Housing Specialist (Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm)

Mental Health Connecticut Inc • Waterbury, CT

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About The Position

Mental Health Connecticut (MHC), a statewide nonprofit provider agency, is hiring a full-time Housing Specialist serving the Waterbury area. The position provides housing-related case management to program participants who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, including chronic homelessness and co-occurring conditions. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility as needed. The role may involve local and in-state travel and transporting individuals in a personal vehicle.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Valid driver's license, vehicle registration, and vehicle insurance.
• Willingness and ability to drive a personal vehicle locally and within the state.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in social science or a related field.
• Recovery Support Specialist qualification.
• Substance Abuse certification.
• Case management experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes, assessments, homeless verifications, and income verifications, and provide direct services and regular case management to participants, including at least one face-to-face interaction per month.
• Conduct home visits and safety assessments according to program requirements.
• Develop recovery plans based on the program, assessments, and participant acuity.
• Orient participants to the program and encourage and support their continued participation.
• Connect individuals to appropriate services and resources, such as 211 or CAN, when they are not already connected.
• Provide housing relocation and stabilization services to help people exit homelessness.
• Build relationships with program participants and property owners and advocate on participants' behalf.
• Research subsidized housing, voucher opportunities, and grant opportunities that may help individuals or families secure housing funding.
• Assist individuals and families with apartment searches and leasing opportunities; review lease conditions and subsidy policies with participants after housing is secured and support them in following those conditions and policies.
• Enter individual data into databases in accordance with program protocols and guidelines.
• Engage participants in recovery-oriented activities, including clinical, peer, and social support, and organize and facilitate psychoeducational groups as needed.
• Identify and refer individuals to appropriate community supports and resources while advocating for their individual-centered preferences.
• Conduct outreach that provides psychological first aid, stress management support, resource linkage, and information about additional resources.
• Support participants in securing reliable means of contact, including free cell phone programs, and conduct outreach to vulnerable or non-contactable populations when needed.
• Assist participants with connecting to or being referred to employment services.
• Drive a personal vehicle locally and within the state, and transport individuals in a personal vehicle when required.
• Use a harm-reduction approach.

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance, with premiums split 90/10 for employee-only coverage and 80/20 for employee-plus-dependent coverage.
• Voluntary vision insurance.
• Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• 403(b) retirement plan with a dollar-for-dollar company match on contributions up to 6%.
• Paid time off, including 11 agency-observed holidays, sick time, vacation time, and wellness days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED