Housing Support Specialist (Student Services Professional III), Basic Needs & Student Support

CSU Careers•San Bernardino, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Housing Support Specialist provides urgent, nonclinical case management and housing navigation to CSUSB students experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The role is the primary point of contact for emergency housing requests and coordinates referrals, program placements, and access to campus and community resources for students at the San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses. Services are intended to promote housing stability, well-being, and academic success. The position works with the Basic Needs Director, Student Housing staff, Jovenes partners, campus departments, and community agencies. Duties include assessing student needs, developing individualized action plans, coordinating care, supporting Rapid Rehousing and Emergency Housing Grant processes, maintaining confidential records, tracking program activity and expenditures, and preparing reports. The role also provides outreach, workshops, resource information, and basic needs program guidance. The position is temporary for up to one year, with the possibility of further renewal. It is full-time and exempt; occasional evening or weekend work and travel to the Palm Desert Campus may be required.

Requirements

Equivalent to three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience; one year in the assigned program area may be preferred but is not required.
A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may substitute for one year of experience. A doctorate and appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may substitute for three years of experience for positions primarily responsible for professional career or personal counseling.
Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper-division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where job-related.
Thorough knowledge of principles of individual and group behavior.
General knowledge of student services principles, practices, and trends; policies, procedures, and practices of the assigned program area; and individual counseling techniques.
General knowledge, or the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge, of the assigned campus’s organizational procedures and activities.
Working knowledge of student services programs outside the immediately assigned program.
Ability to analyze complex situations and adopt effective courses of action; advise students individually and in groups on complex student-related matters; and select appropriate actions and techniques in sensitive or argumentative interactions.
Ability to interpret and evaluate problems, analyze and define them, draw valid conclusions, and project consequences of alternative courses of action.
Ability to carry out professionally complex assignments without detailed instructions and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a variety of individuals.
Valid driver’s license; the position is subject to enrollment in the DMV Government Employer Pull Notice Program.
Satisfactory completion of a background check, including a criminal records check.
Must reside in California upon hire and be lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
Must comply with mandated reporter requirements and Campus Security Authority reporting and training requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience in basic needs programs, such as housing or food insecurity, emergency aid, or case management in higher education or community-based settings.
Knowledge of community housing resources, including affordable housing programs, shelters, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing.
Experience with housing navigation, including housing searches, applications, landlord communication, and lease processes.
Familiarity with local, state, and federal housing assistance programs, such as Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers, Continuum of Care systems, and coordinated entry.
Background in trauma-informed care and work with diverse populations experiencing housing instability or homelessness.
Experience collaborating with community partners, nonprofits, and social service agencies to coordinate support services.
Ability to provide holistic, student- or client-centered support addressing intersecting needs such as mental health, employment, and financial stability.
Strong organizational and case management skills, including experience tracking outcomes and maintaining accurate records.
Experience in higher education or supporting students experiencing housing insecurity.

Responsibilities

Respond to urgent and crisis situations, receive referrals, conduct outreach, and meet with students to identify challenges affecting housing stability.
Assess students’ housing, financial, and other basic needs; recommend resources; develop action plans, goals, and benchmarks; and follow up to support coordinated care and stability.
Develop solutions to address students’ resource limitations and advocate for students, including providing supporting documentation when needed.
Maintain records of student visits, requested and provided services, referrals, and program efforts in accordance with FERPA and HIPAA standards.
Provide timely updates on housing-related applications, referrals, and requests, including dispositions, next steps, and required actions.
Coordinate multidisciplinary case management with campus departments and community agencies; monitor student progress, reassess needs, update plans, and support continuity of care.
Facilitate workshops and small-group sessions on Basic Needs services, housing navigation, and life skills.
Collect, analyze, and present data; prepare summary reports as requested by senior administration.
Assist with transporting basic needs items or essential supplies to campus locations or student placement sites.
Conduct initial assessments for CSU Chancellor’s Office Rapid Rehousing referrals and facilitate referrals and applications to the Jovenes case manager for full intake and assessment.
Analyze complex student circumstances, recommend interventions, streamline collection of eligibility and personal documentation, and obtain releases of information as needed.
Interpret university, state, and community program requirements to determine student eligibility.
Collaborate with the Jovenes case manager to develop student plans and participate in regular case conferences.
Coordinate with campus and Jovenes partners, provide direct student support and follow-up, and prepare progress and outcome updates.
Under the Basic Needs Director’s administrative oversight, work with Student Housing staff to place students in Rapid Rehousing, facilitate use of or establish residential contracts, oversee inventory and supplies, and help students access additional basic needs resources.
Track and report Rapid Rehousing program activity and submit semesterly and summer expenditure reports to the Director to support appropriate use of funds and timely housing reimbursements.
Serve as the primary contact for Emergency Housing Grant requests; conduct initial intake assessments, collect supporting documentation, communicate policies and procedures, recommend solutions to process difficulties, and coordinate processing with Financial Aid and Residential CSUSB Housing.
Support the Director with assessment data, presentations, and committee or work-group participation.
Maintain knowledge of basic needs programs, services, resources, guidelines, and eligibility requirements; update the internal resource database.
Communicate policies, referral guidelines, laws, and regulations related to Rapid Rehousing and other Basic Needs accommodations to faculty, staff, and students.
Assist with materials for marketing, outreach, staff and faculty training, and information purposes.
Serve on the CARE team and other committee and intervention teams; participate in relevant professional training.
Perform other classification-related duties as assigned.