Housing Specialist - Diversion, Council for the Homeless

The Housing Specialist - Diversion position is responsible for direct engagement with families experiencing homelessness that have at least one adult in their household who identifies as a Person of Color or as a member of the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Trans/Queer/+ (LGBTQ+) community with the goal of reducing barriers to housing and increasing housing stability. This role is responsible for providing intensive participant-centered, strengths-based service to each family seeking support, maintaining strong boundaries, while ensuring all appropriate records and documentation are completed as required by funding requirements.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED 

Receives directions from Council for the Homeless Diversion Manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Supports the agency’s mission, values, equity statement, strategic goals, and policies through words and actions.
• Utilize best practice Diversion approaches to determine the needs of households and provide support to reduce barriers to housing.
• Maintain a participant-centered, positive, healthy, and proactive approach to meet the participant’s needs. 
• Create, complete, and maintain accurate HMIS electronic files based on funding source requirements. 
• Follow program policies and procedures and all confidentiality requirements.
• Work with partnering health agencies to create, maintain, and strengthen partnerships and access points. 
• Educate and advocate on the micro-level to address policy and systemic-level barriers to increase support for participants. 
• Work collaboratively with the manager and colleagues to meet the funder's outcome and reporting requirements. 
• Help individuals and families reduce barriers to housing and access services beyond housing to create a strong support system and increase resiliency. 
• Provide superior customer service and respond to household and partner inquiries in a timely fashion. 
• Establish and maintain positive, productive relationships with colleagues, team, and partnering agencies.
• Consistently maintain healthy and appropriate boundaries with participants.
• Represent the agency at various community meetings and with community partners in a manner aligned with agency values and policies.
• Seek to create a trauma-informed environment for participants, colleagues, and partners.
• Consistently comply with the position and department human resources, safety, and attendance standards. 

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

DEMANDS/COMPLEXITY

The Housing Specialist establishes practices and procedures within CFTH guidelines and contributes to the development of new concepts. Work situations are frequently new and varied. Position receives minimal supervision. Incumbents are required to meet established performance standards. Position requires a high degree of complexity, self-direction, customer service skills, strong interpersonal boundaries, self-care practices, and understanding that errors can result in an individual or family being placed in an inappropriate program and prolonging their homelessness. A strong relationship with community partners will be essential for the success of the position. Position is on-site and in the community.

CONTACTS WITH OTHERS

Contacts are normally made with others, both within the CFTH offices and outside the agency. They frequently contain confidential/sensitive information necessitating discretion at all times. 

Requirements

SPECIFIC JOB SKILLS

Excellent verbal and written communication skills are important to the success of the Housing Specialist position. Strong interpersonal skills are required to work with staff and participants from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Knowledge of best practices around coordinated entry/assessments and understanding of Clark County resources for low-income and homeless individuals and families is essential for this position. Language (Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Chuukese, ASL) skills are helpful. Position requires moderate computer and analytical skills to perform job functions. 

MENTAL

Constant independent judgment and/or action, organizational skills, customer service, decision making, and use of discretion are required. Frequent teamwork, problem analysis, training, and supervising are required. Occasional creativity and mentoring are required. Incumbent must read, speak, write, and understand English to work effectively with staff, community partners, and clients. Basic data entry and math skills are necessary to input data and generate reports necessary to fulfill job functions. 

PHYSICAL

Frequent physical activities are standing, walking, talking, sitting, and hearing/listening. Occasional physical activities are grasping, repetitive motions of hands/wrists, and handling. Stooping, bending, and reaching are rarely required.

SUPERVISORY PARAMETERS

This position includes secondary supervisory responsibility for assigned volunteers and interns. Supervisory decisions are made within VHA and CFTH policy constraints. The position makes recommendations regarding long-range operational and strategic planning. 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

• At least two years’ experience providing resources to people experiencing homelessness and/or people who have lower incomes.
• Commitment to ensuring there is equitable access to the local homeless crisis response system for all.
• Strong customer service, time management, and interpersonal skills
• Strong cultural awareness and humility.
• Ability to accept feedback as an opportunity to improve and excel.
• Ability to remain empathetic, kind, and nonjudgmental regardless of the situation.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

• Lived experience as someone who has had low-income and/or has formerly experienced homelessness
• Exceptional verbal and written communication.
• Speaks a language(s) other than English and reflects our diverse community.
• Experience with working on or supervising a street outreach team.
• Experience using HMIS or other databases.
• Knowledge of Clark County resources and agencies that serve people experiencing homelessness. 

Candidates from Communities of Color, Veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community are highly encouraged to apply.

JOB CONDITIONS

Fast-paced office environment with frequent interruptions and occasional urgent situations. Regularly provides support to the houseless population in such areas as needs assessment, program information and referral, education, and problem-solving. Requires reliable transportation within the agency’s service area. Normal working hours not to exceed 40 hours a week, with occasional shifts to evening/weekend coverage as determined necessary by Council for the Homeless. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 

Criminal records satisfactory to the VHA are a condition of employment. The VHA will make inquiries with the Washington State Patrol (and/or other authorities) regarding these records and considers this information to be a vital aspect of the screening process.

SALARY DESCRIPTION

Starting salary is $27.61

In compliance with the WA Equal Pay & Opportunities Act, the full salary range for the position is $27.61 to $33.13.