Housing Advocate, HOPWA

South Middlesex Opportu • Framingham, MA

1d

About The Position

Provide housing services to low income families and individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, by assisting them to find affordable housing, maintain existing tenancies or to relocate to safe and permanent housing.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or experience in related field.
• Experience working with people with HIV/AIDS.
• Well organized person with excellent verbal and written skills.
• Ability to initiate task independently as well as carry out assigned duties.
• Strong computer skills including housing search, Word and Excel.
• Working knowledge of health insurance, including MA Health, SSDI and legal services.
• Must be sensitive to the needs of low-income population.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and ability to meet insurance standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform client intake and assessment and develop housing search strategies with clients.
• Provide a coordinated housing search of private market housing and/or subsidized housing programs for clients who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
• Gather all required income and demographic documentation for all program clients.
• Input data and maintain up to date and accurate files on all clients to ensure accurate record keeping and outcome reporting.
• Advocate on behalf of clients and attend court hearings when necessary.
• Establish and utilize linkages to SMOC and other community-based programs to assist in the stabilization of clients.
• Participate as a member of interdisciplinary team of care providers at the Opportunity Center and community to facilitate the exchange of information for case management purposes.
• Participate in ongoing treatment planning and case conference with other staff and community providers.
• Provide transportation as needed to ensure clients can get to various appointments.
• Assist clients in securing individual supports and benefits (i.e. SSDI, health insurance, SNAP, etc.) and housing.
• Maintain accurate case records and provide progress reports to Program Director as needed. Perform data entry including updating data/case notes and referrals in Octopia.
• Provide front desk coverage at the Opportunity Center.
• Engage all clients by understanding and addressing their needs whether within or outside the scope of work.
• Attend and participate in team meetings as requested and communicate effectively with clients and staff in other areas.
• Maintain confidentiality of client, employee and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and funder requirements
• Ensure compliance with program/department, agency and/or funder requirements, as well as, SMOC policies & procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: All full-time employees can accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment.
• Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D and Long-Term Disability for full-time employees.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program, Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage, and EyeMed Vision Insurance available to full-time employees.
• 403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one for all full-time and part-time employees.
• Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees