Diversion Specialist

About the role

Engages directly with families seeking homeless and housing services, to provide shelter diversion services aimed to quickly house families who are experiencing homelessness to avoid the need to enter emergency shelter. Works individually with families to identify solutions and alternative housing arrangements that quickly resolve the individuals housing crisis through a combination of direct service and financial assistance.

Responsibilities

• Conducts initial screening to assess appropriate service suggestions and facilitates setting appointments for referrals and/or services.
• Ensures the collection of required service utilization, demographic, and outcome data.
• Provides resource referral and follow-up assistance to families experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
• Assists families in advocating for their needs and accessing services and resources.
• Acts as a liaison between families, support services, landlords, and involved community agencies and maintains ongoing communication with other providers as needed.
• Conducts a needs assessment with each family and works to create an individualized service plan based on identified goals.
• Reviews and actively monitors families in making progress toward meeting identified goals.
• Assists families to creatively identify solutions and alternate housing arrangements that quickly resolves their housing crisis.
• Assesses the financial situation of families and their need for supportive services such as employment assistance, budgeting, and/or credit repair.
• Provides support for families as necessary to secure safe and stable housing, providing financial assistance where necessary.
• Documents and tracks all financial assistance, including completed requests for client assistance.
• Maintains accurate and timely statistics and documentation to meet program goals and contractual requirements.
• Networks with other service providers.
• Maintains positive working relationships with service providers, clients and fellow employees.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, or criminal justice.
• Experience: Three years social work experience. Management experience helpful.
• Certifications: Valid Driver’s license with approval to drive from The Salvation Army’s insurance.