Housing Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Housing Specialist provides functions supporting the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Housing Assistance Fund (HAF). This position will represent ABH and its services in a positive and professional manner and adhere to ABH's best practices, guidelines, policies and procedures as established, promoting ABH as a leader in behavioral healthcare in all interactions and work.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide support to business support services;

• Provide telephone coverage for incoming telephone calls for information and referral calls; the hours of coverage and call volume are assigned by the Project Specialist Supervisor and Program Director and are determined by business needs;

• Develop and maintain a full understanding of available benefits and eligibility criteria of the DMHAS Housing Assistance Fund, as well as other relevant ABH housing programs;

• Perform eligibility verification checks to determine that DMHAS criteria has been met;

• Collect and review required documentation for review of DMHAS HAF applications;

• Routinely travel statewide to perform site visits assessing applicant housing arrangements for safety and habitability standards as outlined by DMHAS;

• Collaborate with supervisor and other staff as needed to ensure that projects meet the funder's expectations;

• Provide support to state-level committees or departments to update them on the goals and process of the projects;

• Promote the equitable distribution of HAF services as appropriate across all regional networks;

• Meet all contract performance standards;

• Demonstrate ethical behavior and cultural sensitivity in all activities involving individuals of diverse backgrounds;

• Maintain confidentiality of all client protected health information and adheres to all HIPAA related policies and procedures;

• Perform other tasks/responsibilities as required to support the business operations.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in related field, with 5 years' experience;

• Experience with community engagement and in facilitating effective partnerships across disciplines.

• Preferred candidates will be able to demonstrate ability to work with groups of people; to make presentations; to write brief reports; and to communicate effectively.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Must have valid Driver's license and reliable transportation as this position includes regular travel statewide;

• Strong attention to detail; ability to work on multiple tasks and meet deadlines;

• Excellent PC skills with demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office Package (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook) and Internet;

• Competencies in the following areas: Administrative, Project Management, Business Management, Accounting, and culture;

• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.