Housing Specialist
About the role
Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.
The Housing Specialist is responsible for identifying suitable housing options for program participants and their families, and assisting the participants to achieve sustainable and healthy independent living. Part of services team for the program, the Housing Specialist participates in all stages of client service: assessment, services planning, engagement and delivery. Assists program case management, outreach and community engagement as directed.
Responsibilities
- Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless participants, including referral to VOALA shelters as appropriate
- Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
- Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the VOALA programs and the unique needs of participants
- Conducts habitability and lead-based paint inspections of housing options as needed
- Works directly (One on One) with landlords on behalf of clients and program
- Develops support systems to meet individual client's