Housing Coordinator

Boston Public Health Commission•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Housing Coordinator works within the Boston Public Health Commission’s Homeless Services Bureau, which provides emergency shelter, job training, behavioral health support, and housing services to people experiencing homelessness in Boston. The role delivers assigned services that help clients find, move into, and remain in permanent housing. Services are grounded in Housing First, racial equity, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction. Depending on the assignment, the coordinator may oversee housing-service operations and staff; engage clients in housing navigation; identify and coordinate affordable housing options and landlord partnerships; arrange documents, inspections, leases, and move-ins; and provide in-home stabilization and connections to community resources. The position also coordinates referrals and appointments, maintains accurate client records and database entries, collaborates with other departments, and participates in team meetings and trainings.

Requirements

Knowledge of Boston-area housing and social services.
One of the following education and experience combinations: a bachelor’s degree and at least one year of supervisory experience and two years of human-services experience; college-level coursework equivalent to an associate’s degree and at least two years of supervisory experience and three years of human-services experience; or a high school diploma/GED and at least three years each of supervisory and human-services experience.
Commitment to racial equity, Housing First, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction.
Previous experience working with people experiencing homelessness, diverse ethnic and racial populations, and low-income populations, with an understanding of barriers related to mental health, substance use, immigration status, and criminal records.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Ability to work in a team atmosphere.
Computer proficiency, including managing email, using online databases, completing electronic assessments, and entering and updating data in Excel.
Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day operations and delivery of assigned housing services to support timely, successful housing placements.
Recruit, train, schedule, and directly supervise assigned staff.
Monitor staff caseloads, case files, data entry, and progress toward position goals.
Engage clients in housing and build rapport with them.
Help clients identify and stay informed about housing options for which they may qualify, including subsidized, private market, shared, and permanent supportive housing.
Complete client intakes and assessments, including housing histories and review of credit reports and criminal background checks.
Create individual housing plans and identify strategies to address barriers to appropriate housing.
Help clients obtain documents required for housing opportunities and interact with potential landlords and housing providers.
Search for affordable rental housing, maintain and update an inventory of housing options, and recruit landlord partners.
Coordinate housing documents, rent reasonableness checklists, inspections, lease explanations and signings, and rent-sharing agreements when needed.
Match clients’ needs and preferences with housing options and mediate or advocate with landlords to address concerns and support housing stability.
Coordinate move-in logistics, including furniture and initial start-up funds.
Provide in-home housing stabilization services using critical time intervention (CTI).
Create and monitor individual service plans addressing barriers and skills related to housing payments, legal issues, income and employment, independent living, community engagement, health care, and mental health.
Connect clients with community-based resources, develop transition plans to reduce needed levels of care, and refer clients to community resources.
Help clients find and move to more suitable and sustainable housing when necessary.
Use a Housing First approach, apply trauma-informed and harm-reduction principles, and promote racial equity in services.
Coordinate referrals and connect clients to housing navigation, benefits and income maximization, community resources, and stabilization services.
Transport clients to critical appointments related to finding or maintaining housing.
Maintain accurate service plans, client files, records, and documents, and enter timely, accurate data into BPHC and City HMIS databases.
Coordinate with other departments to provide integrated services and participate in regular team meetings and trainings.