Housing Specialist (FT, 32 hrs/wk)

OUR JUST FUTURE • Portland, OR

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Housing Specialist partners with individuals experiencing homelessness to help them find, secure, and maintain safe, stable housing. Using trauma-informed, strengths-based, and participant-centered approaches, the specialist helps participants navigate barriers, build on their strengths, and work toward long-term housing stability and self-sufficiency.

The role provides one-on-one support throughout participants’ housing journeys and collaborates with landlords, Home Forward, community partners, and internal teams to expand housing opportunities and coordinate supportive services. The position is full-time, 32 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend availability required. It offers a hybrid work benefit; work locations include home, the main Gateway office in East Portland, and shelter sites in East Multnomah County. Pay is $23.19–$27.53 per hour, depending on experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a social service or social sciences field and at least six months of case management and/or housing assistance experience, or a combination of education and work experience in social services and/or poverty or homelessness issues totaling one year.
• At least one year of experience developing and/or implementing individualized service plans.
• Experience providing housing navigation, case management, or direct services to people experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• Experience helping participants overcome barriers, connect to resources, and achieve housing or self-sufficiency goals.
• Knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care, Assertive Engagement, motivational interviewing, or other participant-centered service approaches.
• Knowledge of landlord-tenant law, Fair Housing principles, housing resources, and community services, or the ability to learn them quickly.
• Strong relationship-building, advocacy, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, solve problems creatively, work independently, and contribute to a collaborative team.
• General computer, word processing, and spreadsheet skills.
• Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, current automobile insurance, and reliable transportation.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with HMIS or other case management databases.
• Bilingual fluency.

Responsibilities

• Assess participants’ housing needs, strengths, and barriers, and develop individualized housing plans.
• Assist participants with housing searches, applications, housing inspections, Housing Voucher requirements, reasonable accommodation requests, and move-in coordination.
• Provide case management, resource navigation, crisis intervention, budgeting support, and housing stabilization services.
• Build relationships with landlords, property managers, Home Forward, behavioral health providers, and community partners to expand housing opportunities and resolve tenancy concerns.
• Connect participants with housing, behavioral health, legal, financial, and other community resources.
• Stay current on local housing markets, landlord-tenant laws, Fair Housing requirements, and community resources.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation and data in accordance with agency procedures, funding requirements, and program standards.
• Coordinate services with Community Programs Managers, Shelter Managers, and other team members; support wraparound care, participate in participant triage, and contribute to program success.
• Represent Our Just Future professionally and foster respectful, culturally responsive relationships with participants, coworkers, landlords, and community partners.

Benefits

• Employer-paid employee health insurance premiums for the base HMO medical, dental, and vision plan, with deductible reimbursement, beginning the first of the month 30 days after the start date.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care.
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance and basic life insurance.
• Opportunity to contribute to a 401(k) retirement plan with a 2% employer match after three months of employment.
• Generous paid time off.
• 13 paid holidays and a floating birthday holiday.
• Six-week paid sabbatical after every seven years of consecutive employment.
• Access to an employee assistance program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level