Emergency Assistance (EA) Housing Search Specialist (Central MA)

Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) is seeking an Emergency Assistance (EA) Housing Search Specialist in the Division of Housing Stabilization!

AGENCY MISSION:

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) is charged with creating more homes in Massachusetts and lowering housing costs for residents.

Formerly known as the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), EOHLC works with municipalities, local housing authorities, non-profit organizations, and development partners to provide affordable housing options, financial assistance, and other support to Massachusetts communities.

OVERVIEW OF ROLE:

The EA Housing Search Specialist assists family shelter providers (private non-profit agencies) across the Commonwealth and other related contracted agencies. This position is a vital role within the EOHLC’s sheltering system to facilitate rapid exits out of shelter into more permanent long term housing stability.

The EA Housing Search Specialist is responsible for supporting efforts to improve shelter exits and placement into housing outcomes. The incumbent provides best practice strategies in housing search and technical assistance directly to a variety of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, shelter staff and families experiencing homelessness. The incumbent supports the Rapid Re-Housing Manager and the Affordable Housing and Subsidy Resource Manager to expedite access to resources that quickly move families out of shelter and promote a family shelter response built on the belief that homelessness should be rare, brief, and non-recurring.

This position covers Central MA region. You may be required to float to other regions upon request.

Frequent travel will be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's license or the equivalent from another state.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (NOT ALL INCLUSIVE):

1) Re-housing:

• Provides effective housing search strategies to rapidly re-house families experiencing homelessness.

• Works directly with families experiencing homelessness, contracted shelter providers, community resource agencies, local and state government staff, local and regional housing authorities, and various other stakeholders, to develop new re-housing programs and/or expand existing re-housing programs.

• Provides insight and assistance with the development of guidance materials and process design for the implementation of re-housing special initiatives.

2) Monitoring and Quality Assurance:

• Conducts re-housing plan desk reviews.

• Monitors compliance with re-housing plan expectations.

• Provides technical assistance.

• Develops and monitors corrective action plans.

3) Site Visits:

• Ensures that families experiencing homelessness and shelter staff are active participants in the re-housing plan, verifies that rehousing plans are being completed and documented in compliance within the scope of service expectations.

• Conducts in-person site visits and desk reviews as needed, provides technical assistance and strategies for performance improvement, and when necessary, develops corrective action plans.

• Interviews families experiencing homelessness as needed to ensure re-housing services are being received as expected, and aids with resolving barriers to rehousing based on individualized circumstances.

4) Investigating:

• Investigates stakeholder complaints regarding re-housing activities and intercedes in resolution process between vendor/client.

5) Training:

• Provides training and workshops on re-housing best practices for shelter staff.

6) Coordinating:

• Supports the Rapid Re-Housing Manager and Affordable Housing and Subsidy Resource Manager with the facilitation of regional rehousing meetings, distribution of subsidy resources, coordination of voucher utilization, and developing relationships with Local Housing Authorities (LHA’s), Regional Administering Agencies (RAA’s) and other housing provider agencies.

• Distribution of subsidy resources

• Coordination of voucher utilization.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

2. Experience in program analysis, program management, program coordination, and program planning.

3. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Microsoft Teams.

4. Ability to communicate in a manner that promotes harmonious interaction with others and motivates performance in a changing environment.

5. Knowledge of Department’s Emergency Assistance program rules and regulations.

6. Knowledge of the Department’s family sheltering programs.

7. Knowledge of housing and homelessness policy, with a particular focus on Housing First approaches.

8. Ability to conduct annual site visits to review facilities for compliance with health & safety codes and licensing requirements.

9. Ability to interview clients and conduct investigations.

10. Ability to be flexible to respond to changing requirements and to be available to resolve programmatic and other issues as needed.

COMMENTS:

Please upload resume and cover letter.

This position would be expected to follow a hybrid model of reporting to work that combines in-office workdays and work from home days, as needed.

Salary placement is determined by years of experience and education directly related to the position and the Human Resources Division’s Recruiting Guidelines. In the case of a promotional opportunity, the salary provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.