Housing Resource Specialist

Position Title: Housing Resource Specialist

Exemption: Non-exempt

Department: Human Services

Reporting: Director, Outreach

Pay Range: $50-55k

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Director Outreach, the Housing Resource Specialist is responsible for increasing access to both private and public rental units for those moving from homelessness to permanent housing in Eastern Massachusetts. This position is responsible for building, cultivating, and maintaining strong business relationships with Property Managers, Landlords, Brokers, and Subsidy Administrators that provide quality housing opportunities to NECHV clients. This position will include proactive outreach to Landlords and other strategic housing connections in the community to educate them on NECHV services, learn about housing inventories, and maintain a “live” inventory of available units in the community. This position will work closely with the SSVF Management Team and Stabilization Case Managers, as well as directly with clients when appropriate, to ensure that clients are being matched to available units quickly. This role will also be responsible for tracking all necessary information about each unit, including eligibility, applications, and paperwork needed, to ensure that clients can move forward swiftly to apply for units. The Housing Resource Specialist will keep comprehensive and up-to-date spreadsheets to track units as well as application progress and status. Finally, the Housing Resource Specialist will generate literature to be given to clients prior to move in that includes helpful information on how to maintain a successful tenancy in their new unit and community.

Responsibilities

• Establish relationships with Landlords, Property Managers, Brokers and Subsidy Administrators who can assist in providing appropriate housing, especially for Veterans who have multiple barriers to obtaining permanent housing.
• Conduct proactive outreach in the community to meet and forge relationships with partners in the community who own or manage rental properties.
• Utilize online resources to find suitable rental units and transfer these units to internal inventory.
• Maintain ongoing relationships with community partners to be aware when units become available.
• Keep an updated database on properties and points of contact to aid in housing Veterans.
• Identify strategies to engage Landlords to increase housing stock for Veterans experiencing homelessness with barriers and disabilities (ie organizing housing fairs on-site at NECHV).
• Attend on-site Veteran lunches periodically to promote available housing opportunities directly to the clients.
• Develop outreach materials targeting Landlords and other housing providers.
• Provide guidance materials to Veterans to help them prepare for tenant screenings and for successful tenancy.
• Hold weekly meetings with SSVF management and case managers to communicate updates to housing inventory, help to match clients to appropriate units, and support the application process and communication to Landlords, Property Managers, or Subsidy Administrators.
• Keep detailed records of pending housing applications and their statuses, by communicating with case managers and Landlords/ leasing offices/ Subsidy Administrators and be instrumental in moving these applications along efficiently without unnecessary delay.
• Conduct Boston Coordinated Entry Pathways Assessments with clients and follow up on any housing matches via Boston’s Clarity system
• Attend staff meetings and trainings as well as pertinent meetings in the community.
• Assist with Veteran Intakes as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or related field required.
• Three to five years of direct related experience.
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to communicate professionally with employees, clients, and external partners on the phone, via email, and in person.
• Proficiency with electronic databases and computers.
• Experience with outreach, navigating community-based resources, subsidized housing placements and processes, persons experiencing or at risk for homelessness, mental illness, and substance use disorders.
• Understanding of and commitment to Housing First, Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care.
• Flexible and proactive, with strong analytical skills.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of military culture.
• Experience in the housing rental market.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Must be able to travel in the greater Boston area and work in the community.
• Must have a valid MA driver’s license.
• Ability to work comfortably with a multicultural, homeless population experiencing complex challenges.
• Demonstrate positive communication with Veterans and other team members and collaborators.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Strong computer, database and electronic recording keeping skills.
• Ability to maintain professional and personal boundaries.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with teams, including other NECHV programs and departments.
• Ability to respond calmly and effectively in a crisis situation.