Housing Coordinator (Mental Health Services)

Vinfen•Somerville, MA

4d•$54,202 - $54,202•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACCS Housing Coordinator promotes community integration and independence among adults with psychiatric conditions by assisting with identifying, accessing, and maintaining suitable housing. The ACCS Housing Coordinator will work to with each Person Served to ensure housing support is expedient and will do so by developing and maintaining relationships with local property managers, landlords, housing authorities. In the role you will use recovery-oriented, person-centered approach to help Person Served throughout the process of securing and/or maintaining housing. You will also provide outreach services to each Person Served whether they currently reside in shelters, on the street, in temporary housing/respite or residential Group Living environments to identify their housing needs and preferences.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Knowledge of housing subsidy programs.
Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.
All candidates for this position must be a least 21 years of age and be able to pass a CORI, driving record, reference, educational and professional licensure check as well as a multi-state background check.
All applicants must be able to become CPR, First Aid certified within 2 weeks of employment and MAP certified within 150 days of employment.
Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by ACCS to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the clinical treatment, resources and supports needed to thrive in their community of choice
Extensive knowledge of types of available housing and housing subsidy programs and how to explore and identify housing opportunities in an unfamiliar community
Knowledge of housing first principles and requirements
Knowledge of formal and informal housing assessment skills and practices
Skill in helping people integrate into the community through use of natural supports and basic community resources
Knowledge of PS engagement strategies
Ability to adhere to the standards of Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction; Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT); Housing First; Stages of Change; and Cognitive Behavioral interventions
Knowledge of the effects of prejudice (including internalized negative attitudes about oneself), discrimination, and oppression of people with psychiatric disorders, and the effects of poverty
Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered and strengths-based values and principles
Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally competent services. Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability and gender issues of PS
Knowledge of human, legal, and civil rights of PS
Skills and competence to formulate effective Treatment Plan interventions for housing, and to ability to train other Team staff to implement aspects of plans
Ability to collaborate effectively with other Team members to address the needs of PS in the Treatment Plan
Ability to form supportive, trusting relationships with PS
Knowledge and use of different communication and learning styles
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment
Knowledge of documentation standards and requirements
A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.
A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment.
Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in mental health, social services, or business is preferred.
1 to 2 years of experience working with people with serious psychiatric conditions preferred.
Experience managing affordable housing and or housing supports preferred.
One year experience in Real Estate brokerage or management preferred.
Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

Responsibilities

Use recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally competent and strengths-based approaches to help PS find, get and keep housing and facilitate movement of PS to appropriate housing settings.
Provide outreach services to Team PS, whether they currently reside in shelters, on the street, in temporary housing/respite or GLEs/SIEs to identify their housing needs and preferences.
Assess PS history in relation to requirements of specific subsidy and/or housing requirements.
Complete housing profile for each new PS with information from the PS, mental health practitioners, and with permission, family members and/or legal information or eviction history.
Update the PS housing profile after each housing placement ends.
Help PS complete all needed housing and subsidy paperwork. Ensure that referrals, applications and renewals are completed and submitted as required and in a timely manner.
Provide training and support (instruction, assistance, modeling and reinforcement) for PS in housing search and for tenancy maintenance.
Locate and secure new properties and conduct housing search activities for PS.
Develop individualized housing plan for PS, following Vinfen’s protocols for rapid access to housing and reducing restrictions to housing for assigned PS, using Housing First principles to facilitate access to affordable housing resources. Housing plan interventions for independent housing may include applying for wait list or available subsidized or affordable housing, addressing barriers to eligibility for housing subsidies or preferred housing, gathering required furniture and household equipment prior to move in, preparing PS to accept and adhere to lease requirements and tenancy obligations, skills development and resource acquisition related to tenancy maintenance (e.g., bill paying, utility management, skills for relating to neighbors, managing visitors, evaluating the need for Representative Payeeship for some PS based on housing history), etc.
Help PS understand entitlement and subsidized housing benefits when applicable so that PS make financially informed decisions about housing opportunities available to them.
Consult with GLE/SIE Program Director on role as Landlord when PS is, in effect, a tenant of Vinfen.
With GLE/SIE staff, assist PS when transitioning in and out of GLE/SIE settings to reduce the length of time needed for transition to placement.
Act to preserve tenancy of PS and prevent homelessness (e.g., intervene with landlords to resolve tenancy issues as they arise, access Contingency Funds to pay rent if needed, consult with LPHA on possible treatment interventions, collaborate with Team to intensify services, consult with GLE/SIE staff on Community Residence Tenancy Act processes, help the PS learn needed skills, etc.).
Provide PS and Team members, including GLE and SIE PS and staff, with training, information and expert advice about subsidized and other affordable housing opportunities and housing related services and resources.
Perform evidenced-based clinical and recovery oriented interventions including Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment support; Screening; Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT); Housing First; Stages of Change; Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP); Seeking Safety and Cognitive Behavioral interventions. Perform, train, supervise, mentor, and model Housing First intervention.
Provide thorough and thoughtful documentation of PS needs and services.
Educate and support PS family and friends (following HIPAA authorization requirements) regarding PS needs and preferences for housing, including living with family or friends.
Consult with Vinfen’s Affordable Housing Department staff as needed to produce additional alternative strategies to find and preserve housing.
Manage available subsidies specifically allocated to the Team, subsidy referrals, and database.
Maintain current lists of available and wait list of local, state and federal subsidized and affordable programs, properties, tenant-based housing programs and resource guides, including housing appropriate for elders and transitional age youth.
Develop and maintain relationships with local property managers, private landlords, Community Development Corporations, and local housing authorities to find available housing opportunities. Act as primary contact person with these entities to facilitate rapid housing placement.
Participate as member of Housing Coordinator Community of Practice Workgroup led by Vinfen’s Director of Affordable Housing for continuous professional role development, mentoring, and learning.
Attend staff meetings at residential settings as needed.
Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Benefits

A fully funded, employer-sponsored retirement plan that requires no employee contribution as well as an employee-funded 403(b) plan
First-rate Medical, Dental and Vision plans that are open all employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more. Plus, we offer a generous employer contribution toward the cost of medical insurance!
Employer-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance (no cost to you!)
Employer-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance along with the option to purchase additional, voluntary, Short-Term disability insurance
Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)
Voluntary Term, Whole Life, Accident and Critical Care Insurance
15 days of Vacation per year
11 Paid Holidays
10 Sick Days per year
3 Personal Days per year
Educational Assistance and Remission Programs
$500 Employee Referral Bonus with no annual cap!
Discounted YMCA memberships
Access to discounted movie tickets