Diversion Specialist

Purpose:

Shelter Diversion is a strategy that prevents homelessness at the front door of the homeless response system by helping people identify immediate alternative housing arrangements and, if necessary, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them return to permanent housing. The Fairfield County Coordinated Access Network (FFC CAN) Diversion Specialists will provide support during the time of crisis, engagement with the homeless response system, and the return to permanent housing in the community. This position emphasizes continuous engagement of individuals and/or families in creative problem solving and light-touch case management in developing an individualized plan to end their housing instability and return to safe, stable housing.

Responsibilities & Tasks:

• Conduct initial triage and problem-solving appointment (CAN appointments) with clients entering the FFC CAN
• Assess clients' needs related to housing security and stability
• Proactively engage all clients in creative problem solving to identify and secure safe, viable housing opportunities outside of homeless system
• Assess client safety and assist clients with meeting basic needs (food, clothing, hygiene, etc.)
• Assist clients in securing reliable means of contact, including free cell phone program, or outreach to vulnerable and/or non-contactable populations when needed
• Work with households to collect all personal identification and documentation, income verification, homelessness verification, and disability verification (all when applicable and appropriate) and upload them into the CT Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• Ensure clients are referred to and successfully linked to all appropriate resources as quickly as possible
• Proactively form linkages with community providers, including emergency shelter, transitional housing and domestic violence shelters that serve the targeted population, security deposit providers, landlords, and others
• Work collaboratively with the CAN staff and team, Navigator Team Leader, and all participating members of Opening Doors Fairfield County
• Attend meetings as necessary to inform key stakeholders of housing trends and barriers
• Participate in trainings related to best practices and Coordinated Access Network system improvement- including but not limited to diversion, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, HMIS, domestic violence, etc. to ensure consistency across CAN and improved service delivery
• Maintain organized files and adhere to timely data entry into HMIS, SmartSheet, and/or other data system
• Participate in consistent feedback with the Navigator Team Leader and CAN staff on system performance, trends, and barriers, and participate in all evaluation measures
• Engage consumers in feedback mechanism to ensure crisis response system can adequately address client needs.

This is a Norwalk community-based position that will organizationally report to agency staff. CAN programmatic supervision will be provided by the FFC CAN Navigator Team Leader.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three years' experience providing homeless services, or shared lived experience preferred.
• Bi-lingual skills a plus.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of issues related to homelessness
• Effective intervention techniques
• Basic understanding of mental health and substance abuse issues.
• Must be able to work effectively with populations that have experienced vulnerability, trauma, economic poverty, incarceration, substance use, developmental delays, compromised mental wellness, brain injuries, literacy and numeracy issues, and/or other conditions or situations that have impacted housing stability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and with a group and maintain good working relationships with organizational staff and partners.
• Strong computer skills
• A driver's license and daily use of a reliable and properly registered and insured automobile is required.
• Full-time position, 40 hours per week and availability for some evenings
• Highly motivated, creative problem solver
• Project a professional demeanor and exercises mature judgment.
• Strong organization skills
• Ability to coordinate and complete multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Must adhere to all professional standards and ethical practices, including creating and maintaining healthy boundaries and professional relationships with clients, co-workers, and others.

Employees are funded by a variety of grants, governmental programs and endowment sources. Continued employment is contingent upon continued receipt of those funds.