Job Title: Housing AdvocateFLSA Status: Non-Exempt Reports to: Housing ManagerJob Purpose To provide trauma-informed advocacy, case management, and safety planning assistance to individuals and families who are homeless or precariously housed as a result of fleeing domestic or sexual violence. Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide services within a victim-centered, trauma-informed, housing first framework.
- Collaborate with internal and external case managers and service providers to provide services to the most vulnerable, including working within the CoC (Continuum of Care) CE (Coordinated Entry) system.
- Provide safety planning, crisis intervention, information regarding community resources, referrals to other victim services and other advocacy services, and case management to survivors who are fleeing domestic and sexual violence.
- Recruit, educate, and engage landlords within the service area including outreach, group presentations, continued communication.
- Manage the process for providing housing financial assistance from various sources ensuring all funding requirements are met and appropriate documentation is collected and maintained.
- Collaborate with program participants to provide ongoing case management, monitor housing stability, and assist to resolve housing-related crises should they occur. Provide participant/landlord mediation as needed to maintain housing stability.
- Provide transportation assistance to clients to attend mainstream benefits appointments, employment training, etc. and provide regular follow-up to ensure mainstream benefits are received and renewed.
- Maintains accurate and timely records of services and service statistics and communicates as needed with internal and external resources.
- On-Call duties as assigned.
- Maintain accurate financial records related to grant funds assigned and ensure adherence to accounting principles and best practices.
- Attend staff meetings and trainings.
- Commitment to the YWCA mission of Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women.
- Other related duties as required and/or assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in human services field or equivalent education and/or experience.
- Knowledge of domestic & sexual violence dynamics preferred.
- Previous experience providing housing-related services preferred.
- Basic computer skills required.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to relate well to diverse populations.
- Ability to work independently and as a team.
- Valid driver's license and insured vehicle.
- Must be able to pass State Child Abuse/Neglect screening & Criminal Background Check.
Working Conditions
- Forty (40) hour workweek with flexibility regarding days/times to meet client needs and/or deadlines.
- Services will be provided in an office setting, in the community and in client homes.
- Employee will provide transportation services to clients.
- Some evenings/weekends may be required based upon client needs and business demand.
- On-call responsibilities required.
Physical Requirements
- Standing or sitting for long periods, bending, stooping and occasional lifting.
- Repetitive hand motion (such as typing)
- Ability, on a consistent basis, to perform activities requiring cooperation, instruction, persuasion or speaking with others
- Ability to communicate effectively in person and on the telephone with consumers
Personal Characteristics The successful individual will demonstrate the following:
- Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and professional boundaries and ensure own behavior is consistent with professional ethical standards.
- Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others both internally and externally to achieve the organizations goals of empowering women and eliminating racism.
- Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
- Focus on Client Needs: Anticipate, understand and respond to the needs of consumers.
- Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the consumer and the organization.
- Organization: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, and monitor progress towards goals and track details/data/information/activities.
- Technological Aptitude: Understand software applications and maintain skills necessary to effectively perform key responsibilities through use of company utilized programs.
***YWCA St. Joseph provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.***