Senior Housing Specialist

Hope Solutions•Pleasant Hill, CA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Hope Solutions is a nonprofit agency serving homeless or at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County. The Senior Housing Specialist provides housing search and placement support, home-based case management, and community-resource referrals to homeless families enrolled in the CalWORKs program. The role partners closely with Employment Specialists and CalWORKs case managers from the Employment & Human Services Department to support housing stability and self-sufficiency. The position assesses families’ housing needs and barriers, develops participant-driven Housing Stability Plans, helps families access resources and time-limited subsidies, and continues to provide support and referrals after placement to help address housing-retention barriers. Services use a strength-based, trauma-informed approach and are delivered in the community and in clients’ homes at their convenience. With no supervisory responsibility, the Senior Housing Specialist may also support the Program Manager in at least one area within each of several functions: onboarding and staff training; intakes and assessments; data and reporting; and managerial support and external representation. The role is mobile, involving work across multiple locations and travel to meet clients and partners. Work from home requires advance written approval, and new program employees are expected to work on-site for their first 90 calendar days unless an exception is approved. Staff are expected to spend approximately six hours per day in face-to-face work and two hours on administration and documentation, with schedules subject to client and program needs.

Requirements

Knowledge of and belief in the Housing First philosophy and strategies.
Passion for and demonstrated experience successfully supporting vulnerable populations, especially homeless clients with mental disabilities.
A bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
At least two years of experience in the human-service field.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Computer proficiency with Microsoft and database applications.
Operational vehicle, auto insurance, valid California driver’s license, and willingness to drive for work.
Ability to pass LiveScan screening and a TB test.
Ability to climb stairs during home visits to second- or third-floor apartments without elevators.
Ability to accompany clients on walks of up to one-half mile to community resources.
Ability to perform desk-based duties for up to three hours at a time, including computer work, case documentation, calls, and communication with clients and providers.
Occasional ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds, including furnishings, files, and donations.
Ability to drive and transport clients to appointments or home visits, including at night.
Authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting housing retention for clients facing substance-use, mental-health, or income challenges.
Knowledge of HUD requirements, including tenant certifications, and/or experience working with HUD-funded properties.
Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency.

Responsibilities

Maintain regular client contact and conduct home visits based on assessed needs.
Complete psychosocial, life-skills, financial, and housing-needs assessments and develop plans to secure safe, sustainable housing.
Research housing opportunities, help clients select suitable options, address screening barriers, and prepare housing application verification documents.
Provide housing resources and educate clients about leases and tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities.
Transport clients to prospective landlords, application appointments, and potential unit inspections.
Develop and monitor individual or family housing support plans that encourage independence and provide appropriate assistance.
Support clients with budgeting, benefits, service access, medical and mental-health appointments, and housing stability.
Provide or coordinate mental-health interventions, including crisis management.
Connect clients with medical, mental-health, addiction and recovery, financial, legal, and other community services; coordinate care with department staff and community partners.
Work with community partners to assess housing barriers and the needs of eligible clients experiencing homelessness.
Maintain relationships with community service providers, Probation referral sources, and Coordinated Entry programs.
Develop outreach and marketing strategies to identify landlords and build housing inventory; present to relevant community audiences.
Coordinate shared housing resources with Hope Solutions brokered housing and property management staff.
Mediate and advocate with landlords on clients’ behalf to help obtain or maintain housing.
Maintain consistent verbal and written communication among tenants, landlords, referral sources, service agencies, debtors, and creditors.
Apply cultural responsiveness, social-justice, and housing-justice principles in service delivery and participate in onboarding that includes reading and discussing a chapter of The Color of Law.
Represent Hope Solutions professionally; follow agency policies, applicable regulations, professional ethics, and HIPAA requirements; protect client confidentiality and rights and advocate for client safety.
Complete required administrative and personnel paperwork, reports, and expense documentation accurately and on time.
Document services promptly and assist with data for reports and funding applications.
Attend required staff and team meetings, case conferences, and partner-agency meetings.
Provide support to staff and assist the Program Manager with at least one task in each applicable subsection: onboarding; client intakes and assessments; data and reporting; and managerial support and external representation.
Participate in hiring, staff training, shadowing, and support with HMIS/Apricot use as assigned.
Review or generate HMIS/Apricot reports, monitor program outcomes, track subsidy requests, and participate in quarterly data and finance meetings as assigned.
Serve as a point of contact when the manager is unavailable, communicate with the director, and represent Hope Solutions at external meetings as assigned.
Perform on-call, after-hours, and backup work when required, and perform other duties as assigned.