Youth Housing Specialist

Volunteers Of America, Utah•Salt Lake City, UT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Volunteers of America, Utah (VOA Utah) is part of a national, nonprofit, faith-based human services organization. Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, we encourage individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person’s life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do. Position Summary The Housing Specialist is a hybrid position with two main job functions. This individual works to assess youth experiencing homelessness or maintaining housing for grant eligibility. They will assist youth by performing housing searches, coordinating with other housing departments and programs, and connecting guests to relevant resources in the community as applicable. This position will work to find new housing leads and encourage property managers/owners to participate in VOA (Volunteers of America) Youth housing programs. This position is at the Youth Resource Center.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required and 2 years of social services or homelessness-related experience or any combination of education, experience, lived experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
Ability to utilize Microsoft Office and other computer programs
Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, agency policies and procedures, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
Ability to prioritize tasks; flexibility to respond to changes.
Must be able to qualify and pass Utah Department of Human Services Case Management Certification within 60 days of being hired
Willingness to accept supervision and direction.
Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record, and be insurable on the agency liability policy.
Must be able to pass Utah-DHS – Office of Licensing background screening and maintain eligible determination through continuous monitoring.
Must pass pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
Lived experience can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

Responsibilities

Evaluate client eligibility through comprehensive assessments and recertifications
Ensure the timely and accurate maintenance of client files and eligibility records in adherence to grant stipulations
Conduct unit inspections prior to client occupancy, adhering to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to ensure housing suitability
Familiarize oneself with various rental assistance funding sources and available grants
Maintain regular communication with tenants, property managers, and community partners regarding eligibility criteria, rental payments, client well-being, and unit safety
Provide guidance and support to clients at the Youth Resource Center and those referred by external agencies, facilitating their access to diverse pathways for securing housing
Cultivate and nurture relationships with property managers and landlords to facilitate housing placements
Collaborate closely with case management teams to identify suitable funding sources and facilitate housing placements tailored to the unique needs of youth
Provide support to youth in navigating the application process for suitable housing placements, employing a trauma-informed approach
Educate property owners and managers about our programs and the housing first model, fostering understanding and collaboration
Coordinate payments meticulously to ensure timely disbursement to property owners and managers
Collaborate with program manager in ensuring program fidelity, documentation accuracy, and intra-agency collaborations
Daily collaboration with all departments promoting a healthy team environment
Attend weekly team meetings and contribute to case staffing's
Update internal tracking and databases in a timely manner
De-escalate, empower, and advocate for the diverse populations we work with
Attend work as scheduled and arrive at the designated time.
Work must be performed on-site (unless pre-approved by supervisor) due to the need to provide direct client care
Demonstrates awareness and desire to understand diverse populations
Willingness to understand that housing first, harm reduction & low barrier access to resources is best practice and essential to this role
Perform other functions as necessary or assigned

Benefits

Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Health savings account.
403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
Employee Assistance Program for all employees
33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start.
Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service
Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period
$50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available
$1,200 annual employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly)
Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off