Housing Specialist
: Job Details :

PROGRAM & POSITION SUMMARY Catholic Charities Housing Support Services, San Francisco Department of Public Health and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS [HOPWA] Housing Specialist will work within the community to enriched shallow rental subsidies.The Housing Specialist will be responsible for benefits advocacy, support services for physical and mental health - acute/chronic, and problem solving. Provide assistance to people accessing the HOPWA Rent Subsidy Program or other applicable housing opportunities. Assist in maintaining or increasing housing stabilization or opportunities. The Housing Specialist will work to assess the Participants needs, by providing immediate services, personal goals, and services plans. This position will work with staff around self-sufficiency matrixes, and how to maintain independence and prevent homelessness. The Housing Specialist provides advocacy as needed to Participants. Salary Range: $27.19-27.74

Work in collaboration with Program, Division, and Agency staff/team to design and implement program operations and policies.

Provide on-going support including but not limited to the following: information and referral for services, client contact, and assist in meeting the goals of the client's service plan.

Interface with other agencies and departments to ensure appropriate client compliance with Program requirements.

Participate in related programs, agency and community meetings as assigned.

• Caseload portfolio assignment up to 150 clients
• Perform applicant screening to determine eligibility for HOPWA/Partial Rent Subsidy [PRS] or Second Start [SS] Program, or Brilliant Subsidies [BS], conduct Intakes for qualified applicants - including, but not limited to: crisis intervention
• counseling and support services, client data collection, information and referral, collection of documents needed for program participation, and coordination of service to address the clients' immediate needs.
• Assess resident's needs, situations, strengths, and support networks to determine goals.
• Develop mutually-agreed upon plans to improve their well-being and housing situation.
• Help program participant adjust to the change and challenges related to unstable housing, recovering from homelessness, substance use disorder, and family dynamics/issues.
• Provide direct services to residents.
• Educate and connect residents to the wide array of services available to families.
• Assist Participants with accessing community resources, Income Benefits/Assistance, CalFresh [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)], Healthcare [physical and mental health] enrollment applicable.
• Provide on-going support services for clients living in subsidized housing, including but not limited to: information and referral for services, with a minimum of quarterly client contact.
• Assist and monitor personal goals and well-being through services plan, housing retention plans, situational growth or improvement
• Documentation: Input, maintain proper client and program documentation [updates/changes] client data collection, information and referral, collection of documents to address Participants' immediate needs and long-range goals.
• Coordinate contact with collaborative agencies as needed to identify any client issues that might result in an improved or destabilize a housing and to conduct an appropriate intervention as required
• Provide on-going support including but not limited to the following: information and referral for services, client contact, and assist in meeting the goals of the client's service plan.
• Work in collaboration with Program, Division, and Agency staff/team to design and implement program opera ions and policies.
• Provide housing advocacy services including, but not limited to: assistance to clients in identifying and working with landlords interested in participating in the HOPWA Rental Subsidy Program.
• Performance of annual re-registrations and Quality Housing Standards inspections (HQS)
• Interface with other agencies and departments to insure appropriate client compliance with Program requirements.
• Participate in related program, agency and community meetings as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned
• Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, or related field with a minimum of two [2] years directly related experience in case management, preferred. Sensitivity to, and possess a knowledge of HIV/AIDS services, homelessness/unstable housing, substance use disorders, and associated Healthcare [physical and mental health - acute/chronic] issues.
• Substantial or demonstrated knowledge/experience working with families in crisis or unstable housing situations.
• Strong knowledge of substance disorders and associated health issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Electronic data collection, input, and information maintenance
• Computer Skills and MS Office Suite knowledge

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must have experience in assessments and strong crisis intervention skills, particularly with people with HIV/AIDS, substance use disorders and associated Healthcare [physical and mental health - acute/chronic].
• Certified or familiarity with HCV/Housing Quality Standards.
• Interacting with persons from various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds to stabilize or improve housing situations.
• Bilingual English/Spanish +.
• Achievement and Client-oriented.
• Work as part of a team and collaborate with colleagues for successful outcomes.
• Organizational awareness.
• Analyze information, problems, situations, practices or procedures to define the issues/challenges, relevant factors or concerns to accomplish success.
• Formulate logical and objective conclusions through Client Services Plans.
• Organize material, information, and/or people in a systematic way to optimize efficiency and minimize harm or duplication of efforts.
• Coordinate people, resources, and information to maximize success.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

Prerequisites Required Prior to the First Day of Employment: Fingerprints:Required TB Screening - Negative Tuberculosis Test: Required First Aid Certificate: N/A Is responsible for accurate and timely data entry that aids Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) reporting and case record reviews. Is responsible for accurate and timely submission of case records. Serves on a quarterly case record review committee for Performance and Quality Improvement Serves on department or program Performance and Quality Improvement PQI Committee responsible for monitoring goals and reporting. 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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequent bending, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, and
• Intermittent lifting, pushing and pulling.
• Frequent repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• The worker must have close visual aivities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a

computer terminal; and extensive reading.

• Driving is required for this position.

If, driving a car is required for the position, the incumbent must have a valid California driver's license and be able to provide proof of DMV record and personal insurance (if required.) The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Contact with clients who may have behavioral and psychiatric problems including shouting, use of profanity, and inappropriate behavioral choices.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and consistent with a normal office setting.
• Occasionally exposed to perfume or scents in personal care products used by clients.
• Supervision: The incumbent is assigned duties according to specified procedures and receives detailed instructions. Work is reviewed frequently. The employee performs a variety of routine work within established policies and procedures and receives instructions on assignments, new policies, or projects.
• The work environment is a typical office environment.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in accordance with a typical office environment.
• May include contact with clients with mental health issues who demonstrate behaviors such as the use of profanity, shouting, running away, self-harm and violence.
• Occasional need to interact with clients that may be expressing anger both appropriately and inappropriately.
• The work environment includes contact with many children, who may be loud and at times behaviorally challenged.
• The work environment will include children ages 0 months to 5 years old.
• The work environment will include children ages 4 to 17 years old.
• The work environment will include children ages 8 to 14 years old.
• The worker is occasionally exposed to perfume or scents in personal care products used by employees, clients, and visitors.
• The worker is occasionally exposed to cleaning products.
• The worker is regularly exposed to arts and crafts supplies that may contain an odor such as non-toxic paint, glue, permanent markers, dry erase markers and crayons.
• The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other fluids.
• The worker is required to wear a respirator.
• The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• The work environment includes traveling using various modes of transportation.
• The work environment may include driving an agency vehicle.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)