Housing Specialist

Agency Description:

Amigos de Guadalupe fulfills its mission by focusing on four strategies: Expansive Outreach (alcance comunitario), Trusted Information & Referral (amigos de confianza), Targeted Direct Services Program (comunidad fortalecida) and Case management (compañerismo). The Housing Specialist will be mostly focused on comunidad fortalecida and compañerismo .

Founded on the principles of justice and advocacy, Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment partners with the Si Se Puede Collective and local agencies to make social services more accessible to the Mayfair Community; to strengthen individuals and the community through education; and to address social inequities by creating strong leaders through community organizing.

Primary Duties

Reporting to the Housing Manager, the Housing Specialist will evaluate and determine homelessness vulnerability of families. Housing specialists will be a liaison between the client and the Case Manager by reading in between the lines to interpret and determine the needs of clients using effective listening and independent judgment. The Housing Specialist will perform a variety of clerical operational functions in support of the housing program. This role requires commitment to daily timelines, accurate data entry and record keeping, attention to detail as well as skill to respond effectively and tactfully to inquiries from clients. The Housing Specialist actively models and communicates the mission and vision and supports a culture of empowerment, team building, and open communication.

Essential Functions

• Develop and maintain inventory of appropriate units for our clients taking in consideration affordability, location, etc.
• Identify appropriate rental housing for clients that takes into consideration their needs and goals
• Engage with landlords to build and sustain relationships with Amigos de Guadalupe and our clients
• Provide assistance to clients with completing housing forms, applications and obtaining required verifications to determine eligibility
• Network with landlords, renters associations, property management businesses, and county wide permanent housing providers.
• Educate community members about the housing needs of clients and the importance of supportive housing.
• Provide direct assistance to clients with housing search.
• Guide and educate clients on how to search for, secure and maintain permanent affordable housing, including tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities.
• Inspect units to ensure they meet housing quality standards
• Assist clients to prepare and process all required documents for financial assistance.
• Assist clients to apply for financial assistance for move in costs, deposits and/or delinquent rent.
• Follow agency policies and procedures regarding financial documentation and reconciling all requests.
• Maintain thorough and accurate progress notes, files, and correspondences in HMIS as required
• Coordinate with Case Managers to ensure clients needs are being met.
• Collaborate with Education, Immigration and other Housing programs to ensure the client has resources that will support his/her goals 
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

• BA recommended
• Ability to work in an environment that promote compassion, equity, access and social justice
• Experience with PR-VI-SPDAT and VI-SPDAT is a plus
• Experience in HMIS data system
• Experience or prior work as a housing specialist a plus
• Knowledge or personal connection to East San Jose
• Knowledge of housing availability in Santa Clara County
• Proficiency in all Microsoft applications and database data entry
• Ability to work cooperatively with others toward a common goal
• Fluently bilingual in Spanish and English preferred

Pay: $30/hr
 

Amigos de Guadalupe is an equal opportunity employer. At Amigos we encourage and promote a learning environment and encourage anyone to apply regardless of prior experience, we look for a growth mindset, positivity and an eagerness to learn,

Salary : $30