Housing Specialist

 IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Program Manager of Supportive Housing Services  

THIS
POSITION SUPERVISES: N/A 

ANNUAL
TRAINING REQUIRED:  

Non-violent crisis
intervention training is required annually Yes No 

CPR and First
Aid training are required for this position Yes No 

MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education: High School degree or equivalent with with 2 years experience working with homeless
individuals with mental illness or substance abuse preferred. 

Additional Skills: 

• Must have experience working with homeless
  populations, substance abuse populations, mental illness or persons with a
  disability. 
• Excellent Computer skills are
  required in order to complete reports via electronic record.  
• Must have excellent record keeping skills
   
• Must be proficient in MS Office
  (Word, Excel, Outlook) and willing to learn additional systems as required
   

Requirements:  

• Must have a valid driver's license
  and own transportation, as this position will require some travel or
  transportation of consumers around the metro Detroit area  

GENERAL
RESPONSIBILITIES: 

This position promotes the mission,
vision, values and strategic plan of Neighborhood Service Organization and helps
to achieve the strategic goals and objectives of the unit. The Housing Case
Manager, as part of the Homeless Recovery Services team and in collaboration
with the person served, is responsible for providing assessment, case plan
development, housing placement and linkage to community resources. The Housing
Case Manager provides services to an assigned caseload under the supervision of
the Program Manager of Homeless Recovery Services (HRS).    

TASK
DESCRIPTIONS: 

 PERFORMANCE FACTORS: 

I. JOB KNOWLEDGE
and COMPREHENSION  

  SUPPORTIVE SERVICES:   

• Demonstrates compassion for people
  struggling with chronic homelessness, poverty, mental illness and addiction. 
• Participate in team meetings and coordinates with HRS leadership,
  case managers and peer support in the provision of supportive housing
  services. 
• Maintain HUD regulation throughout navigation, at lease up
  and annual recertification thereafter.  
• Coordinate with MSHDA
  Housing Agents and or property manager on behalf of consumers receiving
  subsidized rental assistance. 
• Directly engage
  landlord/property managers to create decent and affordable housing options
  for consumers and maintain a data base of available housing. 
• Perform Housing Quality
  Standards inspections as needed. 
• Directly assist consumers
  in locating and identifying independent housing options. 
• Facilitate housing
  placement and lease signing with consumers. 
• Assist consumers in
  understanding and abiding by their lease obligations. 
• Respond to landlord/property
  management concerns promptly and professionally.  
• Coordinates
  with consumers to assist them with their medical, substance use disorder,
  and mental health appointments and advocating for them as needed. 
• Intervene in
  occasional mental health crisis situations as they arise.  
• Be able to enforce healthy
  boundaries with consumers and be able to therapeutically redirect as
  appropriate.  
• Provides
  assistance with daily living tasks such as money management, shopping and
  cooking while assessing for needed assistance with Activities of Daily
  Living. 
• Coordinates and
  provides flexible support services and skills training to consumers once
  they are housed, with the objective of helping them to stay housed and to
  achieve the goals set forth in their coordinated case plan. 

CASE DOCUMENTATION:  

• Completes progress notes
  and service activity logs for all service activity in accordance of agency
  policy.  
• Maintain all housing
  charts in compliance with all applicable HUD guidelines. 
• Maintain all HMIS and ECO
  data in accordance with agency policy.  
• Monitor caseload for
  compliance with monthly rental payments and/or eviction prevention plans.
  
  
  
  CONSULTATION WITH PROFESSIONAL STAFF: 
• Receives instructions and
  assignments, providing weekly caseload reports and makes recommendations
  to the team as needed. 
• Follows through with
  assigned tasks. 
• Participates in
  supervisory meetings and team meetings.
  
  
  
  ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES: 

• Identifies resources
  within the community and assists consumers to access resources such as security
  deposit, utility assistance and household items. 
• Develops and maintains a
  working knowledge and relationship with providers of resources for
  consumers.  
• Apprises leadership team
  of service gaps that affect consumers’ functioning within the community. 

II. PRODUCTIVITY  

· Consumer's on your caseload are seen at least
once monthly. 

· Case records are accurately maintained within
NSO documentation guidelines of 48 hours. 

· Service activity logs must indicate at least 75
hours of face to face contact monthly.  

III. ADMINISTRATION
  

· Complies with and adheres to department and NSO
policies and procedures.  

· Adheres to established quality and performance improvement
standards.  

· Works effectively with others to accomplish goals/resolve
problems.  

· Organizes work well and uses time effectively. 

· Maintains consistent work attendance.   

· Does not disrupt operations by being habitually
tardy or absent; works as scheduled. 

IV. PROFESSIONAL
SKILLS   

· Professionally represents NSO and promotes NSO
mission and vision statements.  

· Promotes a harmonious work environment. 

· Demonstrates expertise in his/her functional area,
leveraging unique core of knowledge and skills to achieve results.  

· Ensures consumer satisfaction through process of
monitoring, improving, and delivering excellence in program services. 

· Is open to new approaches and takes steps to
increase knowledge, skills and abilities, both from within and outside NSO. 

V. OTHER   

· Complies with contractual and regulatory
requirements, as needed.  

· Fosters commitment, team spirit, pride and
trust.  

· Possesses good work ethic, drive, energy, and
persistence to achieve goals. Takes accountability for job responsibilities.  

· Able to anticipate and bring about change when
needed. 

· Performs other duties as assigned.  

WORKING
CONDITIONS: Working
in an office environment and able to move about the physical facilities. The
person may travel on agency or unit business.