Eviction Prevention Specialist

Description

The Eviction Prevention Specialist provides housing stabilization services to households facing or potentially facing eviction through education programs, mediation, referrals to community-based supports, and short-term financial assistance when available.  The Eviction Prevention Specialist also assists with outreach to targeted neighborhoods and educates landlords and community partners about the program.  The Eviction Prevention Specialist works a flexible schedule, including 2-3 evenings and 1 weekend day per month as necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Outreach:

• In collaboration with the PM - VERP and the Crisis Response Director (CRD), create and implement an outreach plan that ensures services are available to the most vulnerable households across the designated service area.
• Lead workshops and information sessions about the eviction process, tenant rights, working with landlords, and developing household spending plans.
• Court observation and navigation as needed.
• In collaboration with PM - VERP and CRD, triage households, focusing on those that require immediate attention to lessen the risk of eviction. 
• Conduct individual needs assessment with households that request additional supports at workshops or are referred through Court Navigators, the Housing Crisis Hotline, and community VERP partners.  
• Connect households with appropriate community services and programs for long-term solutions, ensuring that the household understands the requirements and purpose of the program to which they are being referred. 
• Conduct mediation sessions with participants and landlords as needed to restore communications and establish eviction prevention plans.
• When required, use Financial Assistance funds to facilitate housing stability, and effective solutions to identified needs.   
• Attend community outreach events throughout the designated service area. 
• Use a housing first approach to rapidly resolve the threat of eviction and address or eliminate barriers to maintaining and sustaining housing
• Develop and cultivate relationships with local property management agencies to seek housing for participants and to encourage property managers to modify tenant selection criteria to accommodate participants facing homelessness.
• Assist participants in becoming familiar and identifying financial concerns that could cause possible challenges for housing stabilization and eviction prevention.   

• Other duties as assigned.

Customer Service:

• Provide service to internal and external customers according to standards as outlined in ForKids Customer CARE Manual. 

Financial Management:

• Use agency resources (financial and non-financial) prudently.
• Acknowledge and follow financial policies of the agency.

Grants Data Management:

• Accurately complete all required data reporting in accordance with established guidelines.
• Participate in all scheduled data collection trainings.

Community Engagement:

• Participate in development and fundraising activities as needed and requested (ex: meeting with donors, providing tours, attending fundraising events).

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Combination of experience and education sufficient to meet the essential skills and knowledge of the position, with a minimum of one year of crisis counseling and/or homeless shelter or other relevant work experience. 

Essential Functions, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of social, economic and health problems as they relate to homeless households.

• Ability to be objective and calm in a stressful environment.
• Knowledge of community and social agencies and resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to make sound judgments within the framework of existing policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the use of personal computers and standard office software.
• Ability to accurately track and report data.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers and with representatives of other agencies and programs.
• Ability to work regular evening hours as scheduled.
• Valid driver’s license with no more than two at-fault accidents, three minor moving violations or four nonmoving violations in the past three years and no major moving violations in the past four years. 

Salary : $20 - $24