Housing Support Advocate

YWCA West Central Michigan•Grand Rapids, MI

10d•$20 - $24•Hybrid

About The Position

Under general supervision, provides assessments, advocacy and case management services to Supportive Housing/Permanent Housing Program residents, with the goal of empowering survivors to live free of domestic violence and achieve independence, economic self-sufficiency and safe housing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human service or related field plus 3 years experience in similar social or human service agency/shelter or 2 years of college and minimum 5 years experience working with domestic violence and/or home intervention program.
Excellent written, interpersonal, presentation and oral communication skills.
Active listening, crisis intervention, and problem resolution skills.
Experience in crisis intervention and knowledge of group and family dynamics.
Knowledge of community human services resources with an emphasis on housing.
Ability to communicate with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Ability to concentrate for extended periods of time on crisis telephone calls, client assessments, and related documentation.
Demonstrated commitment to the empowerment of women and the promotion of diversity.
Must be able to enter and retrieve data using computer systems, systems applications, and other office equipment.
Must be able to function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with consumers, staff, and support agencies.
Must be able to relate to and work with disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.
Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
Must be able to manage multiple crisis situations while maintaining an even temperament that will allow for quick decision making.
Visual acuity is required to perform duties involving operating motor vehicles, or performing tasks involving analysis of data, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, extensive reading, or making general observations of facilities and/or surroundings.
Has access to and willingness to use personal transportation for business purposes, with compensation as allowed by policy.
Medium work involving movement and exertion of up to 30 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently for purposes of lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects.
A considerable amount of time may include shopping for and delivering food and household items to clients in their transitional housing units.

Nice To Haves

Bi-lingual in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinates and conducts team assessment process with program applicants and referring agencies.
Provides advocacy and social work services on a weekly (or as-needed) basis. Work sites may include, but are not limited to, the resident’s home, the YWCA, county courthouse, DHHS and/or local police department. Services are provided based upon individual service plans developed by the resident (with assistance by the Advocate).
At times provides crisis intervention support to individuals in transitional housing.
Promotes and coordinates the supportive services available to the resident for the duration of their involvement in the program.
Assists residents with vocational planning, education, training, employment etc., as they pertain to their individual service plan goals.
Maintains a comprehensive list of community resources and makes available to program residents and agency as whole.
Specializes in housing application process to various programs including but not limited to MSHDA, Permanent Supportive Housing, Section 8 etc.
Assists in relationship building with landlords and property managers.
Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with the human service agencies with which residents may be referred to.
Interact with personnel of local law enforcement, court personnel, and social or human service agencies when advocating for clients and the program.
Acts as liaison for client and landlords when problem solving complaints or noncompliance violations of occupancy terms.
Maintains confidential electronic and paper case record documentation in accordance with the established standards of funding and/or monitoring bodies.
Conducts HQS on new dwellings, prior to client move-in, as required by grant funder.
Promotes teamwork and facilitates sharing of information, knowledge and expertise with team members and agency as a whole.
Attends and participates in monthly team meetings, individual supervision, and staff meetings.
Provides statistical or other report documentation as required by funding and/or monitoring bodies, using approved report forms in accordance with program requirements.
Plans and facilitates program special events, including but not limited to interactive events for residents and their children.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Program Director.