

Community Housing Network is Opening Doors and Transforming Lives through a work environment dedicated to empowering a work/life balance success through our Core Values: Inclusion, Integrity, Innovation and Passion.

CHN is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness which includes:

• Creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace to provide better services for participants and staff.
• Utilizing a trauma informed approach to build rapport with vulnerable populations.
• Making available educational resources related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, all the while providing a platform for conversation.

Community Housing Network provides excellent employment opportunities with competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefit package. All full-time employees enjoy a rich package of benefits including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• 401k
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Products: Aflac, Short Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance
• Generous Vacation and Medical Leave Time

Community Housing Network is an equal-opportunity employer recognized by the Detroit Free Press as a Top 100 Workplace and honored as a Crain’s Cool Place to Work.

Community SOAR Specialist:
Department: Housing Resources
Reports to: Outreach Manager
Employment Status Classification: Exempt, Full-Time Salary
Salary Range: $39,998.00 – 43,680.00 per year

Job Description Summary:

The Community SOAR Specialist will be a team member in the Housing Resources Outreach department, assisting those who are literally homeless with accessing housing and supportive services, using a Housing First Model. This position focuses on assisting with eligible housing program participants using SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR), an expedited process to apply for social security for those who are literally homeless and have a disability.

This position includes an outreach component, as the candidate will be part of a team working to engage those who are eligible for this service, canvassing Oakland County where persons experiencing homelessness may congregate, locating those that are literally homeless with mental health issues and developing relationships with these individuals. Screening and intake, along with linking to community mental health agencies and mainstream resources is an important part of this position.

Essential Functions:

• Review referrals provided by the outreach team and community partners to evaluate appropriateness for potential program participants to apply for benefits through the SOAR process.
• Compile and prepare applications for Social Security, filling out paperwork with program participant, gathering appropriate medical documentation, and organizing the packet of materials to be submitted to the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office.
• Compose a medical summary as outlined in SOAR trainings, using pertinent information that was compiled to develop a justification for eligibility of benefits.
• Remain a point of contact with SSA representatives during the application process on behalf of the program participant.
• Assist eligible program participants with the appeal process, as applicable and work in conjunction with disability attorneys when requested to provide supplementary materials to add to the application process.
• Participate in development and implementation of a consistent outreach schedule specifically in Oakland County to include engaging homeless persons to establish trust-based relationships and educate them in housing and recovery resources. Outreach schedules should include canvassing on the street to those literally homeless and places those experiencing homelessness are known to congregate, warming centers and shelters, and referrals from community partners. Outreach scheduling will include some evening / weekend hours to “meet program participants where they are at” at local warming centers and shelters on a scheduled regular basis.
• Maintain contact and document interactions with all program participants on an ongoing basis, utilizing both the case file and database as appropriate. Link to other programs, services, and organizations as appropriate in conjunction to services.
• Provide program participants with hands on assistance to link with mental health services through the community mental health system. Assistance will include but is not limited to, making the phone call or visit for screening and eligibility with the program participant, providing follow up documentation, and continuing to communicate with assigned service providers to coordinate services.
• Provide assistance linking to mainstream and community resources in obtaining benefits, birth certificates, social security cards and other important documents necessary for housing and supportive services.
• Develop an individualized SOAR case plan for all SOAR program participants, while providing consultation to consumers and supportive service providers, in conjunction with community mental health providers to develop SOAR goals and interventions in the person-centered planning process.
• Provide SOAR related case management on an ongoing basis for program participants, working with consumers and partnering agencies to establish positive professional relationships.
• Contribute input and feedback in the creation and implementation of project evaluation materials for SOAR program.
• Meeting internal and external community outcomes for SOAR program.
• Participate in community-based activities when appropriate, representing Community Housing Network at community forums, serve on workgroups as needed at Continuum of Care (CoC) level as well as statewide initiatives including groups that focus on coordinated entry and outreach efforts. This will require evening and weekend hours.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a human service-related field or 5 years’ experience in the field working with program participants in mental health services or lived experience.
• Successful completion of SOAR training preferred with a history of successful applications.
• Solid writing skills to prepare a medical summary, ability to compile information in a concise manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively, both internally and externally, with individuals with diverse backgrounds. Experience working with and can communicate with individuals experiencing severe mental illness (SMI), in recovery, and are unstably housed is preferred.
• Working knowledge and proficient computer skills with Microsoft Office Products. Working knowledge of the homeless Coordinated Entry System (CES) and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) desired.
• Experience working with community agencies and resources.
• Strong ability to represent the interests of CHN, interact effectively with a diverse population and be comfortable building successful collaborative relationships with program participants, staff, interns, and with community partners while demonstrating the CHN Core Values of Inclusion, Integrity, Innovation and Passion in all interactions.
• Must have reliable transportation, possession of a valid driver’s license, and appropriate automobile insurance coverage that meets minimum organization’s requirements ($100,000/$300,000/$100,000 coverage) must be maintained for business use of personal vehicle. CHN reserves the right to require a motor vehicle record check with respect to any employee where driving is an essential function of the position.

Travel:

This position requires 60%-80% travel of working in the field at community locations and/or in the outside elements.

CHN reserves the right to require a motor vehicle record check with respect to any employee where driving is an essential function of the position.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• This position requires the ability to work Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:30pm in Oakland County. This position may require evening and weekend hours.
• Requires the ability to be active working in the community in the outside elements, including walking, standing, bending, climbing stairs, and lifting.

Agency Expectations:

• Commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and adherence to organizational values.
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication and organizational skills.
• Maintain a positive and respectful attitude.
• Demonstrate flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
• Consistently report to work on time and prepared to perform duties of position.
• Have a strong work ethic that equally prioritizes the needs of participants and the needs of the organization.
• Proactively and effectively communicate the knowledge gained from education/trainings/conferences to others in the organization through the use of presentations, emails, and conversations.
• Execute all duties within the framework of Housing First and trauma-informed care principles.
• Prioritize cultural understanding, respect, resilience, adaptability, conflict resolution, and resourcefulness.
• Upholds organizations core values of integrity, inclusion, innovation, passion and vision within our organization and the people we serve.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.