Housing Advocate

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence, Inc.

Harrisonburg, VA

Housing Advocate

First Step is seeking a highly motivated individual who can provide crisis, advocacy, case management, and housing services to survivors of intimate partner violence. This position reports to the Director of Client Services.

About our organization:

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has served the City of Harrisonburg and County of Rockingham for over 40 years. We provide crisis, advocacy, rapid rehousing, and shelter services to survivors of intimate partner and relationship violence and their children. First Step welcomes and respects all survivors, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, age, gender, disability, national origin, religion, Limited English Proficiency, citizenship status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We are committed to providing free and confidential services to survivors of intimate partner or relationship violence who have experienced economic, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and/or verbal abuse.

Our mission:

· Empowering survivors to break the cycle of violence and abuse in their lives.

Our vision:

· The vision of First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is a community free of abuse.

Responsibilities:

First Step’s Housing Advocate will assist survivors of intimate partner violence in locating, accessing, and maintaining permanent housing. The Housing Advocate will also provide crisis intervention, advocacy and accompaniment services to survivors of intimate partner violence and their children. Key areas of responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Advocacy Services

• Assists survivors in accessing appropriate community services and resources, including immigration services.
• Provide accompaniment services as needed to appointments, court hearings, etc.
• Advocates for survivors
• Provide housing assessment, housing case management, and housing search and location services
• Landlord outreach
• Manage Rapid Re-Housing program and services
• Assist shelter guests in moving into permanent housing (includes finding resources for furniture and household items and helping clients with their move into the new home)
• Provide follow-up and housing stabilization services
• Collaborate with other service providers that serve individuals experiencing homelessness, non-profits, and government agencies
• Complete case notes, forms and data entry
• Attend regular staff meetings and trainings.
• Complete Housing Counselor Certification and other housing focused trainings and workshops
• Attend community meetings and events as needed, including Continuum of Care meetings and trainings.
• Complete all other assigned activities

Crisis Services

• Answer hotline
• Provide safety planning services, intake, information and referral, accompaniment, and advocacy services to survivors of intimate partner violence and their children
• After hour and weekend On-call services (rotation schedule)

Hours:

• Full-time salaried position
• Some evening, night, and weekend hours required

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Health Insurance after 60 days of employment, 50% of employee premium paid
• SIMPLE IRA Plan with up to 3% match
• Optima Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off

Reports to:

· Director of Client Services

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of related experience
• Knowledge, skills and ability to work with survivors of intimate partner violence and individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Must be bilingual, fluent in English and at least one other language.

Skills:

• Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or similar business software suites
• Ability to provide positive and professional customer service in person and on the phone
• Ability to work in a team.
• Ability to work independently and to problem solve

Position open until filled.

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications for candidates from diverse backgrounds. We serve in a geographic area with many in our service region speaking English as a second language. Spanish, Arabic, Kurdish are the most common non-English languages spoken by residents in our service area.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,000.00 - $41,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• Nights as needed
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Harrisonburg, VA 22801: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Case management: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $35,000 - $41,000