Prevention Specialist

Description

The Prevention Specialist is a passionate and self-directed individual with a strong understanding of and commitment to Mary’s Place mission of empowering women, children and families who are experiencing homelessness. The Prevention Specialist must be very comfortable with using various technology platforms, including the Microsoft suite, and must be able to quickly learn to use the in-house Mary’s Place database tool. The Specialist will assist families in King County who are behind on rent and in need emergency rental assistance. This role will focus on rapidly distributing emergency funding to families in need, while complying with rigorous reporting guidelines, processing applications for assistance, and coordinating with landlords.

This is a full-time, non-exempt position working a daytime Monday – Friday schedule, with flexibility to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays as necessary. Compensation for this position is $27/DOE.

The Prevention Specialist reports to the Prevention Manager and the location is remote. This position does not supervise any staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Process a high volume of applications for rental assistance with accuracy, efficiency, and quality customer service
• Gather and verify documents provided by applicants and properties/landlords to determine eligibility
• Work with families using Trauma Informed Principles to obtain information for rental assistance applications
• Process check requests for families receiving assistance
• Provide clear and consistent communication to families on the status of their applications
• Work closely with the Prevention Manager to ensure clear communication with landlords and to ensure receipt of payments are sent to participating tenants
• Diligently track assistance requests and provide progress review to Prevention Manager as scheduled
• Work in Agency (Mary’s Place database) to create accurate documentation in a timely way (e.g. client applications, direct client assistance requests, and progress notes as needed)
• Develop knowledge of Mary’s Place programs and King County resources and provide appropriate referrals to tenants as needed
• Co-create stability plans with families to uplift their strengths, resources, and plans
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to enhance program operations by creatively problem-solving challenges
• Attend team and staff meetings and trainings as required
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Required Experience, Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Two to four years experience working in social work, employment, housing or human services. Case management experience preferred.
• A.A. degree or higher in Human Services, Social Work, or a related field. Relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of degree.
• Strong communications (listening, oral, and written) and positive, problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability and comfort spending the majority of the day on a computer screen—using technology to process rental assistance and attending virtual meetings.
• Ability to work both independently with self-direction, as well as in a collaborative, team-oriented organization.
• Prior experience working in a shelter setting or with homeless population or lived experience with housing instability strongly desired.
• Experience with service delivery or in customer service.
• Ability to work with guests who may have substance use disorders, untreated mental health, and significant trauma with a compassionate and trauma-informed approach.
• Exceptional time-management and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; able to learn new software/database systems, data entry, running reports from a database.
• Highly motivated, resourceful, flexible, with a positive attitude and sense of humor, even under pressure.
• Able to proficiently speak, read, write, and understand English. Proficiency in another language is preferred, especially Amharic, Tigrigna, Oromo, French, Spanish or Marshallese.
• Willingness and ability to work with people from a variety of racial, cultural, social and economic backgrounds with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages and genders from a place of acceptance and inclusivity to meet people where they are without judgement.
• Attention to detail; ability to interact with others in-person and through email, use critical thinking skills, develop and implement plans and documentation, and listen and participate verbally at meetings.
• Ability to work and attend trainings and meetings on-site, as assigned.

Physical Requirements

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.

• Ability to converse with and listen to people in many different settings
• Ability to use a computer and telephone, as well as other standard office equipment
• Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist on an intermittent or continuous basis
• Ability to occasionally push, pull, lift and/or carry supplies up to 25 pounds
• Work takes place in a social services environment where long periods of sitting, working on a computer, walking to various work areas, going up and down stairs, and standing are required
• Travel to program sites and meetings outside the site and around the county is necessary
• Ability to work in an environment where there may be animals present, including dogs

In compliance with the ADA Amendment Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department.

Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. A qualified person with a disability may request a modification or adjustment to the job or work environment in order to meet the physical requirements of the position. Mary’s Place will attempt to satisfy requests as long as the accommodation needed is reasonable and no undue hardship to Mary’s Place would result.

Mary's Place offers the following benefits to full-time staff:

· Medical and dental insurance with the cost for core employee coverage paid at 100% by the company and competitive family rates

· Basic Life insurance of $50,000 at no cost to employee; option to buy additional coverage

· 403(b) plan with 50% employer match on the first 6% employee contribution. Eligible to participate upon hire; eligible for match after first year of employment

· Unlimited use ORCA pass for a small deduction per pay period

· Starting at 10 days paid time off (PTO) each calendar year

· 10 days of sick time each calendar year

· 10 days of flexible floating holidays each calendar year (accrued 40 hours on Jan. 1 and July 1 and pro-rated during first year)

· Employee Assistance Program

Mary’s Place is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, people of color and other underrepresented groups, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. 

Salary : $50,000