Housing and Community Support Specialist

Boston Medical Center’s Living Well at Home Program (LWAH) provides high-quality housing case management services to support clients in obtaining and maintaining tenancy and living healthy lives in independent housing. Boston Medical Center and its affiliated providers and Community Health Centers serve tens of thousands of patients who face housing issues or are experiencing homelessness. New initiatives across the health system have led to the expansion of LWAH services, including the formation of a new Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals.

About the role

As part of the LWAH team, the Housing and Community Support (HCS) Specialist will provide case management services to high-risk patients with behavioral health diagnoses who are experiencing long-term homelessness. As a trusted member of the community, the HCS Specialist will help patients access, obtain, and stabilize in independent housing.

HCS Specialists are responsible for engaging and enrolling complex patients into services; providing advocacy and case management services; offering specialty services to support a member in becoming “housing-ready” and supporting patients in identifying and obtaining housing opportunities; developing an interdisciplinary care plan based on identified patient needs; facilitating access to social service resources; monitoring the patient’s progress; and problem-solving with patients to accelerate and enhance access to housing and community-based supports.

As part of an interdisciplinary team, the HCS Specialist provides community-based one-on-one support in collaboration with family, social supports, and their health care team, both pre- and post-tenancy.

Responsibilities

• Engage and enroll high-risk patients with behavioral health diagnoses into services.
• Provide advocacy and case management services to support patients in obtaining and maintaining independent housing.
• Offer specialty services to help patients become “housing-ready.”
• Support patients in identifying and securing housing opportunities.
• Develop and implement interdisciplinary care plans based on patient needs.
• Facilitate access to social service resources and community-based supports.
• Monitor patient progress and problem-solve to enhance access to housing and services.
• Provide community-based, one-on-one support in collaboration with patients’ families, social supports, and healthcare teams, both pre- and post-tenancy.
• Complete community visits across the Greater Boston region in a timely manner.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health or related field OR two years of relevant work experience OR lived experience of homelessness or behavioral health conditions.
• Minimum of 2 years prior healthcare, public health, or social services work in a community-based setting.
• Prior experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness preferred.
• Prior experience working with individuals impacted by mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or chronic health conditions preferred.
• Driver’s license and access to a car preferred.

Skills

• Basic knowledge of housing systems and a passion for serving unhoused individuals through a non-stigmatizing, patient-centered approach.
• Knowledge of community resources and healthcare systems commonly used by the patient population, with preference for knowledge of Boston-area resources.
• Understanding of social determinants of health (housing, food insecurity, transportation, etc.) and their impact on patient care.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to communicate courteously and professionally with patients, families, staff, and supervisors.
• Ability to identify, communicate, and problem-solve issues in patient cases to improve care and support patient goals.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated prudent judgment and professional presence.
• Ability to adapt to changes in care delivery at local and systems levels.
• Reliability and commitment to setting and meeting goals.
• Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to multitask and prioritize.
• Demonstrated oral and written English communication skills.
• Fluency in Haitian Creole or Spanish preferred.
• Understanding of how language, culture, and socioeconomic circumstances affect health.
• Desire to work with diverse, multicultural, and multilingual populations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook) and web browsers.
• Proficiency with data entry and data tracking.

Special Working Conditions

This role requires hybrid working conditions, including community-based outreach and home visits, as well as office-based work and some ability to complete work remotely from home.

Pay

Compensation range: $22.84–$31.97 per hour. This range offers an estimate based on minimum job qualifications. Base pay is determined by education, experience, skills, certifications/licensures, business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market competitiveness.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy benefits.
• Discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• 403(b) savings match.
• Paid time off.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• Resources to support employee and family well-being.