Housing Specialist - Diversion

Council for the Homeless•Vancouver, WA

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Housing Specialist - Diversion position is responsible for direct engagement with families experiencing homelessness that have at least one adult in their household that identifies as a Person of Color or as a member of the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Trans/Queer/+ (LGBTQ+) community with the goal of reducing barriers to housing and increasing housing stability. This role is responsible for providing intensive participant centered, strengths-based service to each family seeking support, maintaining strong boundaries, while ensuring all appropriate records and documentation are completed as required by funding requirements.

Requirements

Excellent verbal and written communication skills are important to the success of the Housing Specialist position.
Strong interpersonal skills are required to work with staff and participants from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Knowledge of best practices around coordinated entry/assessments and understanding of Clark County resources for low income and homeless individuals and families is essential for this position.
Position requires moderate computer and analytical skills to perform job functions.
Constant independent judgment and/or action, organizational skills, customer service, decision making, and use of discretion are required.
Frequent teamwork, problem analysis and training and supervising are required.
Occasional creativity and mentoring are required.
Incumbent must read, speak, write and understand English to work effectively with staff, community partners, and clients.
Basic data entry and math skills are necessary to input data and generate reports necessary to fulfill job functions.
Frequent physical activities are standing, walking, talking, sitting, and hearing/listening.
Occasional physical activities are grasping, repetitive motions of hands/wrists and handling.
Stooping, bending, and reaching are rarely required.
At least two years’ experience providing resources to people experiencing homelessness and/or people that have lower incomes.
Commitment to ensuring there is equitable access to the local homeless crisis response system for all.
Strong customer service, time management and interpersonal skills
Strong cultural awareness and humility.
Ability to accept feedback as an opportunity to improve and excel.
Ability to remain empathetic, kind, and nonjudgmental regardless of the situation.

Nice To Haves

Language (Russian, Ukrainian Spanish, Chuukese, ASL) skills are helpful.
Lived experience as someone who has or had low-income and/or has formerly experienced homelessness
Exceptional verbal and written communication.
Speaks a language(s) other than English and reflects our diverse community.
Experience with working on or supervising a street outreach team.
Experience using HMIS or other databases.
Knowledge of Clark County resources and agencies that serve people experiencing homelessness.
Candidates from Communities of Color, Veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community are highly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Supports the agency’s mission, values, equity statement, strategic goals and policies through words and actions.
Utilize best practice Diversion approaches to determine the needs of households and provide support to reduce barriers to housing.
Maintain a participant centered, positive, healthy, and proactive approach to meet the participant’s needs.
Create, complete, and maintain accurate HMIS electronic files based on funding source requirements.
Follow program policies and procedures and all confidentiality requirements.
Work with partnering health agencies to create, maintain and strengthen partnerships and access points.
Educate and advocate on the micro-level to address policy and systemic-level barriers to increase support for participants.
Work collaboratively with manager and colleagues to meet the funder outcome and reporting requirements.
Help individuals and families reduce barriers to housing and access services beyond housing to create a strong support system and increase resiliency.
Provide superior customer service and respond to household and partner inquiries in a timely fashion.
Establish and maintain positive, productive relationships with colleagues, team and partnering agencies.
Consistently maintain healthy, and appropriate boundaries with participants.
Represent the agency at various community meetings and with community partners in a manner aligned with agency values and policies.
Seek to create a trauma-informed environment for participants, colleagues, and partners.
Consistently comply with position and department human resources, safety and attendance standards.
Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.