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SafePlace Job Description

Job Title: Housing Specialist (RELOCATION)

Reports to: Housing Program Manager

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Salary Range: Schedule C

Normal Work Schedule: 35 hours per week

Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid holidays and paid time off leave are provided as per SafePlace personnel policies. Employee Assistance Program provided. Retirement benefits will be available when SIMPLE Plan qualifications have been met.

SUMMARY

Provide case management and supportive services with the goal of assisting households fleeing domestic violence to gain safe, sustainable, independent housing solutions. Walk alongside clients and provide advocacy and support as they rebuild life skills and create new lives free from violence. Provide culturally competent, trauma-informed care.

Work Activity

% of Work Time

Case Management and supportive services - 25%

Relocation-Specific Supportive Services - 50%

Administrative work - 20%

System Advocacy & Networking - 5%

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this position include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Provide housing case management and supportive services.
2. Contact referrals and complete screening and case conferences with each applicant to determine if relocation services are appropriate. Complete intakes with new individuals/families in the SafePlace Housing Program as assigned. During intake: review program expectations and services, ensure proper completion of all essential documents, and complete an individual Housing Stability Plan to outline the client's individual service plan for a successful exit from the program.
3. Provide case management services for “one-time assistance,” short-term assistance,” or “relocation” clients.
4. Conduct ongoing services to include but not limited to:
   1. Plan housing stability goals with clients that ensure their success at exiting or graduating from the program.
   2. Support the client in managing housing supportive services tasks and setting realistic expectations.
   3. Assisting client transport in a company vehicle to specific housing-related appointments.
5. Collaborate with other SafePlace programs that the client is enrolled in and complete regular case conferencing and communication with other direct service providers to ensure that wrap-around supportive services are being offered/provided to all households.
6. Connect clients with resources and referrals to community human services outside SafePlace as needed. This may include:
   1. Coordinated entry referral.
   2. HUD-based voucher waitlist applications
   3. DSHS services such as childcare and food voucher applications
   4. Home furnishings donation applications
   5. Referrals to dispute resolution centers for landlord and tenant disputes that may arise.
   6. Referrals to financial supportive services and credit repair programs
7. Connect clients with resources and referrals to community human services outside of Thurston County for relocation clients in the area where they wish to relocate.
   1. DV & SA agencies and resources
   2. Coordinated Entry Services
   3. Housing services for specialized populations
   4. Faith-based communities and resources
   5. Nationality or language-specific resources
8. Exit clients from the program.
   1. Ensure clients are well prepared for their scheduled exit
   2. Ensure all documents and administrative tasks are completed upon the client's exit
   3. Complete any referrals for the client’s continued need.
9. Work alongside the client for goals around life skills.
   1. Guide and support clients in creating, maintaining, or improving life skills that will result in the client’s independent, sustainable housing.
   2. General life skills will relate to economic goals, education goals, budget planning, and general community knowledge and resources.
   3. Specific life skills for clients escaping domestic violence often may include social well-being and mental health, such as healthy relationships, conflict resolution, support groups, and DV and SA-specific community resources.
   4. Perform the administrative functions of the Housing Assistance Program.
10. Update and maintain comprehensive and complete case notes in a timely manner.
11. Assist in ensuring all grant-required supportive documents are accurately completed prior to spending any funding.
12. Ensure all SafePlace Housing Program required documents are accurately completed in full in a timely manner.
13. Assist in maintaining an organized and updated client file that passes agency and funders standards.
14. Enter direct service data into the Washington State Infonet system.
15. Ensure all check requests, credit card expenses, and receipts are submitted in a timely manner and fully comply with program guidelines.
16. Assist the Program Manager in updating all tracking sheets, client files, scanning, and ensuring data accuracy and timeliness.
17. Assist the Program Manager with program-specific administration tasks such as creating files, HMIS data entry, and creating client-specific profiles as needed.
18. Provide systems advocacy and network with community partners.
19. Maintain networking relationships with community-based systems, including landlords, employers, and other social services providers.
20. Have excellent knowledge of community housing resources and agencies. Stay updated on local community housing limitations and services by attending trainings and community meetings as assigned.
21. Maintain regular communication with the Housing Program Manager.
22. Participate in regularly scheduled supervisory and other required meetings.
23. Maintain close communication with the Housing Program Manager about client issues and concerns, case updates, and complete case conferencing with the Manager on a regular basis.
24. Attend team, direct service, and all-agency meetings as required.
25. Participate in on-call rotation for the sexual assault program as required and take helpline shift as needed.
26. Perform duties as described in a culturally relevant and respectful manner.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school or general education diploma (GED).
• One year of full-time equivalent experience, or the equivalent, providing direct services and/or case management in domestic violence and/or sexual assault programs or other crisis intervention experience.
• One year of full-time equivalent experience working with low-income and marginalized communities, providing services in a culturally relevant manner.
• Ability to uphold the highest standards of confidentiality in all official matters of agency business.
• Intermediate-level technology skills, including the full Office Suite, internet, email, and basic cell phone functions.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in an organized and effective manner.
• Sound decision-making ability when assessing complex problems.
• Ability to work independently, handle stress effectively, and maintain strong relationships in challenging times.
• Ability to accurately complete work with high levels of detail and consistency.
• Have excellent time management and multitasking skills.
• Have a telephone; have a car and current automobile liability insurance or have access to transportation.
• Agreement with the SafePlace mission, values, and philosophy statement.
• Subscribe to the theory of empowerment.

