Housing Advocate

Job Title:                    Housing Advocate

Job Location:           Providence and Woonsocket, RI

Reports To:               Director of Housing Stabilization

Compensation:        Full-time (37.5 hours per week);  $25 - $26 an hour, based on experience, benefits that include health/dental insurance, 15 paid holidays, accrued vacation/sick/personal time, an Employee Assistance Plan, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

ABOUT US: Sojourner House is a comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault agency that provides residential, educational, and community-based interventions to families and individuals impacted by abuse.  We have offices in Providence and Woonsocket, and programs that operate statewide.  Our goal is to help our clients rebuild their lives, piece by piece, through a variety of services. All of our programs work from the premise that violence is an unacceptable means to solving interpersonal conflict, and we encourage only non-violent methods of working out conflicts.

POSITION OVERVIEW:  Responsible for helping to execute the different components of Sojourner House’s housing program. Working with the Housing Team and the larger residential program, the Advocate will primarily provide direct services and programming to clients who are seeking housing or a client of Sojourner House’s rapid re-housing housing program. The Advocate may provide support as well to the transitional housing, rental assistance, and permanent supportive housing programs. The Advocate will work alongside other staff of the Residential Housing Program to provide clients with support and empowerment as they seek to rebuild their lives. This position will be based at one of our Providence, RI, offices but will regularly split their time between Providence and Woonsocket. Bilingual Spanish-speaking candidates preferred. 

 PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES:

• Provide individual case management services to clients in Sojourner House’s housing programs.  This includes weekly 1:1 client meetings, regular phone check-ins, and periodic visits to the client’s home.  Develop action plans with clients that outline goals related to education, employment, child care and maintaining housing.  Assist clients in obtaining appropriate substance abuse, mental health, and/or medical services as needed. 
• Develop and implement programming to benefit clients in the housing program, which can include units statewide.  At a minimum, the advocate will facilitate 1-2 support groups, meetings and/or programs per week that will benefit housing clients and other community members.  The advocate will regularly assess the needs of Sojourner House’s housing clients and offer programs reflective of those needs.
• Coordinate children’s services and make referrals as necessary for housing families with minor children, which may include but are not limited to:  enrollment in the local school system, art expressive therapy groups, tutoring sessions, play groups, field trips, after school, recreational and enrichment activities, child care and mental health programs. 
• Answer phone calls, conduct intakes of new clients, and provide referrals and information to potential housing clients. 
• Provide advocacy and coverage as needed at Sojourner House’s Drop-In Advocacy Center in Providence. 
• Monitor and implement housing policies and ensure that residents follow these rules and procedures by creating an environment of trust and community. 
• Complete data entry and submit necessary reports as required for grant compliance. 
• Address the maintenance needs of housing units as needed.  This may include communication with landlords and property management companies to provide repairs. 
• Stay abreast of RI community housing issues by building and maintaining relationships with housing and social service agencies in Providence, northern Rhode Island, and throughout the state. 
• Prepare and deliver community presentations in Rhode Island on issues related to domestic violence and housing when requested. 
• Support Sojourner House’s philosophy of client empowerment and respect for individual choices.
• Work as necessary with the Volunteer Coordinator to help supervise volunteers. 
• Perform other duties as requested by the Director of Housing Stabilization and/or the Sojourner House management team. 

Salary : $25 - $26