Housing Placement Specialist

Sea Mar Community Health Centers•Vancouver, WA

20h•$24•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for the coordination of housing placement for clients with chronic conditions and behavioral health needs. As a member of the Housing/Homeless Outreach Teams, the Housing Placement Specialist will participate in daily huddles, identify the client’s needs according to protocols, and provide point of care services. This position will provide support to the Homeless Outreach and Housing teams. The position will take their direct referrals for housing placement and collect all documents needed to complete client’s applications to all qualified housing placements, lists, subsidies, etc. This position will actively monitor those lists, applications, etc. for progress towards acceptance and update the client and the Sea Mar outreach and housing staff when the status has changed so that the client can be placed in housing as quickly as possible. The Housing Placement Specialist is responsible for enhancing quality and client-centered care at Sea Mar Community Health Centers.

Requirements

Must be able to work independently, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines.
Must have critical thinking skills and maintain confidentiality.
Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously.
Knowledge of medical terminology and/or behavioral health topics.
Strong decision making and prioritization skills.
Ability to work respectfully and professionally with the community, patients, families and staff.
Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment with a diverse population .
Sympathetic, mature, responsible, and reliable.
Strong client engagement, interpersonal, and communication skills and ability to establish a therapeutic relationship with the client.
Knowledge of the Trauma Informed Approach and motivational interviewing skills a plus.
Coordination experience focused on people who have serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
Knowledge of and proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Knowledge of community resources.
Ability to work in a fast paced community health care setting .
Ability to think analytically and problem solve in a multidisciplinary team and independently.
Ability to deal effectively with difficult people and situations.
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse communities.
Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks.
Ability to analyze client care data.
Ability to identify client learning needs and to assess client's knowledge, skill level and readiness for learning.
Ability to maintain the privacy and security of sensitive and confidential information in all formats including verbal, written and electronic; and adhere to policies and procedures related to local, state, and federal privacy requirements.
Excellent communication and customer service skills.
Critical thinking skills.
Ability to understand and implement process improvement activities.
Must be able to work independently, have good problem solving skills and be open to change processes.
Possess or obtain an Agency Affiliated Credential
This position must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire date and is required to maintain current BLS CPR throughout employment.
Valid WA State Driver’s License and proof of liability insurance.

Nice To Haves

BA/BS/BSW in health related field with one year of experience working with the homeless population preferred.
Three (3) years of experience in resource facilitation and working with the homeless population may substitute for education.

Responsibilities

Housing Placement Specialists will be the primary staff responsible for identifying eligibility requirements that apply to any referral from an outreach programs.
Once the eligibility housing, subsidy, voucher, etc. eligibility match is identified, the Placement Specialist remains the primary staff facilitating the completion of that application process.
Gathering all required documentation, including birth cert, social security card and photo identification.
It also includes proof of income, proof of homelessness and other related demographics information.
Assist the client with the housing application process, facilitate land lord tenant communication and in the case that the client is not eligible for any supported housing case management, the Placement Specialist would provide that service as well.
Housing Placement Specialists will additionally be responsible for monitoring any completed application for a subsidy, voucher, low income unit to assure that the application is proceeding and that as soon as the client is approved, the next steps in the process are completed timely so that the client is placed in housing.
Develop a housing stability plan for any referral.
This plan would include address issue that would impede access to housing such as criminal history, legal issues, past debt and past evictions and credit history.
Develop relationships with housing providers including public housing agencies, veterans’ housing assistance programs, and private owners/managers.
This position will also facilitate landlord-tenant communication as needed.
Work with the care team to identify gaps in care and work to resolve them using process improvement strategies.
Provides interventions and/or referrals to other providers to assist consumer in meeting treatment and level of care needs.
Interventions may include individual, family, and group modalities, and may include counseling, case management, vocational rehabilitation, system coordination, consumer advocacy, and crisis management.
The position will provide education, links and referrals to mainstream benefits, community resources and support services including treatment and skills training.
Will be responsible for monitoring, compiling and submitting data, reporting, and paperwork for the program.
Advocate for client services with housing, community, social service, and medical providers.
Participate and coordinate care plans for client’s who have been living without shelter.
Connect clients to Sea Mar and non-Sea Mar resources as appropriate and track all resources available to clients.
These services may include but are not limited to insurance enrollment, preventive health services, behavioral health, medical, and care management.
Assist clients with ongoing self-management goal setting based on mutual goal setting and with emphasis on client decision-making utilizing motivational interviewing skills.
Follow up with patient to evaluate their condition and address barriers to care plan.
Participate in group visits and planned visit events providing care coordination support.
Disseminate information regarding care for chronic illnesses and/or mental health and behavioral issues to the homeless outreach teams.
In consultation with the Manager of homeless services, organize, design and develop program structure.
Exhibit excellent customer service skills by using active listening skills, greeting patients in a welcoming manner, making them their only priority when providing services and assist in meeting the client’s needs.
Other duties as assigned by the Behavioral Health Supervisor or Community Support Services Program Manager.