ACHIEVE HUMAN SERVICES, INC.

POSITION TITLE: HOUSING SPECIALIST

DEPARTMENT: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH/HOUSING

REPORTS TO: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MANAGER

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Housing Specialist is responsible for Arizona Department of Housing/HUD Permanent Supportive Housing rental subsidy program. Activities include interviewing potential applicants, determining eligibility, rental calculations, income verification, maintaining housing documents in client files, scheduling, and performing Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections. This position is responsible to assist adults who have been diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness with or without Substance Use Disorder, General Mental Health with Substance Use Disorder, and those with documented disabilities in providing supporting and instructional services. They assist in ensuring that the participants receive safe and secure housing in a community setting. The position requires knowledge and understanding of psycho-social and vocational rehabilitation with an emphasis on community integration and normalization of the Consumer population. 

MAJOR DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintains awareness and knowledge of current contracts. 

Maintains contract compliance with ADOH/HUD requirements.

Ensures that documentation of service delivery is completed within 72 hours of the encounter. All documentation of services will be completed prior to billing and all billed services will be substantiated by appropriate documentation.

Creates and maintains consistent communication channels, both verbal and written between several parties.

Participate in long-term planning and organization development activities as part of the housing team.

Submit Maintenance Requests on an as needed basis to appropriate parties.

Comply with Fair Housing Laws and landlord/Tenant Act.

Participate on weekly On Call list.

Perform other duties as assigned by management.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

A.Supervision

This position has no supervisory responsibility

B.Confidentiality

This position is exposed to highly confidential client information relating to customers and minimum levels of confidential information relating to the company. 

C.Mental Application and Responsibility

This position involved high level responsibility for administering company policies and procedures and a moderate level of responsibility for problem resolution and making clinical and administrative decisions. Staff must exercise sound judgment and ethical standards in handling direct are and supervisory duties. 

D.Internal and Public Contacts

This position involves a high degree of interaction with staff, customers, family members, and other social service agency staff. 

E.Conditions and Equipment

Equipment operation includes general office equipment, computers, communication tools, and recreational tools appropriate to activities. 

F.Physical Demands

The work environment includes home and office setting. Staff must be able to walk up and down stairs and lift up to 25 pounds. The employee must complete trainings for safety and crisis intervention. 

ABILITIES

A.Language (Communication)

Bilingual (Spanish/English) is preferred. Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively through both oral and written communications. 

B.Mathematical

Basic mathematics is required for this position. Rent calculations are required using basic math principals. 

C.Reasoning

Position requires basic understanding of working with people who have unique disabilities, basic understanding of crisis prevention and intervention and to assist in a recovery model or plan. Basic understanding of First Aid and CPR

D.Other

Position requires a basic understanding of the Arizona State Housing Rules, Regulations, Fair Housing and Landlord Tenant Act Laws. 

QUALIFICATIONS

A.Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate’s degree in related field preferred

B.Experience

Requires twelve (12) months experience with Administrative history of maintaining client charts

One (1) year working with individuals experiencing homelessness and individuals with serious mental illness, preferred.

Three (3) years’ experience in service delivery to individuals that have a history of substance abuse/mental health and/or homelessness.

C.Other

Must be over 21 years of age

Must possess a valid driver’s license

Must be able to obtain a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card

Must be able to obtain valid certifications for Agency compliance within 90-days of employment

Pass background check inclusive of Excluded Provider List System (EPLS) and the Health and Human Services (HHS) List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE)

DRUG-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Agency is committed to the development and maintenance of a drug free environment in accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. Accordingly, the Agency will not tolerate any unlawful activity such as the possession, use, manufacture, distribution, and/or dispensation of a controlled substance on Agency-owned or controlled property. Any employee or client engaged in such prohibited conduct or convicted of a crime involving a workplace drug violation shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. ACHIEVE Human Services, Inc. maintains and promotes a drug-free work environment and enforces a zero-tolerance policy for the use of alcohol, drugs and/or controlled substances.

HIPAA

Under the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and its implementing regulations, a Covered Entity under HIPAA is legally obligated to maintain the privacy of client health information that it creates or receives. The Agency recognizes the importance of keeping medical information confidential and is dedicated to meeting the HIPAA obligations. All information that we have about clients we consider to be confidential, and we maintain technical and administrative safeguards to protect against unnecessary use and disclosure of it. We expect our employees to respect our clients’ instructions regarding any incidental exposure to protected health information. We are committed to supporting our clients in their efforts to comply with both state and federal privacy laws.

OSHA

Everyone has the right to a safe workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was passed to prevent workers from being seriously harmed at work or killed at work, and the law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. The Act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards which are maintained by the Agency. OSHA also provides information, training and assistance to workers and employers. Workers may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that the Agency is not following OSHA standards or that there are serious hazards in the workplace. An injured worker may undergo a drug screening.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The Agency strictly adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Sections 12101 et seq.). While the Agency strives to appreciate the special needs of its disabled employees and provide the necessary, reasonable accommodations, it remains the responsibility of each employee subject to the provisions of the Act to promptly and effectively communicate in writing the need for accommodation to the Agency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

ACHIEVE Human Services, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex (including gender and pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual harassment, retaliation, genetic information, age (40 and over), marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, or any other basis prohibited by statute in employment or the provisions of services.