Housing specialist

Central City Concern is an innovative nonprofit agency providing comprehensive services to single adults and families in the Portland metro area who are impacted by homelessness, poverty and addictions.

We hire people that are skilled and passionate to meet our mission to end homelessness through outcome-based strategies which support personal and community transformation.

Central City Concerns (CCC), Employment Access Center (EAC) has provided employment services and workforce development programs for low-income individuals since 1992, targeted to the highly challenged homeless population of downtown Portland, for close to 30 years.

This Housing Specialist will assist participants in the Economic Opportunity Program (EOP) with their housing search by determining eligibility, administering rent assistance funding, completing and maintaining paperwork, and entering payment and outcome data into the appropriate data system.

Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8 : 00am to 4 : 30pm

Location : Employment Access Center (2 NW 2nd Ave. Portland, OR 97209)

Compensation : starting at $22.24 per hour, rate could increase depending on candidate's experience

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Knowledge of housing resources, human service agencies, and community groups.
• Must embrace the mission and philosophy of recovery and client centered treatment.
• Must be able to work weekends and / or evenings as necessary.
• Must have necessary computer skills to accomplish duties.
• Must be able to perform intra-city travel.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check. This includes clearance by the DHS Background Check if working in FAN, Blackburn or OTRC programs.
• Work on this specific contract prohibits convictions of child or elderly abuse, offenses against persons, sexual offenses, or child neglect.
• Ability to adhere to Central City Concern’s drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy and productive work environment and strictly complies with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.

An employee shall not, in the workplace, unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess or use a controlled substance or alcohol.

• May be required to carry an agency cell phone and laptop for work use. Cell phone / Laptop will be provided by Central City Concern.
• Must adhere to agency’s non-discrimination policies.
• Ability to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, political affiliation, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles and sexual orientations and treat individuals with respect and dignity.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with homeless and / or recovering chemically dependent individuals strongly preferred.
• Valid driver’s license preferred. If required to drive, must pass a DMV background check, and be designated an acceptable driver as outlined in Central City Concern’s Fleet Safety Policy.

If required to drive, must pass an initial driver’s training within 60 days of being an approved driver and continued recertification training.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Meet contractual goals for clients served, trainings, and meetings as well as manage budgeted contract dollars.
• Follow documented procedures regarding rent assistant procedures and maintain compliance with the rent assistance regional program standards provided by Worksystems.
• Ensure intake information, housing readiness assessment, housing stability planning, and outcome tracking is conducted, and all required information documented in appropriate data system no later than five business days after a participant has received services.
• Manage referrals of eligible participants from career coaching agencies and track the number of referrals by agency.
• Review Career Coaches’ assessments of the needs, barrier to securing / maintaining housing, and strengths of households.

Collaborate with the referring Career Coach to determine plan for the depth and duration of rent assistance.

• Provide and / or offer service connection to housing services that are culturally specific and / or culturally responsive, based on the participants’ needs.
• Disseminate rent assistance to actively engaged eligible participants.
• Communicate with participants and Career Coaches to ensure required program eligibility and engagement is met.
• Coordinate with Career Coaches to ensure participants receive counseling and assistance if they need help locating suitable housing that meets their needs in terms of size, condition, and affordability.
• Ensure referrals to retention resources are available as needed or upon request to households that have exited the program to further support housing stability.
• Review data monthly to ensure participants have remained engaged in the program and continue to be eligible for support prior to continuing payments.
• Follow up with each participant to gather information to track 6-month and 12-month retention after rent assistance ends and enter information into appropriate data system.
• Provide fiscal oversight of the rent assistance to assist participants with the payment of rent, deposits, move-in expenses, and other eligible assistance.
• Provide ongoing individual support and encouragement to clients.
• Work with internal service providers to assure coordinated and streamlined services.
• Synthesize information from diverse sources and act on information appropriately for each participant and program.
• Participate in compliance, quality assurance and quality improvement activities as directed.
• Manage data inputs and maintain accurate records of client progress in multiple data bases.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy and security regulations applicable to the program, and to CCC policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security.
• Attend appropriate community professional meetings.
• Attend and take all trainings as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to develop and carry out individualized housing plans.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork.
• Strong time management, follow through. and organization skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to successfully interact and communicate clearly with a wide variety of people including clients, employers, partnering agencies and co-workers.
• Ability to be creative, innovative, and be a progressive problem solver.
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues related to individuals with multiple barriers to employment and / or housing.
• Ability to provide de-escalation tactics in a trauma informed way.
• Ability to display a non-judgmental attitude and a willingness to learn new skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of and ability to maintain professional boundaries.
• Experience facilitating training, groups, and workshops.

BENEFITS : Central City Concern offers an incredible benefits package to our Regular / FT employees

• Generous paid time off plan which provides up to 4 weeks of PTO accrual in the first year. Accrual increases with longevity.
• Amazing 403(b) Retirement Savings plan with competitive employer match with 4.25% in the first year, 6% in the second year, and 8% in the 3rd year.
• 11 paid Holidays PLUS 2 Personal Holidays to be used at the employee’s discretion.
• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance coverage.
• Employer Paid Life, Short Term Disability, AND Long Term Disability Insurance!
• Excellent relocation package for those roles that qualify.
• Sabbatical Program offering extended time off at years 7, 14, and 21.

This description is intended to provide a snapshot of the work performed and is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of the position.

As an agency deeply rooted in recovery, part of our policy and commitment to a drug and alcohol-free workplace includes post-offer, pre-employment drug screens.

Please note we follow Federal Guidelines regarding prohibited substances, even for those legal at the state level.

Central City Concern is a second chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding consideration of criminal background for employment purposes.

Government regulations, contractual requirements, or the duties of this job may require CCC to conduct a background check and take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.

Last updated : 2024-10-11

Salary : $22