H2O Pre-Tenancy/Tenancy Sustaining Resource Specialist

The Primavera Foundation•Tucson, AZ

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is responsible for following the H2O Housing Pre-Tenancy and Tenancy Sustaining services workflow and checklist, adhering to program and organizational policies, and locating and engaging referred participants. The specialist will maintain a caseload of no more than 15 participants, meeting with them in various settings including shelters, the community, and their homes. A key aspect of the role involves being knowledgeable about community resources and making appropriate referrals, while also collaborating effectively with other community support providers, outreach teams, healthcare providers, housing authorities, landlords, social workers, and the leasing team. The specialist will support participants through voucher briefings, match meetings, housing searches, application completion, and ensuring safe living environments. They will also assist with annual housing recertification, inspections, and other housing processes, including conducting home visits to ensure safety and appropriateness of living settings. Developing and supporting housing care plans, assisting with obtaining necessary documents for housing, and accessing legal services to remove barriers are also core responsibilities. The role requires assisting participants with financial aspects of leasing and move-in, utilizing harm reduction and crisis intervention skills, and providing early identification and intervention for behaviors that may jeopardize housing. Coaching participants on landlord relationships, continuously assessing needs to determine service duration, and assisting with re-housing options and minimizing legal impacts from termination are crucial. The specialist will also provide information and referrals, schedule follow-up assistance, help participants access mainstream benefits and transportation, attend supportive services events, and engage in ongoing training to maintain fidelity to the model. Coordination and facilitation of relevant meetings, daily documentation in Unite Us and HMIS databases, and immediate reporting of emergencies are required. Compliance with safety and health regulations, attending agency and collaborating agency meetings, and demonstrating adherence to Primavera’s guiding principles are also essential. Other duties as assigned by leadership.

Requirements

Extensive knowledge of services for homeless individuals and families.
Familiarity with the Tucson community, including mainstream social services, employment, and housing options.
Altruistic drive to help others succeed, balanced with focused drive for achievement of goals.
Ability to work effectively, compassionately, collaboratively, and efficiently with program participants, the public, staff, and volunteers.
Ability to communicate proficiently and accurately verbally and in writing.
Strong presentation skills and comfort presenting information to groups in person.
Ability to perform successfully with minimal supervision.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Problem-solving skills to address unexpected situations efficiently.
Capacity to maintain a calm and professional demeanor, especially in challenging situations.
Must have held a valid driver's license for the last 5 Years.
Must possess valid proof of insurance and be an insurable driver through Primavera.
Bachelor’s degree in social service or related field, or at least four years of relevant experience and education may be considered in lieu of degree.
Minimum of two-year case management experience working with the unhoused population, low-income families, and or individuals experiencing chronic health, mental health, and substance use disorders.
Demonstrated proficiency with basic computer systems and software, including Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, and Excel, and web-based data systems.
Demonstrated history of excellence in verbal, written, group presentation, and time management skills.
First Aid/CPR certification or ability to obtain.
Must possess a current fingerprint clearance card at the time of interview.
Must be able to satisfactorily complete the background check process.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (English/Spanish).
Four years of professional experience working for a non-profit organization or a program working with the unhoused population, low-income families, and or individuals experiencing chronic health, mental health, and substance use disorders.
At least two years of experience working with persons with Serious Mental Illness (SMI).

Responsibilities

Follow the H2O Housing Pre-Tenancy and Tenancy Sustaining services workflow and checklist.
Adhere to the policies and procedures for the H2O Housing Pre-Tenancy/Tenancy Sustaining Services program and the organization.
Locate and engage referred participants.
Maintain a caseload of no more than 15 participants at a given time.
Meet with participants in shelters, in the community, and in their homes.
Be knowledgeable of community resources and refer participants as needed.
Work collaboratively with other community support providers, outreach teams, Health Care Providers, Housing Authorities (Housing Specialists), landlords, social workers, and leasing team.
Attend and provide support to participants during voucher briefings and attend match meetings.
Assist with the search for housing, complete housing applications, request reasonable accommodations if needed, ensure that the living environment is safe and ready for move-in, and assist with the annual housing recertification, inspections, or other housing processes.
Conduct home visits with the approval of the participant to ensure living settings are safe and appropriate.
Assist participants with developing a housing care plan and support for the follow-through and achievement of the goals defined in the plan.
Assist participants with obtaining required documents to secure housing (e.g., Social Security Card, birth certificate, income verification, prior rental history).
Assist participants with accessing legal services to remove barriers to housing (i.e., expungement of criminal records).
Assist participants with finding solutions to pay fees and expenses related to leasing or move-in.
Utilize harm reduction interventions and methodologies to provide client-centered services to keep them in housing.
Utilize skills regarding crisis prevention and intervention.
Provide early identification and intervention for behaviors that may jeopardize housing.
Coach participants on developing and maintaining key relationships with landlords/property managers.
Provide continuous assessment of participant needs to determine the service duration of the program.
Assist participants on re-housing options and minimizing legal impacts or barriers resulting from termination (i.e., mutual rescission) in the event of a possible eviction or housing termination.
Provide information and referrals, and schedule appropriate follow-up assistance with participants as appropriate.
Assist participants in the program with accessing mainstream benefits.
Assist participants with transportation needs as appropriate to reduce barriers to housing stability.
Attend supportive services events as scheduled.
Attend trainings that increase knowledge and maintain high fidelity to the model.
Coordinate, facilitate, and/or attend meetings relevant to the program.
Daily documentation in Unite Us and HMIS databases.
Document and report any emergencies or events to leadership immediately, not to exceed 24 hrs.
Ensure compliance with safety and health regulations, and all other relevant policies and procedures.
Attend meetings with collaborating agencies as scheduled.
Attend agency meetings as required, such as All Staff meetings.
Demonstrate adherence to Primavera’s guiding principles of integrity, respect, accountability, compassion, and leadership.
Other duties as assigned by leadership.