SafePlace Job Description

Job Title: Housing Specialist – Right-Of-Way (ROW)

Reports to: Housing Program Manager

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Salary Range: Schedule C

Normal Work Schedule: 35 hours per week

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid holidays and paid time off leave are provided as per SafePlace personnel policies. Employee Assistance Program provided. Retirement benefits will be available when SIMPLE Plan qualifications have been met.

SUMMARY

Provide case management and supportive services with the goal of assisting households fleeing domestic violence to gain safe, sustainable, independent housing solutions. Walk alongside clients and provide advocacy and support as they re- build life skills and create new lives free from violence. Provide culturally competent, trauma informed care.

Work Activity

% of Work Time

Case Management and supportive services

50%

Outreach Specific Supportive Services

20%

Administrative work

15%

System Advocacy & networking

15%

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this position include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Provide housing case management and supportive services.

• Contact referrals, and complete screening, case conference with each applicant to determine if SafePlace Housing Program services are appropriate. Complete intakes with new individuals/families in the SafePlace Housing Program as assigned. During intake: review program expectations and services, ensure proper completion of all essential documents, and complete an individual Housing Stability Plan to outline client individual service plan for successful exit from
• Provide case management services for “one time assistance”, “short term assistance”, or “long term assistance”
• Conduct ongoing services to include but not limited to:
  • Plan housing stability goals with clients that ensure client’s success at their exit/graduation from program.
  • Assist in and guide client supportive services for increasing income, employment, and the housing search and application
  • Support client in managing housing supportive services tasks and setting realistic expectations.
  • Assist in client transport client in the company vehicle to specific housing related appointments.
• Assist in client transport client in the company vehicle from encampment to approved hotel
• Collaborate with other SafePlace programs that the client is enrolled in and complete regular case conferencing and communication with other direct service providers to ensure wrap around supportive services are being offered and provided to all
• Support Housing Program Manager as a point of contact and liaison between hotel clients and the hotel staff, address any concerns of the hotel staff around client’s
• Collaborate with other Community Partners to help assist client with housing stability such as; BHR, PIPE, OlyMap, and

• Maintain communication with clients in hotel and be available for appointments in person at assigned hotels for each client at least twice a week or as
• Engage in outreach to encampments with partner agencies at least once a month or as assigned.
• Case conference hotel screenings for program eligibility assessments on a regular basis
• Connect clients with resources and referrals to community human services outside of SafePlace as needed. This may include:
  • Coordinated entry referral
  • HUD based voucher waitlist applications
  • DSHS services such as childcare and food vouchers applications
  • Home furnishings donations applications
  • Referrals to dispute resolution center for landlord and tenant disputes that may
  • Referrals to financial supportive services and credit repair
  • Referrals to Thurston County Foodbank or other food security service
• Provide trauma informed services and treat all clients with respect and dignity that aligns with SafePlace mission and
• Spend at least 8 hours in main office to communicate and connect with housing program
• Willing and able to work independently offsite of SafePlace main office by traveling to each hotel sight to provide services to clients residing in hotels for each client, as well as accompanying partner agencies in encampment
• Assist in providing assigned clients with basic need supplies such as ordering groceries or hygiene
• Exit clients from program
  • Ensure clients are well prepared for their scheduled
  • Ensure all documents and administrative tasks are completed upon client
  • Complete any referrals for client’s continued
• Work alongside client for goals around life
  • Guide and support clients in creating, maintaining, or improving life skills, that will result in the client’s independent, sustainable
  • General life skills will relate to economic goals, education goals, budget planning, and general community knowledge and
  • Specific life skills for clients escaping domestic violence often may include social wellbeing and mental health such as: healthy relationships, conflict resolution, support groups, and DV and SA specific community

Perform the administrative functions of the Housing Assistance Program.

