Housing Specialist - HOPE

Title: Housing Specialist - HOPE

Location: 1717 SW Madison St, Portland, OR 97205

Schedule: This is an In-person position, Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm

Wage Range: $25 - $30 Hourly, non-exempt

If you are a motivated and dedicated Housing Specialist looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!

At Nara Northwest, you’ll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether you’re passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, there’s a place for you to make a meaningful difference.

Company Mission:

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.

About the Company:

At NARA NW, we deliver services and support to Native American and Alaska Native communities, helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

With over 450 employees across a variety of programs—including medical and dental care, addiction treatment, housing assistance, and enrichment initiatives NARA NW offers numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, all while making a tangible, positive impact on the lives of others.

Position Overview:

The Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Specialist provides community and home-based housing support services to individuals and families who have experienced homelessness, and whose health, mental health, substance use history and socioeconomic issues create barriers to accessing housing. Services are focused on supporting the individual and/or family to stabilize their housing, end their experience with homelessness, and improve their health and move forward in their recovery. Duties include creating an individualized housing plan with program participants to identify needs, barriers, and resources to achieve long-term housing stability; assisting new program participants through the housing application process, addressing barriers to housing approval, developing positive relationships with collaborative partners, external providers, and property managers; being responsive to property managers as concerns arise in order to support participants in successfully maintaining their housing and preventing eviction; providing home and community based services to clients utilizing strengths-based case management while embracing the philosophies of Motivational Interviewing and Housing First. The PSH Specialist works independently and collaboratively with multiple NARA NW teams and will work with either a site-based project or scattered-site project.

What you will do:

• Develop a client-centered individualized housing stability plan with all program participants.
• Assist program participants through the housing process including identifying and applying to an apartment, addressing possible barriers to housing approval, accessing funding for move in costs and furnishings for their home, and provide ongoing retention services.
• Work in close coordination with other providers/ support systems to address the needs of clients. Includes initiating clinical consultations, assuring coordination of service planning and ongoing support services.
• Provide home and community based engagement services to clients utilizing strengths-based case management while embracing the philosophy of Motivational Interviewing and Housing First. Utilize assertive engagement techniques to meet clients where they are willing to participate and coach clients in setting goals and identifying realistic steps in order to achieve them.
• Develop positive relationships with collaborative partners, external service providers, and property managers.
• Be responsive to property managers as concerns arise in order to support participants in successfully maintaining their housing and preventing eviction. Follow up with property managers to determine outcome of any needed interventions.

We would like to hear from people that have:

• Degree in social-service related field, QMHP, QMHA or CADC credential or equivalent highly desirable. If not currently credentialed, must be able to obtain QMHA or CADC credential within 6 months of hire.
• Professional experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or experiencing severe and persistent mental illness.
• Experience creating service plans, progress notes, and other documentation.
• Knowledge of housing resources and programs.
• Either High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification required.

What’s in it for you?

14 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, and December 25th!

Benefits: Employees working 20 hours, or more are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from the 1st of the month following the date of hire.

• Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
• 14 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)
• 13 Paid Days of Sick Time
• 13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
• $50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• 401(k) with 4% Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)
• Referral Program- (Up to $1000 Dollars)
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC

How to apply:

• To Quick Apply, go to Careers – NARA NW (naranorthwest.org)
• Look for the position you want to apply for and submit a resume (Required) and cover letter (Optional), that’s all!
• Feel free to contact recruiting@naranorthwest.org if you have any questions or would like to know where your application is in the process.

NARA NW Mission: Our mission is to provide education, physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and everyone in need.

NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. To support NARA NW in its mission, all employees agree to refrain from illicit drug use, marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse, both on and off the job. In addition, all employees agree to model alcohol sobriety. Modeling alcohol sobriety means not consuming, discussing, or promoting the use of alcohol, on the job, on social media and when in the community where the employee would be likely to be seen by NARA NW clients or community. If in recovery, employees must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that they will be able to remain sober.

Consistent with NARA NW’s sobriety policy, all employees, volunteers, interns, and contractors, as applicable, are required to sign a “Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace Certification Form” and NARA NW “Modeling Sobriety Policy Form” as a condition of employment to confirm that they are aware of this policy and that they agree to comply with it. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. This policy is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state counterpart

Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 and 473). NARA Northwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration. Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position’s activities and requirements, the agency reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties, as necessary.