Permanent Supportive Housing Project Coordinator - Birch Grove at Downtown Emergency Service Center – Seattle, Washington

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift: Office Day

Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

About DESC:

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:

Birch Grove will be DESC’s 20th permanent supportive housing site that will include 120 units of affordable housing in Seattle's Lake City neighborhood. This vital project will provide stable, supportive housing and 24/7 on-site services for single adults living with disabilities and experiencing chronic homelessness. The community will also feature welcoming indoor and outdoor common spaces.

JOB DEFINITION:

The Permanent Supportive Housing Project Coordinator reports to the Project Manager, and works closely and collaboratively with Clinical, Facilities, and other PSH staff, as well as with outside vendors, to provide operational support to the building and its tenants, with special emphasis on challenges related to severe and persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. The Housing Coordinator collaborates with the Project Manager in day-to-day management of the program including activities related to personnel, scheduling, resident leasing, coordination of move-ins, maintaining and ordering supplies, general program organization, and various other aspects of PSH operations.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist Project Manager with program operation tasks as assigned.
• Assist Project Manager and Supervisors with personnel-related activities as assigned.
• Assist Project Manager with leasing activities including eligibility certifications, re-certifications, and lease renewals.
• Assist Project Manager with enforcement of lease provisions and application of consequences for lease violations.
• Work cooperatively and congenially with PSH CSS/HSS, RC, and Janitorial staff; DESC Clinical providers, Facilities, and Maintenance staff; outside service providers; and neighbors to ensure building-wide safety and security, and to support tenant success.
• In close collaboration with Clinical Support Specialists and Facilities supervisors, provide operational support for unit remediation and maintenance efforts, including preparations for annual funder inspections.
• In close collaboration with Clinical Support Specialists, create and manage a schedule of unit inspections, ensure proper notices are posted, and generate and manage related work orders.
• Coordinate with outside vendors to establish and maintain a schedule of pest inspections, post notices and manage vendor access, and provide operational support for follow-up preparations and treatment.
• Initiate appropriate response to maintenance requests.
• Complete routine unskilled maintenance, such as replacing lightbulbs and switch plates.
• Be proficient in the monitoring and use of building fire safety, surveillance, and electronic entry systems.

OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage building operations in the absence of other project and clinical staff.
• Operate all functions in lobby office, including checking visitors in and out, answering telephones and monitoring security systems.
• Maintain safety and security by monitoring all general access areas and enforcing project rules.
• Intervene in crises, respond to emergencies, and initiate action as required, including contact with emergency response systems.
• Write significant events involving residents and building operations activities in a daily log; read log daily.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree (social service or behavioral science preferred).
• Extensive relevant work experience may be substituted for degree, plus two years of experience with coordination responsibilities.
• Demonstrated project management/coordination skills.
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills.
• Familiarity with navigating DESC software programs (Paylocity, Bugzilla) and comfort leaning new programs as necessary.
• Basic understanding of homelessness.
• Experience in human services, preferably working with adults challenged by economic disadvantages, homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
• 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.
• Willingness to be flexible and work cooperatively with coworkers to accomplish all responsibilities of the team.
• Be able to pass a Washington State Criminal background check.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• One year’s experience as a DESC Residential Counselor or other residential property operations/management setting.
• Current Washington State Driver’s License, insurable driving record, ability to drive agency van and transport tenants.
• Experience working with people living with mental illness and substance use disorders.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.