• Update and maintain comprehensive and complete case notes in a timely
• Assist in ensuring all grant required supportive documents are accurately completed prior to spending of any
• Ensure all SafePlace Housing Program required documents are accurately completed in full and in a timely
• Assist in maintaining an organized and updated client file that passes agency and funders standards.
• Enter direct service data into the Washington State InfoNet
• Ensure all check requests, credit card expenses, and receipts are submitted in a timely manner and fully comply with program
• Assist Program Manager in updating all tracking sheets, client files, and scanning, and ensuring data accuracy and
• Assist Program Manager with program specific administration tasks such as creating files, HMIS data entry, and creating client specific profiles as

Provide systems advocacy and network with community partners.

• Maintain networking relationships with community-based systems, including landlords, employers, and other social services

• Have excellent knowledge of community housing resources and agencies. Stay updated on local community housing limitations and services by attending trainings and community meetings as assigned.

Maintain regular communication with Housing Program Manager.

• Participate in regularly scheduled supervisory and other required
• Maintain close communication with Housing Program Manager about client issues and concerns, case updates and complete case conferencing with Manager on a regular

Attend team, direct service, and all-agency meetings as required.

Participate in on-call rotation for the sexual assault program as required and take helpline shift as needed. Perform duties as described in a culturally relevant and respectful manner.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school or general education diploma (GED).
• One year of full-time equivalent experience, or the equivalent, providing direct services and/or case management in domestic violence and/or sexual assault program or other crisis intervention
• One year of full-time equivalent experience working with low income and marginalized communities, providing services in a culturally relevant
• Ability to uphold the highest standards of confidentiality in all official matters of agency
• Intermediate level technology skills, including the full Office Suite, internet, email and basic cell phone
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in an organized and effective
• Sound decision making ability when assessing complex
• Ability to work independently, handle stress effectively and maintain strong relationships in challenging
• Ability to accurately complete work with high levels of detail and
• Have excellent time management and multitasking
• Have a telephone; have a car and current automobile liability insurance or have access to
• Agreement with the SafePlace mission, values, and philosophy
• Subscribe to the theory of

Specific knowledge, experience and abilities acquired must include experience, and/or a willingness to learn the following:

• Ability to case-manage individuals and families with complex needs and
• Experience with voluntary case management, motivational interviewing, and
• Knowledge of government housing programs, services, and Housing First

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least one year experience in housing placement services, permanent housing, other low-income housing program
• Completion of the initial SafePlace ACT
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Current CPR/First aid training
• Ability to flex schedule to accommodate Friday move-ins or other necessary client services on

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the following interpersonal skills:

• Brings high level of enthusiasm and employee engagement to the
• Ability to respond to crisis, set limits and maintain healthy
• Ability to manage personnel issues and conflicts with confidentiality, fairness, and respect with a diverse
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in a fast-paced crisis intervention work
• Open to being part of a collaborative team environment with a diverse
• Engages with supervisor, teammates, staff, volunteers, and clients in a positive
• Embraces the following SafePlace values in all interactions with staff, volunteers, and clients:
  • Quality – Employee provides quality programs and services for our clients, helping to maintain the best facilities we can provide, be part of the finest staff we can hire and promote a positive atmosphere for
  • Respect – Employee recognizes that the foundation for our relationships with others is respect for individual rights and
  • Self-Care – The Employee recognizes the need for self-care as a priority for themselves, clients, and other staff.
  • Diversity: Employee values, acknowledges, and integrates diversity into their role at SafePlace. Employee is dedicated to serving the diverse cultures in our community and working to mirror that diversity in our staff and volunteers.
  • Integrity:Employee endeavors to build relationships with clients, community members and each other based on integrity and honesty.
  • Confidentiality: Employee will hold client and personnel information in the strictest of confidence creating a culture of openness and trust.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• SafePlace initial ACT training certification, which can be completed upon
• Valid driver’s license and current automobile liability insurance
• CPR/First aid training certification

TRAINING REQUIRED

Employee is required to complete the initial 40-hour SafePlace ACT Training, upon being hired. Employee must attend 20 hours of on-going direct service training a year, which must include 15 hours advocacy, 12 hours of sexual assault training and 3 hours of CPR/First Aid training.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.