Housing Placement Specialist

Hyacinth Foundation A New Jersey•Paterson, NJ

15d

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Regional Services Manager, performs duties relating to the counseling of customers regarding housing services and providing information and referral services as needed. Housing Specialist with work with customers in need of short-term housing and/or utility service needs to maintain stable and affordable housing, including identifying long-term permanent housing plans. Housing Specialist will connect customers with services, provide peer solving support and linkage to care that helps PLWH and people receiving PrEP treatment achieve the goal of living independently.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree
1-3 years Social services/community services
Active listening skills
Lease Agreements
Ability to provide budgeting and ADL education to clients

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree and one-year previous office experience.
A candidate who has no degree but seems exceptionally suitable will be considered if he/she/they can demonstrate additional years of relevant office systems experience.
Fluency in verbal and written Spanish
Candidate must have excellent oral presentation and writing skills.
Expressed commitment to Hyacinth philosophy
Experience working in communities in Passaic and Union Counties as well as the city of Trenton. Knowledge of housing resources.
Housing Market
Must be knowledgeable about working with PLWH and/or at-risk communities.
Must be culturally competent and sensitive to the varying socio-cultural factors that contribute to the HIV infections in New Jersey.
Must be able to work non-traditional hours and days including late nights and weekends in order to reach high risk populations.

Responsibilities

Provide Housing Navigation statewide, with a focus on Paterson in Passaic County, Plainfield in Union County, and Trenton in Mercer County
Provide housing case management and counseling
Identify permanent housing for customers.
Determine eligibility for applications for short-term and/or long term safe and affordable housing assistance.
Assist customers with placement in transitional housing.
Identify and develop relationships with landlords to identify long term rental options for customers
Negotiate with landlords and provide complete assistance with lease and other documents.
Complete required paperwork for emergency financial assistance (rental and utility)
Provide Daily Living Skills training and counseling to customers of the program.
Provide Housing Retention Counseling to customers of the program.
Refer customers to ensure connection to medical care.
Collaborate with primary care providers and MCM staff to identify newly diagnosed patients in need of housing support.
Documentation of baseline viral load, CD4 count, AIDS diagnosis and antiretroviral prescriptions for 100% of clients.
Conduct counseling sessions with clients pertaining to housing needs, options, and social service referrals.
Provide housing case management to clients, aligning clients with appropriate service providers throughout the service area.
Develop and implement outreach activities including networking with other community- based organizations, support groups, religious organizations, etc. Participate in outreach activities for high-risk groups.
Establish, maintain and update case records using approved agency forms and procedures. Ensure confidentiality of all records.
Prepare monthly reports in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
Refer and advocate for placement in permanent and transitional housing programs
Maintain and update customer information in eCOMPAS and CAREWare
Attend and participate in staff meetings and supervisory conferences
Maintain working relationships with other community providers
Observe established administrative procedures.
Provide written reports and maintain statistics as required
Represent the agency at community events, meeting and conferences
Attend and participate in staff training opportunities.
Adhere to Hyacinth policies and procedures including client confidentiality provisions
Participate local COC
Maintain working relationships with other community providers
Observe established administrative procedures
Assist in preparation of written and electronic reports, maintaining records and statistics of program data as required.
Assist with group activities, outreach events and other program informal and formal social events.