Housing Specialist

About the Role

The Housing Specialist is responsible for locating housing units, working closely with landlords, collaborating with service providers, and providing general housing support to ensure that homeless individuals and/or families can secure and maintain housing.

The People and Culture

You will be surrounded by talented, supportive, smart, and kind leaders and teams. Abode Services regularly recognizes employees’ efforts, seeks employees’ input, and cares for employees as people with lives outside of work. The organization values diversity, with people of color making up nearly 70% of the workforce, and strives to recruit and retain employees from all backgrounds.

Benefits

• $28.85 - $31.74 per hour
• 100% paid health, vision, and dental options
• 19 PTO days & 12 Holidays per year
• Voluntary benefits: FSA, EAP, Commuter Checks, Life Insurance, Legal, and more
• 3% retirement match/contribution
• Professional Development Trainings and Opportunities, Leadership Academy Programs, and All Staff Events
• Dynamic, mission-driven culture and supportive leadership

Responsibilities

• Provide housing placement and assistance for participants, focusing on the household’s needs and goals.
• Conduct housing search and placement of appropriate units for potential participants.
• Network with landlords, renter’s associations, property management businesses, and county-wide permanent housing providers.
• Assist with the approval of all leases and help execute Housing Assistance Payment contracts with landlords.
• Prepare and ensure the accurate distribution of subsidy payments to landlords as needed.
• Provide move-in support for program teams, including performing or arranging for Housing Quality Inspections (HQI’s) prior to move-in, negotiating lease start dates, reviewing/approving lease terms, coordinating housewarming furniture moves, gathering documentation from landlords for check requests, preparing move-in documentation, and uploading housing documentation to the Welcome Mat housing database.
• Provide notices of contract renewals and rental adjustments.
• Participate as a member of the service team by attending case conference meetings, assisting service staff in evaluating participants’ housing readiness, reducing housing barriers, and tracking unit availability status.
• Maintain contact with participants, monitor progress, report, and refer to team members as necessary after housing is secured.
• Provide aid and expertise to landlords or service staff for conflict resolution and problem-solving.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory agreements, contracts, and fair housing laws related to housing.
• Attend staff meetings and other agency functions as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required.
• 1 year of experience working in the housing field, social services, or sales/customer service, with knowledge of local housing markets and geography.
• Use of personal vehicle and proof of valid California Driver's License and current auto insurance, along with a clean DMV record, is required.
• Flexible schedule to work evening and weekend hours when required.