Housing Specialist

Job Details

The Housing Specialist is a member of the Motel Support Team: Bridging Connections that provides outreach and support to serve participants who are housed in emergency motel placements with the goal of connecting motel participants to housing opportunities. The goal of the Motel Support Team is to provide supplemental support and connection to motel program participants and aid consumers in accessing community based resources. The Housing Specialist will provide services which include: tenant education, linkage to housing opportunities (supported living, independent living, semi-independent, etc.), assisting in application process, submission of reasonable accommodations, community living/integration, Rent Well skills and curriculum, and a focus on connecting eligible participants to the Regional Long-Term Rental Assistance program. In addition, Housing Specialist will provide advocacy, crisis prevention and de-escalation, skills training, community navigation, case management, transportation and support for housing screenings/tours, community navigation skills training to tours/screenings, or facilitation of transportation (ie. Ensuring bus tickets/fare are accessible, directions/address provided, etc.), collaborative meetings with treatment teams and other external providers to ensure safe housing placement, and referring to community based supports or other resources as indicated to support the participant’s next step in housing. With additional peer and risk case management support the program aims to minimize participant hospitalizations (emergency department and psychiatric admissions), increase necessary contact between the participant and their respective mental health and substance use service providers, and aid linkage to transitional or permanent housing programs.

In alignment with OARS, documented vaccination or exemption is required.

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Clear, direct and concise.  Keeps people informed. Listens effectively to others.
• Teamwork: Effective at working in team situations.
• Utilizing available resources for personal wellness: Communicates with Supervisor or other designated New Narrative personnel to meet personal wellness and safety needs.
• Adaptability: Ability to modify or change service delivery as needed to best fit the needs of program participants and New Narrative values
• Analytical thinking:  Attention to detail over sustained periods of time.
• Dependability: Counted on to follow through on commitments: at work each day and on time; work completed in a timely fashion.
• Aptitude: Ability to comprehend and apply new ideas, processes and procedures, or training.
• Demeanor: Remaining calm in crisis situation, empathetic, unbiased, non-judgmental and excellent peer model skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Collaboration and Engagement

• Willing to meet and engage with people “where they are,” including their environment and readiness for change.
• Meet consistently with participants to work toward housing stability and maintain waitlist status and coordination.
• Provide skills training, advocacy, case management, community navigation to support caseload participants in working towards their identified goals
• Educates other employees, agencies, and the community at large about Fair Housing for persons with disabilities and advocates for the highest possible level of integration of SPMI tenants into their community

Case Management

• Coordinate with housing resources for housing opportunities, access to resources to support housing stability and safety (ie. Home Forward, Coordinated Access, Northwest Pilot Project, property management, etc.)
• Refer and connect participants to the Regional Long-Term Rent Assistance program when applicable; support in the process of finding housing placements that accept the RLRA.
• Coordinate with Coordinated Access team and obtain/maintain certification to conduct VI-SPDAT assessments and reporting
• Maintain professionalism in encounters with participants and other providers.
• Submit reasonable accommodations as indicated.
• Provide additional support to Case Management team for participant connection to vital documentation.
• Participate in participant care conferences for wrap around care.
• Maintain clear and up to date records regarding housing waitlist, status, and communicate to treatment teams and motel support team.
• Ability to work in collaboration with acute care settings if necessary.
• Ability to work in collaboration with emergency services (ie. police, Project Respond, Multnomah County Crisis, Behavioral Health Unit)

Supportive Skills Training

• Obtain Rent Well certification and provide curriculum.
• Providing direct support in one-on-one settings within the assigned motel or the community as needed
• Provide individual and group skills training opportunities at motels as well as in the community, including but not limited to: ADLs, iADLs, coping, regulation, safety, etc. to support future housing opportunities and encourage retention.

Crisis Prevention/De-escalation/Harm Reduction

• Provide crisis response and de-escalation in a community based setting.
• Use crisis prevention approach to decrease use of crisis services, Project Respond, EMS, police, hospitalization, etc.
• Ability to work in collaboration with emergency services (ie. police, Project Respond, Multnomah County Crisis, Behavioral Health Unit)
• Ability to work in collaboration with acute care settings if necessary
• Must be able to assist in de-escalation and crisis as needed
• Support harm reduction approach, linkage to resources such as, but not limited to: clean needle exchange, NARCAN, MAT, SUD services, education around harm reduction, etc.

Documentation/Expectations:

• Complete documentation and data entry as required by contract (ie. Electronic Health Record and HMIS/ServicePoint system, etc.) within 48 hrs or as designated per requirements.
• Support Program Manager in housing retention tracking
• Utilize centralized scheduling to account for client appointment, meetings, training, etc.
• Utilize outcomes based care tools in order to provide outcome informed care.
• Maintain a regular work schedule, including some evenings.
• Work to increase level of cultural sensitivity, awareness and competency regarding Person-Centered Services.
• Attend and positively participate in required team, agency, and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Use trauma-informed, person centered approach and language and participate in ongoing training and education.      
• Provide crisis response in a community based setting.  
• Ensure timely completion of all required paperwork. 

Description of other duties:

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Complete all other assignments in a timely manner as requested by supervisor.

Supervision Received

• Receive regular supervision from the Motel Program Manager, seeking additional supervision whenever necessary.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and group supervision as required.

Other General Expectations:

• Attend and positively participate in required meetings.
• Uphold New Narrative Mission and Values in all interactions.
• Ability to work as a team member, remain flexible and establish priorities as a group.
• Ability to work independently when necessary.
• Ability to take direction from supervisor.
• Ability to learn and utilize new skills.
• Ability to display a non-judgmental attitude.
• Creative, innovative and progressive problem-solver.
• Ability to take initiative on new tasks.
• Ability to multi-task and remain calm in a busy and stressful environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Pursue ongoing development of skills and competencies, including:
  • • A minimum of 12 hours per year continuing education in the area of mental health/dual recovery;
    • 4 hours annual training in cultural competence;
• Follow all New Narrative policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Follow through on all directives and instructions.
• Maintain CPR and First Aid Certificate.
• Must be able to pass a criminal history check through the Department of Human Services.

Qualifications:

• Qualified Mental Health Associate credential required.
• Prior housing experience preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• Persons of color and all genders encouraged to apply
• Incumbents with a substance use disorder must be sober and free of substance use for 2 full years preceding date of hire, and must maintain this sobriety.
• Must maintain current Oregon driver’s license and insurance. Must have own reliable vehicle to meet participants in the community, as the position requires a lot of driving.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Employee Acknowledgement

I acknowledge and confirm I have read the above job description information.  I understand and agree that it is my responsibility to speak to my immediate manager should I have any questions or concerns regarding my job duties or any content of the job description.

I understand a copy of this will be retained in my individual Human Resources file.

Employee Signature ___________________________ Date________________________

Authorized Signature ___________________________Date________________________