What are the responsibilities and job description for the Housing Resource Specialist position at NEMCSA?
About Us:
Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency, Inc. (NEMCSA) is a private, nonprofit Community Action Agency, whose Mission is to provide quality programs and services to strengthen and enhance the self-sufficiency of individuals, families and communities through the best use of human and financial resources, focusing on those who are experiencing an economic hardship.
What You'll Do:
Provide outreach to homeless and economically challenged populations who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of being homeless in rural communities, including Veterans. Assist participants in obtaining and/or maintaining affordable housing including facilitating appropriate linkages to mainstream services for the purpose of promoting self sufficiency.
Responsible for Homeless Assistance related program operations including: application process, eligibility and verification, as well as client landlord contact, verification of paperwork and client files, rental location assistance, rental (HQS) inspection, establishing rent payments, and case management for new and existing program participants to ensure success in self-sufficiency. Multi-county job related travel both within the 11 county service area and to other locations in the state for meetings, workshops, trainings and conferences is required.
- Provide empowerment based, participant-centered housing focused case management to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness;
- Locate and secure, safe and affordable housing following the regulations set forth by state and federal guidelines for income eligibility and fair market rent for assigned counties;
- Complete thorough housing inspections of rental units that follow standards, guidelines and policies of the housing programs and grants.
- Verify homelessness by locating individuals at their current place of living, which may include in a car, camper, tent or generally outside.
- Provide advocacy and mediation with landlords to develop a workable plan to obtain or maintain participant’s housing.
- Meet with participants regularly to provide support services for housing stability as outlined in their housing plan.
- Effectively utilize multiple means of technology, including computers, cell phone, tablets, Safety apps, Microsoft Office products and others as required to complete daily job-related functions.
- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
