Mobile Housing Advocate

YWCA of Spokane•Spokane, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

YWCA Spokane is looking to hire a Mobile Housing Advocate. The Mobile Housing Advocate provides direct services to survivors in need through mobile housing advocacy. This includes systems advocacy, safety planning, crisis intervention, resource referrals, and assisting survivors in setting and achieving housing stability goals. The position also involves processing prevention or rehousing applications, developing housing stability plans, and ensuring compliance with housing eligibility requirements. In this role, you'll work directly with survivors in the community, helping them navigate housing barriers, connect with resources, and build long-term housing stability. You'll also collaborate with community partners while balancing direct participant support, documentation, and grant requirements to ensure survivors receive high-quality, trauma-informed services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social services or related field required.
One (1) year of experience in housing advocacy, care coordination or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
Must be able to transport self to meet clients out in the community within a reasonable timeframe; must meet the requirements of YWCA Spokane’s Driver Policy for transportation between the agency and client meeting locations.
Must be 21 years of age or older
Must have valid driver’s license
Must have active personal auto insurance
Satisfactory motor vehicle report (no more than 1 moving violation in the past 12 months) OR probationary motor vehicle report (no more than 2 moving violations in the past 24 months)
Must maintain 20 hours of ongoing training on domestic violence issues annually.
Cultural Humility - Demonstrate a commitment to self-reflection, ongoing learning and respectful engagement with diverse cultural perspectives, emphasizing an awareness of the impact of power dynamics and a willingness to learn from and address them.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion - Strive to create fair and just conditions for all, while recognizing systemic inequities. Foster a sense of belonging that promotes diversity, works to address barriers, and ensures that everyone, across all backgrounds and identities, has access to the same opportunities and resources.
Trauma-Informed Practice - Create environments and approaches that acknowledge the prevalence and impact of trauma, prioritize safety, and foster healing and resilience. Understand, recognize, and respond to the effects of trauma while actively working to avoid re-traumatization.
Fostering an Empowering Environment - Encourage an atmosphere where individuals feel valued, supported, capable, and resourceful.
Professional Conduct -Consistently act in a manner that is honest, fair, and respectful while taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions. Maintain integrity and build trust while adhering to the agency's code of ethics and professional guidelines.
Adaptability and Resilience - Demonstrate openness and flexibility to work with changing circumstances and unexpected challenges. Adapt to the current situation by contributing solution-oriented ideas while advocating for the support needed to reset and achieve set goals.
Effective Communication - Communicate clearly, accurately, and in ways that are understood by the intended audience. Actively listen and respond in a constructive, open-minded, and empathetic manner that ensures mutual understanding and respect.
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking - Help identify potential solutions to challenges proactively. Contribute ideas, perspectives, and strategies that contribute toward informed decisions that align with the agency’s mission and values while helping to achieve set goals.
Human-Centered Approach - Prioritize providing compassionate, respectful service that aims to create solutions that are not only functional and effective but also meaningful and engaging for clients, staff, and our community.
Effective Interpersonal Skills - Be supportive, kind, empathetic, and patient with colleagues, administrators, clients, and community partners. Contribute toward a climate of mutual respect and appreciation.
Independent Work Efficiency - Works independently in an efficient and productive manner, utilizing available resources and support as needed.
Reliability and Continuous Improvement - Demonstrate reliability and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Demonstrate Understanding and Acceptance of Mission, Values, Goals, and Objectives - Clearly understand and actively support the mission, values, goals, and objectives of YWCA Spokane and its programs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in domestic violence and housing advocacy is highly desirable.
Experience providing crisis intervention, safety planning, and resource referrals is highly preferred.
Experience working with diverse populations, particularly those from marginalized or underserved communities.
Prior experience in a trauma-informed care environment is a plus.

Responsibilities

Providing mobile housing advocacy to survivors with housing needs, including systems advocacy, domestic violence education, safety planning, crisis intervention, resource referrals, and goal setting.
Assisting participants in setting and achieving individualized housing stability goals utilizing progressive engagement by assessing and prioritizing ongoing advocacy needs, adjusting support as circumstances change, and developing transition and exit plans that promote long-term housing stability and independence beyond program participation.
Empowering participants to achieve long-term housing stability through individualized skill-building and education, including budgeting, understanding lease agreements, maintaining positive landlord relationships, navigating community resources, and developing strategies to sustain permanent housing.
Requesting, receiving, and processing prevention/rehousing applications efficiently, ensuring eligibility and clear communication of timelines.
Delivering advocacy through mobile services, such as home visits and community-based meetings.
Developing and updating housing stability plans, including monthly income verifications for survivors in service for 90 days and every 90 days thereafter.
Empowering survivors by following a diversion-first approach, utilizing all safe resource options before financial interventions, and using progressive engagement for financial support.
Participating in the housing walk-ins rotation with the Mobile Housing team.
Conducting housing inspections for participant units as required by grant specifications.
Facilitating the “Road to Renting” class on a monthly rotation with team members.
Collaborating with local landlords, housing programs, and community partners to share information about YWCA housing resources and available services.
Attending housing-related community meetings to maintain a strong understanding of options available for domestic violence survivors.
Maintaining and organize client files, ensuring all records comply with YWCA policies and standards.
Managing competing priorities by balancing direct participant services with administrative responsibilities, ensuring documentation, housing stability plans, assessments, and program requirements are completed accurately and within required timelines while maintaining high-quality participant support.
Participating in bi-weekly mobile housing team meetings.
Conducting monthly data reviews to ensure accuracy and compliance with grantor requirements in the YWCA internal database.