1. SCOPE OF ROLE:

The Housing Specialist supports SSVF program participants with their search for appropriate permanent housing that meets their needs, preferences and desired outcomes. They adhere to a Housing First model, advocating for veterans’ access to permanent housing to facilitate housing placement and retention. The Housing Specialist provides individualized housing counselling to all participants in the program and delivers other core housing-focused services. This staff member recruits, cultivates and maintains a network of landlords and other real estate partners to support veteran families’ access to units, completes documentation, housing applications, subsidy and voucher forms, conducts apartment inspections and performs other tasks related to housing search, placement and retention. They serve as a vital member of the SSVF team.    

1. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide housing counselling to program participants, including all steps from identifying an appropriate housing unit to securing the lease.
• Review/research available market rate and subsidized housing units that match a participant’s housing budget and needs.
• Evaluate options that fit rent reasonableness for each unique household.
• Negotiate rents and lease terms (when possible) with landlords.
• Appeal tenant selection decisions.
• Conduct and document housing inspections and assess units using the Habitability Standards of the SSVF program.
• Assist in the drafting and processing of Temporary Financial Assistance, providing deposits and first month’s rent.
• Support and review tenant applications and leases, supporting their signing of leases and devising move in plans with the SSVF team.
• Depending on the program participant’s experience and knowledge, deliver housing guidance and
  navigation which may include educating the Veteran household on such things as local housing options, standard lease requirements, fair housing laws, landlord and tenant rights and relationships, reasonable accommodations, lead paint laws, home maintenance, and efficient use of home systems such as heat. 
• Work with the SSVF team to support participants to devise household budgets and plan a schedule for regular and timely rent payments.
• Optimize Veteran access to decent housing opportunities; build expertise on the availability of both affordable, private market rate units and publicly subsidized, affordable housing.
• Cultivate a network of willing local landlords and their management companies as well as carry out efforts to maintain and expand that network over time.
• Research, via CoC resources, information clearinghouses and online locators, housing programs dedicated to Veterans, to households exiting homelessness, for low and extremely low-income households in general, and to special populations such as persons who are elderly or with disabilities.
• Be knowledgeable of admissions preferences established in any and all subsidized housing.
• Engage program participants by maintaining regular contact to monitor and track progress and response to services, including home visits and field work.
• Establish linkages and maintain solid working relationships with permanent housing providers, real estate brokers, managing agents, and landlords as a resource for participants.
• Conduct daily outreach and engagement with landlords, property owners and providers of permanent housing, including frequent fieldwork, phone calls, canvassing, etc.
• Assess veteran families’ barriers to obtaining and maintaining affordable permanent housing.
• Provide supportive social services including individual and group counseling, workshops, education, referrals, and escorting in an effort to prepare veterans for successfully securing and maintaining permanent housing.
• Prepare and assist participants with the housing and voucher application/interview process. Attend and escort participants to viewings, landlord interviews and other housing-focused meetings in the field.
• Provide accurate, complete, and timely documentation of the provision of supportive services and participant progression/regression toward the goals of securing permanent affordable housing.
• Track, monitor, and report housing placement rates for all participant families.
• Assist the SSVF staff in developing and implementing individualized housing stability plans with veterans/veteran families to address identified housing barriers for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing services.
• Complete all necessary documentation and service records to ensure compliance with funding requirements and agency quality assurance standards.
• Cultivate positive relationships with relevant funding and monitoring entities, faith-based organizations, social service providers, and other community partners.
• Participate in appropriate community collaborations and activities.
• Actively participate in SSVF and Veterans Services team meetings.
• Respond to stakeholder and veteran needs promptly, accurately and with courtesy and respect. Model appropriate behavior.  Represent the organization in a positive and appropriate manner. 
• Maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and integrity for participants and staff, restricting information to those who need to know only.
• Follow-up with households to assess their ongoing housing stability needs.
• Assist program management in regular participant record reviews.
• Conduct presentations and lead housing meetings with participants and stakeholders.
• Participate in ongoing individual supervision, team meetings, case conferences, division meetings and trainings.
• Respond to information requests from internal S:US staff.
• Ongoing ability to work outside of normal business hours to attend housing interviews is required.
• Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• • REQUIREMENTS:

  REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE  

  • High School Diploma required, bachelor’s degree preferred.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to complete fieldwork and landlord engagement activities across the S:US service area is required.

   

  PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS 

  • Knowledge of housing inspections, local and federal voucher programs, housing search processes, and housing placement services. activities and housing counselling.
  • Housing search or real estate experience highly favorable.   
  • Basic computer skills (e.g. HMIS/electronic record systems, MS Office suite and Windows).
  • Bi-lingual English/Spanish a plus.
  • Veterans and people with lived expertise in homeless programming are strongly encouraged to apply.

S:US IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Join a team of employees who care about the wellbeing of others. We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement. From health and wellness resources to generous PTO, professional development, and more, explore all that we offer on our Benefits Page and see how S:US invests in you. 

We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information and including all other statuses protected by Federal, State and Local laws. S:US is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities, including allowance of the use of services animals. To request reasonable accommodation or if you believe such a request was improperly handled or denied, contact the Leave Team at MyMedicalLeave@sus.org.