Service Coordinator I Housing Specialist in Sacramento, California at Step-Up on 2nd Street

SCI Housing Specialist

JOB TITLE: Service Coordinator I Housing Specialist

REPORTS TO: Program Manager/Director of NorCal Programs

HOURS: 8-4:30pm

CLASSIFICATION: FULL-TIME/SALARY/ NON-EXEMPT

REQUISITION NUMBER: 1795

SUMMARY: The Step Up Sacramento Housing Specialist “Navigator” Service Coordinator – will function as a part of a multidisciplinary team to support members in establishing and maintaining their housing.HN/RSC’s will assist with locating housing units and support successful tenancy of Step Up members in Sacramento. The HN/RSC will be in the field representing benefits of Step Up’s housing program to property owners/managers and advocating for Step Up members. RSC’s will provide supportive services and case management to promote success with permanent supportive housing placement. Step Up provides permanent supportive housing to adults experiencing chronic homelessness and other disabling conditions. The HN/RSC will also provide Individual Housing and Tenancy Support services, including series that support the member become a successful tenant in their housing arrangement, sustain tenancy, and end homelessness. Candidates must embrace Step Up’s Mission, Housing First philosophy and present well to the community at large. Employment is based on the length of the contract and contract renewal.

BENEFITS AND WHAT WE OFFER:

DUTIES: The following reflects essential functions for this job but does not restrict other tasks, which may be assigned:

Landlord/Property Owner Relationships and Developing Housing Stock

• Form and foster new and existing relationships with Property Owners and landlords (PO/LL) housing agencies and permanent housing providers, including supportive housing providers.

• Locate available and affordable units for member residency. Enroll in or encourage them to remain PSH rental subsidy providers.

• Survey rental market for affordable housing, and advocate for clients with prospective landlords and maintain lists of prospective PO/LL’s for future placements and expansion of housing resources.

• Attend all Community Housing related meetings, develop relationships, and collaborate with other housing providers such as Inland Housing Solutions.

• Follow all Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations for TBRA as needed.

• Other Duties assigned.

Housing Placement and Support

• Coordinate with team viewing and rental interview with members. Assist with overcoming rental obstacles such as background checks, credit history, etc.

• Process landlord leasing packet including establishing a right to payment and ownership.

• Complete and process housing applications including review of submitted documentation for accuracy and eligibility.

• Conduct Housing Quality Standards Inspections and ensure HUD Housing Quality standards are met in accordance with HUD program expectations.

• Monitor progress of each member through their housing search and develop strategies that result in successful placement.

HUD Supportive Services/Case Management

• Referral and linkage to community resources, healthcare, mental health and recovery services.

• Linkage with Case management support with HUD enrolled members as assigned.

• Basic life skills acquisition to support maintenance of permanent supportive housing.

Data Collection and Record Keeping

• Maintain a database of owners and landlords working with the agency.

• Data entry of housing placements, services, and financial assessments.

• Process paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.

• Track housing placements for all housed individuals.

Team Engagement and Support, Promote Step Up’s Core Values and Community Relationship

• Collaborate on Member care issues with other STEP UP’S Homeless Services team participants in weekly systematic case reviews and ad hoc case reviews and consult with team before taking any actions.

• Model the highest ethical behavior in relationship with co-workers, supervisor, members, provider, and colleagues in the community and within Step Up.

• Promote a collaborative and effective working environment with then STEP UP by engaging in evidenced based communication strategies (such as Motivational Interviewing) when discussing responsibility/sharing of tasks, effectively resolving conflict as they arise and collaborating on member case discussions.

• Model commitment to continuous quality improvement by engaging in quality improvement initiative and projects such as by identifying and assessing gaps and by identifying, developing and testing new practices for improving the outcomes.

• Participate in staff meeting, trainings, committee meetings and other activities as needed or directly by supervisor.

• Work collaboratively with other members of the SUOS team as needed to support and effectively perform their assigned job duties and contribute to the achievement of the program's goals and objectives of housing and income stability.

• Any other duties as required to ensure program operations are successful.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS: Experience working in public housing or other property management setting with public funding source. Ability to work independently and as a part of a team is crucial. Must have effective communication skills both verbal and in written and be organized. Must be an outgoing and professional individual who can represent housing program to the community of landlords and property owners and advocate for Step Up members. Understanding of and sensitivity to mental health, physical health conditions and addictive disorders and multi-cultural communities. Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office and intermediate MS Excel skills are required.

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree preferred. Must have own a vehicle, have a clean driving record and current California’s driver’s license and insurance. Agency will reimburse for mileage.

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 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