Housing Specialist I, Full Time Rochester, NY

Full Time, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a 37.5 hour week. No weekends or holidays

JOB SUMMARY

The position of Housing Specialist I assesses, refers and links individuals with mental illness to services including but not limited to housing, treatment, and community services. With a working knowledge of the resources in the community to meet the consumer’s needs, the Housing Specialist I assist in providing housing support services to persons receiving government rental stipends in all Recovery Options programs. This may include but is not limited to assisting in finding and securing housing in the consumer’s community of choice and assisting the consumer in maintaining the housing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Carries a caseload and meets with recipients as required by program contract.
• Completes and processes intakes in a timely manner.
• Provides advocacy services according to recipients expressed need and Recovery Options Made Easy policies and procedures.
• Assists with referrals and linkages to community support services and programs.
• Provides transportation as appropriate to recipient’s needs, while teaching and showing them alternative options.
• Assists consumers with budgeting and shopping skills.
• Charts and files all documentation in a timely manner.
• Works in conjunction with other service provider, attends and participates in weekly staff meetings and monthly agency staff meetings.
• Participates in the County annual point-in-time count for HUD.
• Attends and participates in County or State planning sessions as assigned.
• Assists consumers with accessing benefits and entitlements such as public assistance and SSI/SSD.
• Assists consumers in becoming empowered and reducing their need for service.
• Work with individuals on our waiting list in preparation for housing placement
• Follow-up with individuals who have exited our program and check present welfare
• Work with individuals seeking peer services only, integrating them into community and referring them to the Recovery Center and/or other community resources.
• Work with anyone in the community seeking peer services to assist in their recovery efforts.
• Complete and submit to administration a monthly stat form
• Answers office phone and/or performs routine filing.
• Keeps desk and work area clean and tidy; assist with office upkeep as needed.
• Serves as a back-up to others on vacation, or as assigned.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

COMPLEXITY OF WORK AND DECISION MAKING:

Works in accordance with policies and regulations which may require judgment, initiative, creativity and the ability to deal with complex factors and making of decisions based on conclusions for which there may be little precedent.

AUTONOMY AND ACCOUNTABILITY:

Works from general objectives (such as governmental and agency compliance standards) and broad and varying policies, procedures, rules or precedents with significant functional guidance. Refers specific cases to supervisor for clarification or interpretation. Review by supervisor focuses on achievement of the objective and not necessarily on the means, except when required to ensure compliance with regulations.

TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT OR TOOLS:

Microsoft Office skills including Excel, Word and Outlook. Evidence of skills demonstrated by the ability to perform all the basic functions within each program; including but not limited to maintaining a calendar, sending e-mail, creating letters as well as the ability to create and edit workbooks. General office equipment is used including fax machine, computer and phone system.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work follows established practices and operating procedures with some latitude for independent judgment. Maintains strict visual contact with work. May occasionally lift to (35) thirty-five pounds without mechanical assistance. Work involves sitting, driving, and ambulating from task to task. The noise level in the work environment is usually light.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)
• Completion of a peer advocacy training program or related certification is preferred. Academy of Peer Services Certification must be completed within the employees first 6 months in this position if the employee is not currently certified.
• Must have a valid Class D Driver License, reliable transportation and automobile insurance.

And

• Must have had active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs or recipient-run organizations or similar experiences or programs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Must possess advocacy skills; attention to detail; effective communication, writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to take direction and follow-through on assignments both independently and with limited supervision.
• Must have an understanding and working knowledge of confidentiality laws regarding recipient’s records and personal/health information.
• Ability to demonstrate understanding of community services.
• Must be proficient in MS Word/Excel, internet and e-mail.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with our without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

Recovery Options Made Easy, is committed to equal opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. Recovery Options Made Easy, will make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified employees and applicants with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you are interested in applying for an employment opportunity and feel you need a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the ADA, please contact Colleen Hutchinson at Recovery Options Made Easy