Temporary Unit Technician - Steven's Place

DESC•Seattle, WA

21d•Onsite

About The Position

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Steven’s Place is a new DESC housing site that includes 109 units of affordable housing in Seattle's Interbay neighborhood, including 5 dedicated respite rooms. This vital project provides stable, supportive housing and 24/7 on-site services for single adults living with disabilities and experiencing chronic homelessness. The community also features welcoming indoor and outdoor common spaces. JOB DEFINITION: The Unit Technician works as a member of the multidisciplinary team to provide direct support to residents to assist them in maintaining safe, healthy, and stable living conditions within their units. This position blends supportive services with light maintenance and unit remediation tasks, working collaboratively with other members of the housing team in promoting long-term housing stability. This is a temporary position that is expected to last 6 - 12 months.

Requirements

1 year of relevant maintenance or trades experience.
Ability to meet Washington Department of Health requirements for registration as a Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) or any other superseding credential.
Basic understanding of homelessness and various characteristics of homeless adult population.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.
Subscription to philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.
Demonstrated ability to address basic maintenance and repair needs in a residential setting
Ability to organize workload and complete duties with minimum direct supervision.

Nice To Haves

BA degree in social or behavioral science.
Residential property management experience.
Experience with the challenges of mental illness and substance use.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency related business, which requires a current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record.

Responsibilities

Participate in shift briefs and read logs before the start of each shift daily
Interact professionally and respectfully with residents by maintaining confidentiality and uphold tenant rights at all times
Engage and have frequent contact with tenants on the Unit Elevated Concern List (UECL)
Document unit conditions before and after occupancy using housing service notes and/or UECL in Chasers
Follow all HUD, local housing authority, and fair housing guidelines
Conduct regular inspections of units identified to ensure compliance with safety codes and housing quality standards and report/correct any safety hazards or code violations.
In collaboration with residents and their treatment team, complete the Housing Retention & Stability Plan in the UECL and help clients achieve their short and long-term goals.
Complete documentation on all client interactions according to agency standards and prepare and submit documentation of services.
In partnership with other staff members, help facilitate or lead activities that contribute to long-term housing success and improve independent living skills.
Assist with compliance inspections from housing authorities or funders.
Respond to urgent issues such as water leaks, power outages, or lockouts
Assist with grounds & common area upkeep. Ensuring cleanliness and safety of hallways, laundry rooms, lobbies, and outdoor areas
Perform routine low-level maintenance and repairs in residential units and common areas. Repair basic building or apartment systems as assigned, including basic electrical systems (switches, outlets, breakers, fixtures, and minor wiring), general carpentry needs (floor repair, wallboard and plaster work, painting), and basic plumbing.
Develop, design, and implement mitigation strategies to limit frequency or severity of unit damage in assigned units, including but not limited to, installing features designed to limited future damage
Respond promptly to maintenance requests and work orders
Communicate repair or extensive cleaning needs to supervisor before starting work, seeking assistance to complete maintenance work not within personal skill level.
Assist with unit turnovers, new resident leasing and orientation; rent collection and facilities inspections
Assist with other property management functions as assigned