Shelter Health Services Specialist

About the role

This position is responsible for supporting shelter clients in accessing and navigating healthcare systems. Your main responsibilities will be focusing on removing barriers to care, improving health outcomes, and promoting housing stability by ensuring individuals are connected to appropriate healthcare services, benefits, and community-based resources. The Shelter Health Services Specialist provides direct services including healthcare eligibility navigation, benefits enrollment assistance, referrals, and coordinated care transitions ("warm handoffs"). The position works closely with the shelter's services teams—including case managers, housing specialists, and income specialists—to ensure a holistic, Housing First approach. This is a grant-funded position contingent upon continued program funding. This team offers a lot of growth opportunities and professional development through hands-on experience. Day Shift.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

• Associate's degree in social services, public health, or related field.
• Two years of experience in social services, healthcare navigation, case management, or a related field required.
• Experience working with healthcare systems or vulnerable populations preferred.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, healthcare access barriers, and homeless services best practices preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Driver qualifications are required for this position. Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required.
• Candidate must pass a comprehensive MWVCAA background screening prior to employment.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug screenings.
• Basic Life Support/First Aid Certification within 30 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of healthcare systems (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare).
• Ability to navigate complex benefit systems and eligibility requirements.
• Strong communication, advocacy, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data systems.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and uphold professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of HMIS and data compliance.

What you will do to support the community

• Assess individuals' eligibility for community-based healthcare programs, including Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, TRICARE, and other local/state resources, ensuring comprehensive access to available benefits.
• Provide assistance with the completion and submission of healthcare and public benefit applications, including verifying and gathering all required documentation to support timely approvals.
• Facilitate access to preventive care, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, and chronic disease management to improve overall health outcomes.
• Identify appropriate healthcare providers across community systems and coordinate referrals to ensure timely and appropriate care delivery.
• Develop, strengthen, and maintain collaborative partnerships with healthcare providers, clinics, and community-based organizations to expand service access and coordination.
• Proactively identify barriers to healthcare access—including transportation, digital access, childcare, financial constraints, and systemic challenges—and collaborate with supervisor to implement solutions to reduce disparities.
• Collaborate closely with shelter services team members to ensure healthcare services align with housing stabilization plans and overall case management goals.
• Connect individuals to crisis intervention services, including suicide prevention resources, emergency medical care, and behavioral health crisis supports as needed.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely documentation in all required data systems in compliance with program standards and reporting requirements.
• Ensure adherence to all grant requirements, healthcare regulations, privacy standards (HIPAA), and organizational policies.
• Monitor, track, and report on key outcomes related to healthcare access, engagement, and service utilization to support program effectiveness.
• Enters residents' data in databases, including HMIS, and performs other data entry and reporting duties.
• Identifies program candidates through use of coordinated entry system and direct referrals from community partners.
• Performing file audits to evaluate compliance.
• Other duties as assigned to provide program support.

Supervisory responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Physical and mental demands

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Manual dexterity for handling computers, devices, and office equipment.
• Frequently lift up to 25 pounds. Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Occasional driving to Linn, Benton, Yamhill and Lincoln counties.
• Maintains calm disposition when clients or others may become escalated, applying crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques for all participants.
• Regulates emotions during interactions with escalated clients and staff.
• Regulates emotions and handles pressures of frequent demands for attention, time and work tasks.

Work environment

• Close quarters, often with a client population experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and/or severe and persistent mental illness, and/or unpredictable behavior.
• Responsive to urgent situations which could require travel for on-site interventions.
• Primarily indoor work environment, occasional client engagement outdoors, with frequent interruptions and demands.
• Exposure to animals, animal dander, trash, and potential biohazards.
• Occasional urgent situations requiring law enforcement involvement and/or paramedic professionals.
• Ability to work outside of normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

What we offer

• 401k contribution after 1 year.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Life insurance.
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance.
• For some positions, employees may be eligible for company‑sponsored continuing education.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.