Housing Specialist

Job Summary
The Housing Specialist in our Residential Services Program will provide assistance to multiple programs within the agency with knowledge in accessing and navigating a complex and under resources system of housing. The Housing Specialist will be focused on helping families secure permanent housing, decrease the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and minimize the average length of homelessness amongst these individuals and families.

Responsibilities and Duties
* Partners with families in both Supportive Housing and Independent Living Program (ILP) to increase housing support for clients.
* Identifies permanent housing options for clients such as subsidized housing and Section 8.
* Provides support in connecting clients to other community resources; develops and maintains positive professional and collaborative relationships with realtors, landlords and public housing authorities to assist clients in accessing resources and housing opportunities.
* Assist clients with access to housing resources, searching for housing, filling out rental applications, interpreting leases and understanding tenant rights and responsibilities.
* Assist clients to identify a sustainable budget, understand how to read and interpret documents, and obtain personal documentation required for housing applications (i.e., birth certificate, social security card, valid ID).
* Works with a strength-based model incorporating the principles of family-centered practices.
* Works with the Case Manager and Youth Support Specialist teams to provide training to clients in housing and independent living skills.
* Conducts monthly housing reviews to ensure the monitor of program progress and any concerns.
* Understands program client rights and responsibilities while assessing compliance and inspection readiness.
* Documents housing notes in related data system, Electronic Health Record (HER) system and Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) entries.
* Abides by mandates regarding confidentiality and ethics as per federal, state, and agency policies and procedures.
* Ensure all appropriate notifications, incident reports, data entry are completed in accordance with federal, state and agency policies and procedures.
* Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
* High school diploma or equivalent required.
* Experience navigating the Rhode Island Housing system, background in property management, familiar with Section 8 voucher process or knowledge of low-income housing opportunities strongly preferred.
* Experience in human services preferred.
* Knowledge of child and adolescent development, family dynamics, adult learning techniques and child protection.
* Must be able to adopt a flexible work schedule.
* Ability to communicate and effectively interact with a diverse population.
* Strong organizational and time-management skills.
* Basic computer skills required; knowledge of Microsoft Office 365.
* Must have a valid driver's license and auto insurance.
* Must be able to authorize Child & Family to complete Motor Vehicle Record check.
* The ideal candidate will be required to meet all pre-employment requirements such as background checks and medical clearances.

Travel Requirements
* Site location: Providence, RI
* Local travel required.

Benefits and Perks

• Up to 4 Weeks Vacation Time
• 12 Paid Holidays
• 12 Sick Days & 1 Personal Day
• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• Employer Contribution to 401(k)
• Fully Funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• Life, ADD, Long Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• AFLAC Supplemental Insurance
• Referral Bonuses
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Shift Differentials
• Discounts available: Childcare at Middletown location, Verizon Wireless, pet insurance, YMCA membership, BJ's membership, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Who We Are

Child & Family supports resilient families, vulnerable children, and elders throughout Rhode Island. Family Preservation is an important goal of every program and service we provide.

We believe that individuals and communities thrive when supported by strong families, and that a community works best when it accepts responsibility for all of its members.

As one of the largest social service agencies in RI, we operate community engagement centers in Providence and

Middletown. Our home-based and community-based programs bring services to individuals and families across RI.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Child & Family will not discriminate against any individual on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, color, race, creed, national origin, ancestry, religious persuasion, marital status, political belief, pregnancy, military status, veteran status, physical or mental disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations, genetic predisposition or genetic carrier status, or any other protected category under local, state, or federal law, nor will anyone receive special treatment for those reasons, except for reasonable accommodation as required by law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.

In order to provide equitable service delivery and go above and beyond equal opportunity requirements, our organization is committed to ensuring that all staff are able to perform the following cultural competencies:

* Demonstrate the ability to communicate and effectively interact with people across cultures, ranges of ability, genders, ethnicities, and races.

* Demonstrate knowledge of the history of discrimination in America, particularly as it relates to race and racism, and how this history has led to disparities experienced by marginalized communities such as BIPOC, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and others.

* Demonstrate the ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services.

Affirmative Action

Child & Family strives to achieve a workforce that includes representation of qualified affirmative action group members in proportion to the qualified and available target group workforce in the community that we serve.