Housing Stabilization Specialist

Mission: LGBT Life Center is a trusted leader that empowers the LGBTQ communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities, and providing transformative education and advocacy.

Overview:

Reporting to the HOPWA Program Manager, the Housing Stabilization Specialist works to provide housing opportunities for persons living with AIDS. This position works directly with individuals in need of housing stabilization and ensures participants receive affirming services tailored to their needs.

The Housing Stabilization Specialist contributes to the success of the LGBT Life Center by engaging in community systems to promote access to the services needed to be self-sufficient. The Housing Stabilization Specialist will assume an established caseload of clients who are currently receiving housing assistance from HOPWA TBRA. They will have or gain an understanding of all aspects of the TBRA program, staff and client responsibilities, program data and documentation requirements, timelines, and contract benchmarks. The HSS will assist and provide supportive services to help ensure the clients stabilize in new housing placements, address any issues or potential issues that could jeopardize their housing placement. They will perform the duties associated with case management services, including but not limited to engagement and rapport building, goal setting focusing on housing stability, financial stability, and overall health stability, as well as client personal goals surrounding growth and well-being.

The Housing Stabilization Specialist will support and assist the client from initial new placement referrals, securing the housing placement, housing stabilization and retention as well as approved relocation if needed to provide a positive exit outcome. They will also assist the client in applying for potential next step housing placements which would transition them form the current program into either finding new housing where the client will self-support their housing cost or another housing subsidy program.

Essential Job Functions:

• Have or gain an understanding of eligibility criteria, application and compliance processes, building rules of all partner agencies, as well as the housing participation agreement and move in assistance programs.
• Supports and assists clients as needed with current housing placement opportunity addressing housing barriers and housing stabilization.
• Develops and updates, at a minimum 2x yearly or as needed, an individual housing plan addressing any barriers to housing and housing stability, income instability, and any current health care needs, including needed connections to insurance, medical case management and/or medication adherence. As well as identifying and goal setting for client’s personal growth and well-being goals.
• Provides excellent engagement with clients by meeting with them on a regular, ongoing basis, which includes home visits.
• Promotes independence with all participants. Provide effective skills and resources to increase income, and reduce expenses; this is not limited to job placement, training, job readiness, etc.
• Providing advocacy as needed for client with property management; to ensure a successful housing placement as well as responding property complaints, enquiries, and questions.
• Complete Annual review paperwork and unit inspection: assessing current income and any potential changes in rent and recalculate as needed for current year’s subsidy and client portion of rent. Interim reviews can be necessary if the client’s income changes – increases/decrease, rent increase prior to the annual review.
• Determines that the unit continues to be safe, sanitary and without needed repairs.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor client’s adherence to program guidance.
• Maintains individual files, including all written documentation related to essential functions such as case notes, services plan, assessment in accordance with funding sources and agency guidelines.
• Maintains meaningful involvement with clients, community partners, landlords, court/criminal justice systems and treatment services.
• Provides accurate, complete, and timely data and reports to the department Managers as needed.
• Records data for program outcomes and ensures client files are complete, accurate and frequently updated.
• Participates in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data collection activities.
• Monitor progress through phone calls, site visits and effective case management appointments.
• Represents the organization at community Continuum of Care meetings as needed.
• Participate in housing team meetings to ensure coordinated efforts are in place to continue stabilization of clients.
• Maintain on-going communication within the housing team to ensure client’s needs are being met holistically.
• Conduct Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections, Basic Habitability inspections, and Lead Based inspections.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree health, human services, or related field, or at least 4 years of experience in housing, homelessness, coordinating youth services or related field. Individuals without completion of a bachelor’s degree will be considered if demonstrated housing experience with a variety of HUD, HOPWA, RRH programs.

Job Knowledge and Skills:

This position requires knowledge of and sensitivity to target populations (LGBTQ+ communities, persons living with AIDS, homeless populations, persons experiencing mental health concerns, persons experiencing substance use) along with the ability to work in both clinical and community environments. Requires a working understanding of harm reduction and Housing First principles within a trauma-informed framework.

Ability to work with multicultural and diverse populations required. Effective oral and written communication skills required.

Excellent organizational, decision-making, problem-solving, and time management skills are required to handle multiple activities related to program implementation. Computer knowledge should include Microsoft applications (Word,Excel, Access, and Outlook). Knowledge and experience working with HUD programs and HMIS experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Must have reliable transportation and acceptable driving record is required. This work requires the following physical activities: walking, sitting, hearing/seeing, talking in person or on the phone. Occasional walking, bending, standing and driving are needed.

Work is performed in an office setting. Work is also performed in social and community settings, as necessary. Minimal to moderate lifting is required at times. Extended work schedule may apply to accommodate agency’s needs.

Successful candidates will have demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively with a variety of staff within the organization and our community partners. LGBT Life Center values individuals with strong work ethic and commitment to the mission. Excellent communication skills are necessary to work with team members and the people we serve.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, gender identities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment.

LGBT Life Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. www.lgbtlifecenter.org

Black, Indigenous, People of color, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming

people, and individuals of diverse backgrounds encouraged to apply.

Salary: $45,000.00 annually.