Rent Assistant Specialist

Organization Background

The Center for African Immigrants and Refugees (CAIRO) is dedicated to enhancing social justice and achieving parity for the diverse African immigrants and refugee communities in Oregon and Central Minnesota through community organizing, collaborative leadership, and service advocacy. To accomplish our goals we offer a wide variety of services, including pre-K education, K-12 student support & counseling, community health, and job training.

Position Summary

The Rent Assistance Specialist provides culturally responsive wrap-around case management services and support within Multnomah and Washington Counties. This position requires a bilingual, flexible, self-directed person, with bi-cultural familiarity who is excellent at handling various situations. They must have strong skills to search and resource needed information. The Rent Assistance Specialist is a frontline social service worker who is a trusted member of the community served. The person in this position must have excellent communication skills, be well-versed in the case management approach, be knowledgeable about how to help clients meet their housing and other social service needs, and have strong time management and paperwork completion skills.

This is a part-time, non-exempt position expected to work 25 hours per week. This position reports to the Director of Community Engagement and Partnership.

Salary

$20.00 - 21.00 per hour.

Benefits

CAIRO offers the following benefits for this position:

• Accrued paid time off (18 days, prorated based on hours worked).
• 16 paid company holidays.
• 401(k) plan with up to 3% employer match.
  

Duties & Responsibilities

The Rent Assistant Specialist will provide the following services to individuals, families, and other household members including, but not limited to:

• Community engagement and outreach.
• Meeting with potential clients and assessing eligibility for rent assistance programs.
  
• Complete intakes and maintaining case files, required paperwork and reports on a timely and regular basis.
• Meeting individually with clients in a case management setting to help them define, work towards and reach their goals related to housing.
• Work closely with the internal CAIRO team, and external community partners and outreach team in various ways including, but not limited to; City of Portland, Multnomah County, Washington County, Community Action, and other agencies. 
• Refer clients to outside resources as needed.
• Support organizational record keeping requirements.
• Attending trainings and meetings within and outside of CAIRO.
• Build relationships with partners.
• Other duties as required.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong background in working with the African Immigrant population and understanding the nuances of the cultural values and beliefs of that community.
• Bilingual in English and fluent in one of the following languages required: Somali or Swahili
• Experience: Minimum of two years of experience in community outreach services, advocacy, social support and assistance.
• Experience working with the community being served.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow HIPAA policies and procedures.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently with strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Must possess computer skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, data entry, and internet applications.
  

Education

• Some college coursework required.
  

Work Environment/Location

• This position is expected to work in-person in an office environment and out in the community doing outreach and meeting with clients.
• Location: Portland and Beaverton.

• Frequent use of keyboard, monitor, mouse, telephone and/or headset, scanner.