Housing Specialist

About the Role

You will provide assistance to multiple programs within the agency with knowledge of accessing and navigating a complex and under-resourced system of housing. The Housing Specialist will focus on helping families maintain their housing, secure permanent housing, decrease the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and minimize the average length of homelessness among these individuals and families. This is a hybrid role with 20% remote work.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management services for families in our Home Stabilization Program seeking home finding services and home tenancy services.
• Partner housing support for families in the Supportive Housing Program.
• Identify permanent housing options for clients such as subsidized housing, Section 8, and market rent.
• Provide support in connecting clients to other community resources.
• Develop and maintain positive professional and collaborative relationships with realtors, landlords, and public housing authorities to assist clients in accessing resources and housing opportunities.
• Assist clients with access to housing resources, searching for housing, filling out rental applications, interpreting leases, and understanding tenant rights and responsibilities.
• Assist clients in identifying a sustainable budget, understanding how to read and interpret documents, and obtaining personal documentation required for housing applications (e.g., birth certificate, social security card, valid ID).
• Work with a strength-based model incorporating the principles of family-centered practices.
• Provide training to clients in housing maintenance and independent living skills.
• Understand program client rights and responsibilities while assessing compliance and inspection readiness.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience navigating the RI Housing system required; background in property management, familiarity with the Section 8 voucher process, and/or knowledge of low-income housing opportunities preferred.
• Experience in Human Services, preferably with children and/or adolescents, is a plus.
• Statewide travel is required.
• Strong organizational, critical thinking, and time-management skills.
• Basic computer skills required; knowledge of Microsoft Office 365.
• Ability to communicate and effectively interact with a diverse population.
• Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred.
• Collaboration and teamwork.
• Must authorize Child & Family to complete a motor vehicle records check.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and car registration.
• Must meet all background checks and medical clearances required for the position.

Physical Requirements

This position requires time sitting, standing, walking, driving, carrying and lifting up to 25 lbs. This role also requires operating a desktop, laptop, and/or cell phone, and communicating with colleagues.

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services

• Demonstrate the ability to communicate and effectively interact with people across cultures, ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, and races.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of discrimination in America, particularly as it relates to race and racism, and how this history has led to disparities experienced by marginalized communities such as BIPOC, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and others.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services.