DBHDD HSP Housing Specialist at Step-Up on 2nd Street – Decatur, Georgia

DBHDD HSP Housing Specialist

REPORTS TO: Program Manager

HOURS: Full-time

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

REQUISITION NUMBER: 1759

SUMMARY:

The Housing Specialist will conduct landlord/property owner outreach and engagement to identify housing units that accept vouchers in the community and lead the lease renewal process. The Housing Specialist will be a member of Step Up’s Housing First permanent supportive housing team in the Atlanta area. The team will provide on-going housing support services to adults experiencing chronically homelessness and co-occurring disabilities with a Georgia Housing Voucher (GHV) to move into a permanent supportive housing unit. This position fully promotes the use of Housing First and the Motivational Interviewing evidenced-based models of Recovery Oriented service delivery.

Benefits and What We Offer:

• Opportunities for growth and professional development.
• Generous paid time off (13 paid holidays, 10 days of EPTO, 12 sick days).
• Competitive salary and benefits package. Health, dental, vision, Aflac, and life insurance $25,000.00

403(b) retirement plan available on the first day of work. After working 1000 hours, Step Up matches 3% of the 6% the employee contributes

DUTIES: Primary duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Housing Support Services

• Identify housing opportunities, engage, and create relationships with landlords and property managers to accept housing vouchers in the community.
• Advocate for persons with challenging credit histories and criminal justice backgrounds.
• Assist clients and case managers in completing Housing Authority and apartment applications.
• Facilitate submission of applications and act as liaison with DBHDD and property owners until applicant is housed.
• Coordinate with team management to oversee the lease renewal process with the team.

General Responsibilities

• Communicate regularly with DBHDD Georgia Housing Voucher staff and property owners.
• Complete all required paperwork and maintain documentation according to those program standards of practice in Electronic Health Record – Welligent and or HMIS within prescribed timeframes as outlined in SUOS documentation policy.
• Meet weekly, monthly and quarterly productivity targets and billing quota as presented by Program Manager.
• Attend staff meetings, supervision and trainings as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS:

1. Knowledge of housing and real estate guidelines and regulations in Georgia.
2. Ability to advocate with property owners and present Step Up in the community.
3. Ability to work collaboratively with others and on a team.
4. Shows initiative and utilizes solution focused practice.
5. Uses good time management skills and resources to balance responsibilities and paperwork.
6. Ability to engage individuals on the streets in a meaningful manner which imbues trust enough to accept services offered.
7. Understands and promotes safety first to self and team members.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. B.A. and a minimum 2 years’ experience working in the real estate sector and knowledge of systems to identify housing units.
2. Knowledge of and experience with Housing Vouchers and housing regulations in metro Atlanta.
3. Experience working with homeless adults diagnosed with a mental illness a plus.
4. Candidate must have own transportation, current Georgia driver’s license, insurance and a good driving record.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Work with people experiencing homelessness whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services, may present inherent challenges and difficulties such as: exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, individuals who may have poor hygiene or unclean homes due to homelessness, mental health symptoms, or poverty. Additionally, in working with our members, employees may encounter instances of profanity, sexually explicit or derogatory language, or verbal or physical expressions of anger and trauma. Very rarely do these situations ever escalate to physical contact, and negative or derogatory communication patterns can often be negotiated successfully. All direct care staff are provided adequate training to develop skills to deescalate crisis situations that may arise and Step Up has established procedural safeguards for all employees to mitigate (but not eliminate) these inherent risks of employment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers; handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, balance, stoop, kneel, and/or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Keyboard data entry required.

Step Up utilizes the principles of trauma-informed care and mental health recovery. These principles inform our Core Values of Hope, Wellness, Voice and Choice, Respect, and Collaborative Relationships. As representatives of Step Up, employees agree to adhere to these values in their interactions with members, colleagues, supervisors, and associated community members.

STEP UP CORE VALUES

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

Step Up is committed to providing quality services that adhere to the highest ethical standards and principles. All Step Up employees agree to adhere to the ethical policies and codes of conduct, as outlined in the Employee Handbook and those specified for this grant.

Step Up provides equal employment opportunities without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER