Director of Resident Services - Chelsea, MA

OVERVIEW:

Housing Opportunities Unlimited (HOU) is a national company that provides resident relocation assistance, direct resident services, and consulting assistance to public, private and affordable housing entities. HOU works in a diverse range of low- and mixed-income communities throughout twenty-one states and the District of Columbia. We specialize in assisting residents that are in transition due to major redevelopment, renovation, or renovation-in-place construction projects. HOU's mission is to ensure that residents are treated fairly and experience minimum physical and emotional stress during the relocation process while ensuring that our clients' projects are completed in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The Director of Resident Services position requires a a high level of detail and organization skillset along with motivation and genuine concern for families and the community. The Director of Resident Services is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day case management tasks and making sure HOU continues to offer assistance to residents that will continue to better their quality of life. An integral part of the Director of Resident Services position will involve focusing upon expanding and publicizing youth opportunities and fostering parent engagement in school and education events/meetings.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meet (through office and home visits) and establish working relationships with all heads of households on-site resident 18 years of age and older, to negotiate and develop services plans.
• Refer residents to educational opportunities, job readiness, and other needed services.
• Assist resident to remain in lease compliance
• Engage with parents to increase their participation in school and education events and meetings.
• Publicize and assist teens in applying for summer jobs as well as identify and assist parents of elementary-school youth in applying for summer camp slots.
• Work closely local partners to coordinate access and promotion of programming.
• With written parental consent, provide support to young people under the age of 18 who have been identified through security or management report as being in need of productive intervention.
• Connect residents and their families to services to help them maintain necessities required to ensure a healthy quality of life.
• Work with residents, management, on-site security, and police to develop and implement public safety initiatives.
• Hold summer camp and other relevant programming "fair" for resident information.
• Create and keep current a Community Calendar that includes resources and activities
• Work with families with school-aged children around enrichment activities.
• Connect families with needed and available community resources. Follow-up with clients and agencies as appropriate to document use/ success of referral.
• Update/maintain all case management files and database.
• Participate in weekly case management meetings and provide regular caseload progress reports to supervisor and client.
• Attend case management meetings with agencies serving families on caseload, as necessary.
• Participate in all required meetings and staff training opportunities.
• Input and maintain accurate and complete records for all residents. Track individual connections to services.
• Responsible for completion and submission of monthly report to client in a timely manner.
• Represent HOU to federal and local agencies of government, the private housing industry, and community groups as necessary.
• Conduct office/home visits with residents on caseload.
• All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or equivalency required
• Experience working collaboratively with low-income families with a minimum of 3 years work experience in human services or related field
• Problem solving and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to establish reports
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team
• Ability to supervise staff and motivate employes towards achieving their goals
• A strong sense of respect for confidentiality involving both clients and fellow employees
• Ability to maintain a calm atmosphere under pressure and stressful situations.
• Must be able to work in a fast pace environment, and have friendly people skills.
• Must be able to multitask.

The ideal Director of Resident Services will possess the following additional skills:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Personable, approachable
• Ability to maintain a calm atmosphere under pressure and stressful situations
• Ability to deal with difficult situations and people
• Sensitivity to different cultures and diversity, with the capacity to work with diversity that extends beyond race.

EEO Statement:

HOU is an equal-opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse staff reflective of the community we serve.