DMHAS Housing Program Coordinator

State of Connecticut•Bridgeport, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently accepting applications for the position of Housing Program Coordinator. This role is part of the Rental Assistant Program at the Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS) in Bridgeport, CT. The position focuses on providing impactful, quality-driven housing coordination for individuals with behavioral health needs, aiming to expand housing access and strengthen community supports.

Requirements

Six (6) years of experience providing housing program coordination for persons with behavioral health needs or programmatic and/or financial monitoring of supportive and/or subsidized housing programs or technical assistance to local agencies concerned with housing related issues of persons with behavioral health needs.
Considerable knowledge of federal, state and community resources available in the area of housing.
Knowledge of problems and programs of housing including permanent supportive housing and other housing related activities; social and economic factors, issues and programs related to housing; techniques of social, economic and governmental research related to housing.
Considerable interpersonal skills.
Oral and written communications skills.
Considerable ability to plan, analyze and evaluate housing programs.
Ability to travel.
Ability to speak a foreign language.

Nice To Haves

Experience with state and federal housing funding sources.
Experience housing homeless clients and conducting housing inspections utilizing HUD guidelines.
Experience preparing budgets and managing housing subsidies.
Experience processing housing applications and serving as a liaison with landlords and property managers regarding lease completion.
Experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
Experience using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database.
Bi-lingual Spanish and English speaking, with oral and written communications skills in both languages.

Responsibilities

Work independently and as a team member to perform technical tasks to support 400 chronically homeless households with behavioral health needs through the goal of maintaining stable permanent housing.
Review and process HUD CoC rental assistance vouchers.
Complete Housing Quality Standard (HQS) Inspections for safety standards and inhabitability.
Complete annual recertifications and on-site visits to conduct re-assessments as required.
Serve as primary point of contact between clinicians, property managers, case managers and landlords regarding tenancy matters.
Ensure all program plans and housing contracts conform to federal (HUD), state and departmental statutory requirements.
Maintain HMIS database with timely enrollment, exits and annual assessments.
Utilize internal database to monitor and track rent payments to landlords and assist with grant utilization to ensure program effectiveness.
Provide guidance to staff or agencies involved in low-income, rental or supportive housing programs.
Perform program activities accurately, with flexibility and ability to work as part of a team with excellent time management skills.
Serve on CAN (Coordinated Access Network) committees and workgroups.
Make referrals for employment services and case management as deemed necessary and appropriate.
Maintain and update client files and electronic documents per HUD guidelines.
Participate in case conferences, particularly for clients who are challenging to house, need a higher level of care, or are terminated from the program due to repeated lease violations or noncompliance with program requirements.
Perform other program related activities as required.