Specific knowledge, experience, and abilities acquired must include experience and/or a willingness to learn the following:

1. Ability to case-manage individuals and families with complex needs and issues.
2. Experience with voluntary case management, motivational interviewing, and HMIS.
3. Knowledge of government housing programs, services, and Housing First philosophy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least one year’s experience in housing placement services, permanent housing, other low-income housing program services.
• Completion of the initial SafePlace ACT training.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Current CPR/First Aid training certification.
• Ability to flex schedule to accommodate Friday move-ins or other necessary client services on occasion.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the following interpersonal skills:

• Bring a high level of enthusiasm and employee engagement to the organization.
• Ability to respond to crises, set limits, and maintain healthy boundaries.
• Ability to manage personnel issues and conflicts with confidentiality, fairness, and respect with a diverse staff.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in a fast-paced crisis intervention work environment.
• Open to being part of a collaborative team environment with a diverse staff.
• Engages with supervisor, teammates, staff, volunteers, and clients in a positive manner.
• Embraces the following SafePlace values in all interactions with staff, volunteers, and clients:
• Quality – Employee provides quality programs and services for our clients, helping to maintain the best facilities we can provide, be part of the finest staff we can hire and promote a positive atmosphere for change.
• Respect – Employee recognizes that the foundation for our relationships with others is respect for individual rights and choices.
• Self-Care – The Employee recognizes the need for self-care as a priority for themselves, clients, and other staff.
• Diversity : Employee values, acknowledges, and integrates diversity into their role at SafePlace. Employee is dedicated to serving the diverse cultures in our community and working to mirror that diversity in our staff and volunteers.
• Integrity : Employee endeavors to build relationships with clients, community members and each other based on integrity and honesty.
• Confidentiality : Employee will hold client and personnel information in the strictest of confidence creating a culture of openness and trust.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

1. SafePlace initial ACT training certification, which can be completed upon hire.
2. Valid driver’s license and current automobile liability insurance preferred.
3. CPR/First aid training certification preferred.

TRAINING REQUIRED

Employee is required to complete the initial 40-hour SafePlace ACT Training, upon being hired. Employee must attend 20 hours of on-going direct service training a year, which must include 15 hours advocacy, 12 hours of sexual assault training and 3 hours of CPR/First Aid training.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.