Compensation: Depending on Experience
Department(s):  Programs
Employment type: Full-Time

Job Summary:

The Housing Retention Specialist assists with housing search and placement along with leveraging supportive services that will assist the participant household to maintain permanent housing.

Summary of Essential Job Functions

1. Assess housing barriers of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to determine housing and service needs
2. Develop a housing procurement , financial, and self sufficiency case management plan with clients. This includes intake interviews to determine client’s needs, goals, and eligibility
3. Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on the client’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing
4. Assist participants in location and securing housing of their choice
5. Create and maintain consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (ie. tenant, landlord referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors)
6. Serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers and participants as well as between participants and neighbors
7. Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/ or community programs
8. Assist in development of and encourage adherence to a personal budget through proactive housing and budget counseling and education to assist clients in establishing payment plan for bills and past debts and to assist clients in obtaining and maintaining their housing
9. Assist participants in development of strength based/ solution- focused individualized goals and action plan that promotes permanent housing and self sufficiency ; develop an effective, and timely referral network in order to ensure ongoing direction and support as needed
10. Identify participant strengths and barriers to stability and assist participants in reducing barriers and linking to resources and services
11. Provide follow up home visits to ensure stability and further progress towards self sufficiency; this includes support advocacy, reducing isolation, listening, problem solving, and identification of resources to assist with reintegration of participants in the community
12. Apply knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate clients of their rights and responsibilities
13. Maintain accurate daily logs records, monthly outcome reports, and files for each client
14. Collect and report program data, including but not limited to HMIS reporting and funders’ required data

Minimum Educational Requirements

1. Bachelors degree in behavioral sciences; related experience may be substituted.
2. Minimum three (3) years experience working with “hard to serve” individuals, including homeless, substance abusers and those with mental health issues in areas of housing stabilization, placement and retention.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

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