Housing Specialist II
About Us
VOALA (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.
Job Summary and Purpose
The Housing Specialist II 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 II provides experience-based leadership and participates in all stages of client service: assessment, services planning, engagement and delivery. Assists program case management, outreach and community engagement as directed; able to lead these efforts as required.
Duties and 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 program 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 housing needs; coordinates and facilitates move-in activities, rental negotiations, and service referrals as needed
- Facilitates the use of community resources to assist both tenants and landlords in the event of problems leading to potential eviction
- As a member of the program case management team, provides information referrals, crisis intervention, and assistance with permanent housing placement for participants
- Assists case managers in conducting the comprehensive screenings and assessments to collect functional, environmental, financial, employment, housing, educational, and health information, as appropriate, to develop an Individual Service Plan
- Coordinates follow-up services with case management team
- Additional duties as assigned
- Other duties as required
Essential Duties
- Services for this position must be provided on-site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on-site each day of active employment
- Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless program participants
- Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
- Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the program
- Works one-on-one with landlords to help clients, and represent program
- Develops Support system for clients to achieve and keep permanent housing, involving landlords and services available in the community
- Coordinates efforts with Case Management team, supporting Case Management initiatives for clients served, meets regularly to stay current with client needs
- Participates in Community engagement and outreach efforts
- Other duties as required and may be subject to change
Mandated Reporter
As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.
Requirements
- Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
- Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflicts dealing with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs which may include clients with homelessness, mental-illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration and other challenges
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Social Services or related discipline, Or
- Equivalent combination of education and work experience (four years)
Experience
- Two years of general experience in case management, including helping homeless individuals navigate Los Angeles' affordable and subsidized housing system
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual (Spanish)
- HMIS (homeless database)
Pay and Benefits
- Pay Rate: $24.86 - $26.17 Per Hour
- Benefits: VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits