HUD Housing Specialist

Job Title: Housing Specialist (HUD)

Reports to: Community Programs Manager

Hours: Full Time (M-F, 8-5), (occasional Saturday or Sunday availability required)

Pay Rate: $21.02-24.95/hour DOE

Compensation: 100% paid medical and dental insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance, holidays and paid leave

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Location: Gateway Office, Portland OR

Want to help make a difference? Our Just Future (OJF) counters the forces that keep people and communities in poverty by building relationships and assets that create opportunity - today and for future generations. We partner with people and communities impacted by poverty so they can achieve long-term housing and economic security. We invest in affordable housing and community assets that contribute to strong, inclusive neighborhoods. We advocate with our community for policies and investments that expand housing and economic opportunity, eliminate wealth inequality and end poverty. East Portland/East Multnomah County, Oregon is our home and the heart of our investments, advocacy and programs. Our Just Future envisions vibrant, healthy neighborhoods where all people can share in the security, hopes and advantages of a thriving, supportive community. Our Just Future operates as a nimble, financially strong organization driven by our passion, strategic goals and guiding principles. Diversity, inclusion and equity are fundamental values for Our Just Future’s, both internally and externally. OJF has an Anti-Oppression Diversity Committee, which serves as a sounding board for new internal policies and procedures to make sure that we’re taking into account diversity and inclusion. It also helps with diversity-related projects, such as coordinating staff diversity trainings and providing ongoing input into our equity work. Our Just Future is working to end homelessness and poverty in our community because every one of us deserves a safe place to call home. What Our Just Future Can Offer You: We offer a comprehensive array of benefits in support of your physical, emotional and financial well-being. A few highlights:

• Employer paid premiums for employee health insurance.
• Generous paid time off, 13 paid holidays, a floating birthday holiday and the ability to maintain a great work/life balance.
• Employer paid premiums for short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• Access to an employee assistance program.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and for dependent care.
• Professional development opportunities, including employee driven committees and monthly optional staff workshops.
• Access to wellness initiatives and resources including things such as walking groups, weekly yoga classes and workshops on stress management, self-care and healthy living.
• Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement plan with a 2% employer match after three months of employment.
• A six-week paid sabbatical after every seven years of consecutive employment with OJF.
  
  

Summary

Provide strengths-based advocacy with families and individuals experiencing homelessness or in need of other supportive services that may be intensive and could include persons with disabilities, mental health diagnosis, and/or substance use addictions (past or present). Deliver culturally responsive services within the framework of Assertive Engagement and Trauma Informed Care. Provide housing search support and supportive services to secure safe and stable housing. Work with families to identify their natural supports and explore housing options. Build working and collaborative relationships with landlords and other agencies in the community to help facilitate viable and appropriate housing options and resources for participants. Provide telephone and in person screening and perform intakes for program eligibility and maintain ongoing contact and case management with families while in housing search to obtain their goals.

This position works specifically with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracted programs that support families and individuals experiencing homeless and providing Rapid Re-Housing or Permanent Supportive Housing subsidies with case management. The Housing Specialist will work with families from intake through placement into housing, identifying goals and connecting households to community resources. The position works closely with an internal HUD team that includes the Program Manager, Program Coordinator, Family Advocates, and Quality Assurance and Analysis team.

Essential

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform housing intakes with homeless families and set housing goals with them based on their strengths and barriers.

Conduct in-depth strength-based assessment with families to identify housing and work history, physical/emotional health, legal issues, debt, social support, strengths, struggles, and available resources.

• Ensure HUD guidelines are followed, and program documents are in compliance for intake, Annual Recertification, and Interim Changes for the households to continue their enrollment in programs.
  
  

Assist families with housing search including helping them to overcome barriers to housing, assisting with application process, letters of explanation and requests for reasonable accommodation where applicable.

Perform housing inspections.

