Housing Support Specialist

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Position Title:

housing support specialist

Department:

family development

Open Date:

april 1, 2024

Reports to:

housing support supervisor

Close Date:

until filled

Work Location:

5050 sw griffith drive, beaverton

Hiring Range:*

$22.41 - $24.65 hourly

FLSA Status:

non-exempt

Position Status:

regular full time (rft)

Benefit Status:

eligible for benefits

Work Hours Per Week:

40

Number of Positions:

1

Months Active:

all

Positions Supervised:

0

• Note:

For applicants with extensive qualifications and/or years of experience, hiring range may be exceeded with approval. If approval is granted, it will be based upon careful review of the applicant's qualifications, experience, internal equity and budgetary considerations. The final rate approved will typically never be at a rate equal to or above the established midpoint of the pay range for the position.

Community Action Organization reserves the right to modify, interpret or apply this job description as needed. The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties (including essential duties), and skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not a contract implied or otherwise and the employment relationship remains at-will. The aforementioned requirements may be subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified persons with disabilities. All positions are contingent upon funding and successful passing of all required background checks, required registry checks, and physical screenings if required.

All staff in positions which regularly require driving either company or personal vehicles while performing work on behalf of Community Action are required to provide Human Resources proof of a valid driver's license for a motor vehicle record check both at hire and annually thereafter. Human Resources will conduct a motor-vehicle record. These records will be held as confidential records in Human Resources. All accidents will be reported to Human Resources within 48 hours.

Benefits: All regular full-time (RFT) status positions of 20 hours per week or more year round or part year of .50 FTE or higher are eligible for our outstanding benefits package including:

• Individual Medical with premium covered at 90%

• Free Dental insurance for the employee

• Health care waiving employees are eligible for a health care waiver benefit of $100 per month

• Employer matched retirement dollar for dollar for the first 3%

• Generous paid sick and vacation time

• 13 paid 0bserved holidays

• Free life and long term disability insurance

• Medex travel assistance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Rich and diverse mission-based working environment

• Possible student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

• Staff meeting program criteria for use of a second language in their position may apply for and if approved qualify for a bilingual pay benefit of $100 per month

Position Summary:

In support of the Community Action's mission, this position is responsible for promoting housing and family stability, and economic independence for low-income families and individuals by providing home visiting comprehensive case management services to clients. This position works closely with diverse household types, including single adult households, families with children, multi-generational households, representing a multitude of racial, ethnic, gender and cultural identities, who are rehoused after experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Using person-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed approaches, the Housing Support Specialist is responsible for building supportive professional relationships with individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, to promote independence, community belonging, social capital, and well-being.

Duties include assessment of service needs, empowering families to advocate for themselves, goal setting, linkage to services, monitoring of progress, education, co-advocacy, and evaluation. The HSS is skilled in maintaining professional boundaries and providing direct services through a trauma-informed lens. As a co-advocate with households seeking housing stability, this position will also develop and maintain relationships with community partners to provide access to opportunities in employment and training, to increase income. This position requires working independently and in a collaborative environment to establish trusting relationships with individuals, and cooperative relationships with housing providers and other service providers and partners.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Manage a case load of individuals/families assigned by Housing Support Supervisor.

• Assess, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of individualized services to facilitate housing stability.

• Develop trust-based relationships with individuals and families experiencing past homelessness or housing instability.

• Demonstrate expertise in assisting individuals to develop individualized plans and providing on-going support as they work to achieve goals.

• Conduct home visits to accommodate various limitations of clients.

• Work effectively with people from diverse social, economic, cultural, and racial backgrounds, as well as people with mental and physical disabilities.

• Ability to work without supervision and as a member of a team.

• Demonstrated knowledge to assist individuals to obtain employment and increase income.

• Assist individuals with attainment of basic skills, job search, occupational training, and employment through partnerships with PCC, WorkSource and other providers.

• Ability to facilitate career exploration workshops.

• Maintain current information on community resources and applicable Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant laws, basic understanding of leases and tenant rights.

