Housing Advocate (HUD)

Salvation Army Careers•Portland, OR

About The Position

The Housing Advocate serves the Women’s Housing Collaborative (WHC), a permanent supportive housing program for survivors of domestic violence. The position is the primary case manager for up to 30 households and establishes and maintains advocacy relationships with participants. It screens for program eligibility, fills openings within 30 days, administers rental assistance, maintains relationships with landlords, keeps client documentation, develops case plans, meets regularly with participants, and advocates with outside agencies. The role also includes information and referrals, community participation, and screening, intake, advocacy, and case management under the domestic violence coordinated access system for housing placement. The advocate works with the Advocacy team on front desk coverage, on-call backup, community representation, and co-advocacy as applicable. The role provides trauma-informed, assertive-engagement case management focused on safety, self-sufficiency, and housing stability. It includes preparing safety plans and assessments; connecting participants with resources and housing; coordinating client and rental assistance; maintaining client files and reporting data; supporting HUD Continuum of Care renewal grant processes; and facilitating retention groups and network meetings as needed. The advocate also provides weekly front desk and lunch coverage, helps prepare and serve meals as needed, attends assigned staff meetings, and performs other duties as assigned. Work is performed under general supervision, with some independent judgment and prior approval required from the Director in unusual cases. The role has minor oversight responsibilities and significant impact on program operations and costs. The Salvation Army states that its facilities and vehicles are smoke- and drug-free. The position requires maintaining confidentiality, professionalism, organization, and flexibility while working with survivors and community partners.

Requirements

Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Excel, internal digital systems, and reporting databases such as ServicePoint and Osnium.
Ability to work with limited direct oversight or limited remote training.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Ability to complete tasks promptly, prioritize competing requests, and solve problems in a stressful environment.
Patience and genuine concern for survivors of domestic violence and their children.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
Ability to work with varied socioeconomic, ethnic, and racial populations.
Commitment to nonviolence in all interactions.
Ability to learn or apply knowledge of the social services network.
Ability to operate telephone systems, networked computers and printers, fax machines, photocopiers, scanners, and motor vehicles as needed.
Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist intermittently or continuously; grasp, push, pull, and reach overhead; operate a telephone and computer; and lift up to 25 pounds.
Ability to perform the essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred degree: BA/BS in a human services field, or equivalent work and life experience related to vulnerable populations or trauma survivors.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a social service setting working with vulnerable populations and/or trauma survivors.
Project or grant oversight in housing-related services and/or voucher issuing.
Database management and oversight experience.
Training and experience in trauma-informed care, assertive engagement, domestic violence, housing, nonviolent communication, or crisis counseling.
Crisis intervention and nonviolent mediation skills.

Responsibilities

Develop case management plans with participants focused on increased safety, self-sufficiency, and housing stability.
Provide advocacy services using assertive engagement and trauma-informed care.
Identify and connect participants with resources that support safety, self-sufficiency, and housing stability.
Screen participants for program eligibility and fill program openings within 30 days.
Meet regularly with participants and advocate with outside agencies on their behalf.
Administer available client and rental assistance in coordination with the WWCS Business Manager and DHQ Finance Department; manage cash advances and maintain assistance records.
Complete check requests with required documentation for client assistance, rental, and utility funds.
Maintain client files, forms, outside documentation, and confidentiality in accordance with agency policies and VAWA standards.
Secure housing resources, including permanent subsidized housing, and assist participants with housing placement.
Complete Safety and Stabilization Assessments when needed and enter them in the reporting portal.
Create safety plans tailored to each participant’s needs.
Facilitate WHC retention groups quarterly as applicable to client needs and convene network meetings as needed.
Update Service Point data for each participant by the fifth of each month and complete related reporting and data-entry tasks on time.
Support reporting, monitoring, and assistance for HUD CoC renewal grant processes.
Maintain professional relationships with landlords, community partners, agency staff, clients, and outside contacts.
Participate in community hearings, meetings, and forums that promote participants’ housing needs.
Work with internal and external entities to increase participant safety and success.
Provide front desk coverage one day per week starting at 8 a.m. and weekly lunch-hour coverage; provide on-call backup, community representation, and co-advocacy as applicable.
Set up, break down, prepare, and serve meals as needed to maintain shelter services.
Attend assigned staff meetings and perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain an organized work area and files and complete work accurately and within the assigned workday.
Attend to shelter safety and security needs and maintain high ethical standards in case consultations.