Housing Liaison

Job Overview
The Housing Liaison position is designed to bridge existing service gaps by offering immediate, short-term support to individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. The primary objective is to connect these participants with essential services and secure permanent housing resolutions . Key functions of the Housing Liaison include:

• Direct Participant Assistance: Providing focused, short-term intervention to individuals seeking housing resolutions, including direct help when financial assistance is available.
• Resource Navigation Expertise: Acting as a "Subject Matter Expert" (SME) to guide partner service providers, answer complex questions, disseminate information, and help navigate the intricate landscape of available housing resources.

Essential Job Functions

• Meet people where they are, build relationships with participants and establish creative community partnerships to increase access to services for participants.
• Establish supportive relationships and enhance the possibility that participants will access the necessary services and support that will help them move into and maintain permanent housing.
• Provide Housing First, Harm Reduction, Low Barrier and Trauma-Informed Care approaches and programming principles to enhance the quality of services and improve community outcomes.
• Focusing on Housing First principles, by implementing motivational interviewing techniques and assertive engagement to provide clear and direct support in ensuring participants are on a path to self-sufficiency.
• Develop and maintain collaborative, professional working relationships with provider staff to support case planning that creates housing solutions for program participants.
• Build a thorough working knowledge of the resources and housing services offered through Washington County, to include the Homeless Services System, Housing Authority Programs, and other affordable housing opportunities to connect participants to all available housing opportunities and community resources.
• Assess participant’s housing situation to build a housing plan, conduct program referrals, and track housing opportunities available to program participants in accordance with participant eligibility and Program Manual.
• Support immediate housing crisis triage planning to assist participants with urgent shelter access, or connections to higher levels of care.
• Provide “warm hand-offs” to any case manager, housing liaison provider, street outreach worker, or other relevant resources when participants are referred to other programs.
• Provide eviction prevention counseling, work with property management to help participants resolve issues that threaten their housing stability, including tenant rights and responsibilities.
• Provide a participant centered approach and excellent customer service that is sensitive to the challenges of homelessness.
• Assist households at every stage of the housing stabilization process, including flexible services to meet the individual needs of the participant.
• Conduct face-to-face screening and obtain consents.
• Ensure all documentation is prepared and entered in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Meet with Supervisor a minimum of twice per month. Inform Supervisor immediately of any serious issues. Send in Incident Reports in an accurate and timely manner (within 24 hours).
• Keep updated of all changes in documentation requirements and agency policies and procedures.
• Participate in training activities to increase professional skills
• Carry out assignments from supervisor as assigned.

Education

• Must meet qualifications for a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA). Bachelor’s degree in human/social services field (social work, public or community health, psychology) or related field or 3 years of experience working in human services.

Skills

• Experience with the Recovery model, Assertive Community Treatment, Strengths Based Intensive Case Management, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care and Integrated Dual-Diagnosis Treatment a plus.
• Knowledge and/or experience with community based rehabilitative case management services within a mental health managed care system
• Experience with electronic medical/case management records.
• Maintain current Oregon or Washington Driver’s License and vehicle insurance as required by state law.
• Ability to pass a criminal history check.

Physical requirements:

• Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation
• Use hands to manipulate, handle, feel, and control items or equipment.
• Walk, bend, kneel, and reach.
• Ability to lift 20 lb.
• Stand and/or sit for long periods of time.
• Talk, listen, and communicate effectively with clients.
• Be able to read, write, and interpret written documents.

Sequoia Mental Health Services is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Applicants have rights under federal and state law: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/employers/pages/required-worksite-postings.aspx

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $48,750.00 - $52,650.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $48,750 - $52,650