• Communicate and problem-solve with landlords and tenants.

• Assist households with acquisition of furniture and basic essentials.

• Timely and accurate Housing Management Information System (HMIS) data entry in compliance with established workflows.

• Measure, track, and report outcomes related to program goals, and overall family self-sufficiency.

• Ensure that accurate client records are maintained in a manner that guarantees confidentiality.

• Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.

• Strictly adhere to all safety policies and procedures at all times and respond/correct any at-risk safety issues immediately.

• Strictly adhere to agency code of ethics and standards of workplace behavior.

• Perform other duties as assigned to meet business needs including regular and reliable attendance and adherence to all company workplace behavior standards.

Marginal Functions and Responsibilities:

• Other marginal functions and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Education/Training/Experience:

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent with a minimum of one year of case management experience, including maintaining accurate and complete case files and coordination of services with other agencies. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• Ability to work independently and produce quality work under tight timelines.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to set and maintain positive and professional boundaries with clients.

• Ability to establish trusting relationships with clients and staff, demonstrating acceptance of individual

• Capacity for reflective practice (demonstrates a capacity for introspection and an awareness of self in relation to others).

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a diverse client and peer population, including experience working with marginalized, vulnerable and/or low-income populations.

• Intermediate computer literacy and familiarity with applications such as databases and spreadsheets, word processing, email, and internet.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or a directly related field.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish or other language which reflects the current population(s) within Washington County.

• Knowledge of Washington County social services and resources.

• Prior Community Action program experience.

Required Licensing or Other Special Certifications:

• Requires reliable transportation, valid driver's license, and valid insurance coverage for a private vehicle.

Required Physical Demands of Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Work is performed in normal office environment and/or client's homes.

• Moderate computer and phone use.

• Occasional early morning, evening or weekend work as needed.

• Local driving in various traffic and weather conditions to provider's facilities or homes using personal vehicle.

• In normal workday, may stand/walk 5 hrs/day; may sit 3.5 hrs/day; may drive 2.5 hrs/day; may use hands for repetitive grasping, pushing, and pulling, typing and fine manipulation 1/2 hrs/day; may use hands at or above shoulder level for 1 hrs/day.

• In normal workday, may bend, squat, and/or climb frequently.

• Work is light in nature, lifting maximum of 20 with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 lbs.

How to Apply for this Position:

To be considered we must receive a completed Community Action Employment Application form. You are welcome to also include a cover letter and resume at your option. Transcripts may be required for certain positions. Applications can be completed on our website: www.caowash.org or you can print off the application to complete or pick up the application form at either of our following locations:

Hillsboro

• 1001 SW Baseline St, Hillsboro OR 97123

Beaverton

• 5050 SW Griffith Dr, Suite 101, Beaverton OR 97005

Be sure to submit your application in a timely manner. If you choose not to complete an online application, you can send your completed application form, optional resume and cover letter and any other required documents via fax at 503.400.3691. If you prefer to mail your application be sure to mail attention Human Resources at the Hillsboro office address above.

All application submissions will be acknowledged with a receipt notification. If you are selected for an interview, we will contact you.

All current Community Action employees are encouraged to apply for openings at Community Action which they are interested in. For current employees, some qualifications may be met by an equivalent combination or education and experience at the discretion of the employer.

COMMUNITY ACTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Community Action is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or other protected status in accordance with applicable federal and state equal employment opportunity laws. Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and selection process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.

Note: Community Action Organization reserves the right to modify, interpret or apply this job description as needed. The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties (including essential duties), and skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not a contract implied or otherwise and the employment relationship remains at-will. The aforementioned requirements may be subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified persons with disabilities. All positions are contingent upon funding and successful passing of all required background checks, required registry checks and physical screenings if required.

All staff in positions which regularly require driving either company or personal vehicles while performing work on behalf of Community Action are required to provide Human Resources proof of a valid driver's license for a motor vehicle record check both at hire and annually thereafter. Human Resources will conduct a motor-vehicle record. These records will be held as confidential records in Human Resources. All accidents will be reported to Human Resources within 48 hours.