Work collaboratively with a broad diversity of homeless families including people of all races, nationalities, languages, ages, abilities, and families of all configurations.

Monitor families’ progress and needs. Provide ongoing supportive services for families pursuant to their respective assessments and plans, as appropriate.

Use creativity and resourcefulness to ensure that families are aware of all community resources available for them and advocate with other service providers for the needs of families as appropriate, which may include, but are not limited to, housing stability, counseling services, and legal services.

Work with property managers to resolve any issues arising from the tenancy of families on your caseload.

Keep current on regional housing laws, renters rights, including Fair Housing.

Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date documentation of service activities using Our Just Future procedures, forms and data reporting systems. Submit paperwork in a timely manner.

Maintain accurate, complete, up-to-date documentation of service activities using Our Just Future routinely updated procedures, forms and data reporting systems. Submit paperwork in a timely manner.

Keep current on regional housing laws, renters’ rights, including Fair Housing.

Provide temporary back-up for HUD Family Advocates as needed during times of team staff shortages.

Secondary

Assist with establishing and maintaining relationships with community partners make recommendations for additional partners as needed, including landlords and motel owners.

• Participate in regular supervision check-ins, monthly department staff meetings and all staff trainings.
• Participate in community meetings/outreach events as appropriate, including but not limited to information and referral and interagency partnerships.
• Other duties as assigned. It is impossible to predict the many requests and assignments that can and will be made in this position. Flexibility and a cooperative spirit are important for the successful operation of Our Just Future
  
  

Qualifications

The successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and abilities required.

Knowledge Of

Development and implementation of client centered service planning.

Trauma Informed Care, Assertive Engagement, and other best practices models of consumer engagement.

Local and regional housing markets, basic landlord tenant laws and tenant rights.

Social and economic issues creating poverty, working successfully with practices and techniques related to people with low income to achieve greater self- sufficiency.

Community resources and agencies providing social services needed by the homeless population.

• The effects of trauma and how trauma can impact families experiencing homelessness and poverty.
  
  

Ability To

Coordinate delivery of housing support services with Community Programs Managers, and staff.

Empower and support homeless and low-income persons in life choices and change.

Partner with participants to identify their strengths, needs, options and effective solutions.

Non-judgmentally elicit information and help problem solve around sensitive issues including, but not limited to, alcohol and drug use, domestic violence, child abuse and mental health, and criminal background.

Plan and collaborate delivery of services.

Knowledge of, and/or willingness to learn and apply an Assertive Engagement model of providing services and incorporating Trauma-Informed principles to services rendered.

Work cooperatively with all volunteers and staff.

Develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships within Our Just Future, public and private agencies, landlords and participants.

Be culturally sensitive and competent when working with diverse populations.

Prepare and maintain clear, accurate, complete and timely records and reports.

Maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries with all households served.

Understand and follow complex written and oral instructions, rules and procedures.

Work independently and be a vital and contributing part of a team.

Complete paperwork, documentation and data requirements in a timely manner.

Maintain accurate and organized files with required documents.

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• Any combination of education and work experience in social services and case management totaling one year or a bachelor’s degree in social service/social sciences field with at least six (6) months case management experience
• Experience with crisis intervention, community networking and resource development.
• Experience delivering services in a culturally responsive approach using Assertive Engagement techniques (i.e. Strength Based Case Management, Motivational Interviewing, and Assertive Community Treatment).
• Bi-Lingual/Bi-Cultural preferred but not required.
• English fluency required, written and spoken.
• General computer and word processing skills and willingness to advance computer skills.
• Experience and intermediate skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
  
  

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 is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Hybrid work between both virtual and office time is expected following the most current OJF policy and in coordination with the supervisor and work demands. In person meetings with participants in the office, community and/or in their home is expected.

TRANSPORTATION If the main source of transportation for the applicant is motor vehicle, the successful applicant needs a reliable automobile, current Driver’s License and current automobile insurance carrying 100/300 limits of liability.