KB16
Located in Olympia, WA
Pay: $25.00-$25.50/hr DOE
Job Full Description
Express is now hiring for Housing First Specialists at a local non-profit based out of Olympia, WA. This is an evaluation-permanent opportunity. The schedule will be considered full time, 35 hours per week, Monday-Thursday 9:00AM-5:00PM, Friday 9:00-2:00PM. Occasional nights/weekends. The compensation for this position will start at $25.00-$25.50/hr, DOE This company offers benefits to include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. They also offer 1. Holiday Pay-90 hours per fiscal year, days chosen by employee and 2. Vacation Pay-2 weeks/year- accrued per hour worked and 3. Sick Pay- 12 days/year- accrued per hour worked.
Job Duties: The Housing First Specialist will have a good understanding of the Housing First evidence-based practice, which includes low-barrier, affordable, permanent housing coupled with flexible, voluntary services. This position will also have a good understanding of harm reduction principles and practices, which means focusing not on abstinence, but on reducing the negative consequences of risk behaviors, including drug use. The Housing First Specialist will work directly with people who have serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance use disorders who are experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness. This may include people who have histories of incarceration or psychiatric hospitalizations. The Housing First Specialist will engage with individuals to identify their housing needs, assist with applying for housing, and help develop a housing plan.
- Maintain a caseload of families with children who are experiencing homelessness and work to assist the household in securing housing.
- Assist the client in developing an individualized goal plan. Include strategies and action steps needed to access and sustain housing. Utilize goal plan as an ongoing tool to guide case management service. Keep goal plan up to date and flexible to the needs and individual goals of each family.
- Meet with clients as often as necessary to evaluate progress in meeting steps in action plan, celebrate successes, provide comprehensive one on one support and advocacy to overcome challenges, and reassess and modifying goals as necessary to ensure success.
- Provide direct services to assist clients in meeting their goals. I.e.: assist in completing housing applications, rapid re-housing documents, completing credit repair tasks, and addressing other barriers to accessing housing.
- Assist households with basic lease compliance, provide support as need arises to prevent evictions.
- Develop and maintain relationships with housing partners including property managers and private landlords.
- Support households in independently caring for their own health, safety, and well-being; support with self-efficacy by helping coordinate services including but not limited to transportation, securing of required documents, etc.
- Provide mobile advocacy and home visitation with households, meeting clients where they are at and where is most comfortable and convenient for the household.
- Connect households to various mainstream or community benefits in which they are interested and eligible for.
- Provide all services from a lens of housing first and harm reduction, among other best practices such as trauma informed care and strengths based approach.
- Remain connected to coordinated entry staff to ensure households eligible for the Housing First program are assessed and connected to available case management staff; ensure case load is up to date and availability is communicated with supervisor and key staff.
- Ensure households who are enrolled meet eligibility requirements and that all necessary documentation is on file.
- Maintain accurate and thorough electronic files. Retain documentation and case notes of services provided as well as records that demonstrate the successful completion of goals. I.e.: copies of referral forms, completed housing applications, employment, or benefits applications; new hire letter, lease, etc. Ensure required program documentation is maintained (homeless verification, income verification, HMIS release form etc.)
- Develop and maintain relationships with faith based communities, schools, and other community partners who provide support to low income families; coordinate family services between multiple providers.
- Follow families for up to 6 months following the end of their rental assistance, which may include home visitation, mobile advocacy, and support at a level and intensity requested of the families.
- Exit clients from program if no contact for 60 days. Document a minimum of three attempts to make contact first (phone call, certified letter, home visit)
- Represent agency at community meetings including such as Homeless Housing Hub, Local Planning Area, and Coordinated Entry Subcommittee.
- Participate in agency’s on-call rotation to provide backup support to volunteers in evenings; approximately 3-4 weeks per year.
Job Requirements:
- Experience: A minimum of 1 year of experience working directly with families providing case management/ home visitation /advocacy/resource and referral or related work experience
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in social services or related field. May substitute education for comparable work experience.
- Technology: Computer literacy; Proficiency in the use of Microsoft office programs
- Bilingual/Bicultural Spanish/English strongly preferred, not required
- Knowledge of the clinical symptoms of substance abuse and serious mental illness, required
- Clear understanding of the complexities leading to and sustaining homelessness, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), poverty, domestic/sexual violence, poor credit and rental histories, criminal justice involvement, and lack of skills to self-advocate, required
- Understanding of the principles and practices of Housing First and harm reduction
- Familiarity with Thurston County social service resources, preferred
- Experience working with diverse populations, providing crisis intervention, and working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, required
- Transportation: Must have insured personal vehicle, Washington State Driver’s License, and be willing to travel locally
- Must pass criminal background screen
How to Apply:
Express Employment Professionals offers benefits including Medical Benefits that meet ACA Requirements, Washington Paid Sick Leave & Holiday Pay for full time employees (after working 500 hours and averaging at least 35hrs/wk excluding overtime).
Olympia, WA
2465
1120 Harrison Avenue Northwest
Olympia, WA 98502
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