Housing Resource Center Service Coordinator

Covenant House California•Oakland, CA

4h•$28 - $31

About The Position

The Housing Resource Center (HRC) Service Coordinator is an hourly, non-exempt, frontline direct-service position serving transition-age youth under age 25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness throughout Alameda County. Service Coordinators are a primary point of engagement and ongoing support for young people accessing Covenant House California’s Housing Resource Centers, Coordinated Entry services, and community-based outreach. The role works directly with young people to identify immediate needs and housing goals; provide Housing Problem Solving; complete Coordinated Entry activities and assessments; develop Housing Support Plans; connect youth with prevention, housing, healthcare, employment, education, benefits, and community-based resources; and maintain engagement until homelessness is resolved or the young person is connected to a deeper level of service. Services are provided through CHC’s Oakland and Hayward HRC locations, scheduled appointments, telephone engagement, and field-based outreach throughout Alameda County. The approach is holistic, trauma-informed, person-centered, strengths-based, culturally responsive, and youth-centered. The Service Coordinator works under HRC program management and collaborates with the HRC Data Coordinator/CES Matcher, Employment Specialist, CHC programs, Alameda County, Housing Resource Centers, outreach teams, healthcare providers, schools, and other community partners. This is a full-time role scheduled for 40 hours per week, with coverage needs that may include evenings and at least one weekend day. The position does not perform supervisory duties.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field is preferred; relevant additional experience may be considered.
Two to three years of professional experience working in homeless services, child welfare, or serving other vulnerable populations is preferred.
Prior case-management experience is preferred.
Must be a self-starter and team player, able to work with other staff and build positive rapport with young people.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional correspondence and inter-agency coordination with multiple stakeholders and providers.
Communication with and about youth must reflect a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach.
Ability to exercise appropriate independent authority and make independent decisions for client placement.
Knowledge of crisis intervention, mental illness, community-based service delivery, and adolescent development.
Knowledge of public and social services in Alameda County and the Greater Bay Area for low-income, homeless, and foster youth.
Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
Must provide proof of a valid driver’s license and satisfactory DMV driving record when assigned driving responsibilities.
Must maintain and provide proof of valid automobile insurance, in accordance with applicable law and company policy, if using a personal vehicle for work-related travel.
Must be able to use basic word-processing, email, and internet programs and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Must be able to bend, sit, and stand for prolonged periods, navigate stairs daily, and lift up to 40 pounds on occasion.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience.
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Conduct Housing Problem Solving conversations before other Coordinated Entry interventions for eligible and interested young people.
Explore housing resolutions such as natural supports, reunification, mediation or conflict resolution, relocation, shared housing, affordable housing, and other safe alternatives.
Help eligible youth access allowable flexible financial assistance connected to a housing resolution and consistent with County requirements.
Help youth identify affordable, subsidized, Below Market Rate, and other housing opportunities outside Coordinated Entry.
Complete prevention eligibility screening and assessments, assist with Housing Stabilization Plans, collect required documentation, and provide stabilization support under County procedures.
Develop and maintain Housing Support Plans and administer appropriate Crisis, Interim, Housing Needs, and other required Coordinated Entry assessments.
Communicate assessment outcomes, queue status, documentation requirements, and next steps to youth.
Maintain at least monthly contact with enrolled youth and complete required Current Living Situation Assessments to maintain active Coordinated Entry status.
Help prioritized youth obtain housing-readiness documents, including identification, Social Security cards, income documentation, disability verification, and homelessness verification as applicable.
Locate youth who receive housing matches and assist with timely completion of housing applications and connection to matched resources.
Continue Housing Problem Solving and explore housing outside Coordinated Entry while youth await Coordinated Entry resources.
Conduct scheduled and targeted outreach throughout Alameda County, including streets, encampments, shelters, schools, community programs, and other locations where transition-age youth experiencing homelessness may be identified.
Prioritize outreach to youth who have difficulty accessing an HRC, have been on housing queues for extended periods without comprehensive navigation, or have housing matches requiring connection assistance.
Maintain accurate and current contact information in HMIS, coordinate with regional outreach teams when youth cannot be located, and respond to warm handoffs from other HRCs and community partners.
Assess needs related to housing, employment, education, healthcare, behavioral health, benefits, childcare, legal services, food access, permanent connections, and other factors affecting housing stability.
Maintain current knowledge of transition-age-youth resources throughout Alameda County; provide warm handoffs when possible and follow up on referrals.
Assist youth in accessing public benefits, including General Assistance, CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and HealthPAC, as well as other programs for which they may be eligible.
Connect eligible youth to Housing Community Supports, Enhanced Care Management, primary and specialty healthcare, behavioral health, and other appropriate systems.
Provide individualized housing education and coaching on housing applications, leases, tenant rights, credit, roommate relationships, landlord or property-manager communication, and maintaining housing.
Facilitate or co-facilitate HRC workshops and trainings, support at least one housing-focused workshop or training each week, and maintain required participation documentation.
Assess young people’s employment, education, workforce-development, and income-increase interests and needs.
Provide light-touch employment support, including resume review, job search, and application assistance, and connect youth to specialized workforce, education, training, and paid employment programs.
Complete timely and accurate HMIS documentation for participant profiles, enrollments, Housing Problem Solving events, assessments, Coordinated Entry events, services, flexible funding, Current Living Situation Assessments, queue activity, housing-status changes, and exits as applicable.
Maintain required documentation and update participant housing, income, benefits, insurance, employment, and contact information when changes occur.
Maintain an active service caseload consistent with program expectations and provide assigned participants with documented housing-focused services at least monthly.
Participate in data-quality reviews and correct documentation deficiencies within required timelines.
Support collection of participant feedback and program outcome information.
Transport clients using company vehicles, which may include 8–12 passenger vans; maintain a valid California driver’s license and acceptable driving record, and provide proof of personal automobile insurance when using a personal vehicle for work-related travel.