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​Housing Specialist
 
Responsible to Victim Services Director
 
The Housing Specialist is a part time position that will work to identify victims in need of housing support and assist victims with applying for housing assistance. The Housing Specialist will provide case management to program applicants before moving to the housing program and will provide housing and resource referral information to victims on the housing wait list as well as those in shelter. The pre-housing case management will focus on preparing her for maintaining an independent household and identifying the changes that will mean for the woman’s family and lifestyle. The Housing Specialist will identify eligible program participants for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing assistance, assist in housing search, inspection and placement, provide case management services and conduct outreach and engagement on behalf of program participants.
Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting initial housing participant intake and application.
• Provide case management and intensive safety planning to program participants in the initial stages of selection and admittance into the housing program.
• Assist Case Manager in resolving conflicts with and facilitates progress for victims in the housing program.
• Collaborate with Polk County House of Hope (PCHH) Victim Services Director to identify eligible and high need victims of domestic and sexual violence that could be assisted through the housing program
• Maintain required, detailed records of client services.
• Keep accurate and concise timesheet in journal style, reviewed weekly by supervisor.
• Obtain 48 hours of training in victim services annually.
• Assist survivors in shelter or coming out of homelessness in applying for the housing program.
• Provide housing, support, information and referrals to DV and SA survivors.
• Works with clients seeking HPRP assistance to determine program eligibility.
• Assists participants in identifying safe and affordable housing and placement in the safe unit.
• Provides appropriate outreach and engagement throughout the community on behalf of HPRP clients and Polk County House of Hope.
• Conducts case management with every HPRP assistance recipient with the direction of assisting the client maintain safe, permanent housing.
• Completes required documentation, paperwork and tracking of client demographic information.
• Receives training on domestic and sexual violence victim services.
• Abides by House of Hope policies and practices on best practices, confidentiality, and victim services.
• Maintains awareness on community housing resources.
• Lead by example. Operate as a professional representing the organization at all times

 
 
 
Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice or Behavioral Science field or equivalent experience.
• Ability to work with victims of domestic or sexual violence that come from diverse backgrounds and disabilities.
• Knowledge of the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence and an understanding of the unique barriers to success faced by rural victims.
• Successfully pass criminal background check
• Provide high quality character and professional references.

 
In addition to the above described skills, qualifications and requirements, there is a 90 day probationary period. Applicants are required to consent to, and successfully pass, a family services comprehensive criminal and civil background checks before an offer of employment is official.

• Become an expert in housing
  • Understand Section 8 Housing and how to apply for it.
  • Understand low income housing and how to apply for it.
  • Understand HUD and know how to apply for it.
• Call all low income housing places in Bolivar and find out ALL details for rental assistance.
  • This includes qualifications for applicants, how to apply, if there is assistance currently available, if not how long the wait is for housing assistance, etc.
• Find all low income housing for Polk, Cedar, Dallas, Dade and Hickory counties.