Housing Specialist, ActionAIDS

Posted by on August 08, 2011

Housing Specialist, ActionAIDS

Posted on: July 22, 2011

ActionAIDS
POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title : Housing Specialist
Reports To: Housing Program Coordinator
Department: Direct Services
Program: Case Management/ Client Services
Salary Range: C-1
Status: Full-time, exempt, eligible for benefits

Qualifications: Minimum Bachelor’s Degree, Masters preferred, experience in social/ human services and counseling and client advocacy. Ability to work with diverse populations and with critical and emergency situations. Sensitivity to cultural and economic differences. Knowledge of local resources and service pool. Understanding of medical and psycho-social issues related to HIV disease and related conditions. Flexibility in work hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Basic Function: Provide direct services to clients seeking assistance with housing difficulties and assistance in accessing utility, rental and mortgage assistance programs.

Specific Responsibilities:

1. Perform intake, face-to-face needs assessment. Obtain housing demographic data and informed consent of each client.
2. Develop action plan together with client while ensuring confidentiality.
3. Provide specialized housing counseling and advocacy by carrying a caseload of persons symptomatic with HIV disease whose primary presenting problem is housing related.
4. Assist clients in negotiating housing services, provide information, referral follow-up monitoring support on a monthly basis. Reassess client needs as appropriate.
5. Provide housing counseling evaluations for those clients followed by other case managers. Collaborate with others on cases requiring specialized housing expertise. Available for home, office and hospital visits to evaluate client’s housing needs.
6. Provide training to ActionAIDS’ staff (paid and volunteer) on housing –related issues and concerns.
7. Provide training to clients on tenant’s rights and responsibilities, subsidy programs, and other housing related issues and concerns.
8. Build relationships and work closely with housing providers, community development and advocacy program, and city/state public housing programs.
9. Maintain accurate, timely records as required.
10. Other duties as assigned.

Performance Standards:

The following performance standards are specific to this position. Meeting or exceeding these standards is an expectation of employment, as is compliance with all other organizational and departmental policies, procedures and expectations.

1. Complete documentation and paperwork on initial assessments within 24 hours of client interview.
2. Complete all documentation/paperwork concerning client contact and referrals per time frames established in the Direct Service Policy and Procedure Manual.
3. Maintain and document at least the minimum contact with each client assigned to caseload as per timeframes detailed in the Direct Services Policy and Procedure Manual.
4. Maintain a minimum of 400 units of service (15 minute time increment) per month.
5. Participate in weekly individual supervisory meetings.
6. Participate in monthly Group Supervision meetings.
7. Attend Direct Service and General Staff Meetings.
8. Maintain awareness and knowledge of resources, benefits and entitlement necessary to refer clients for services and to advocate for client needs.

ActionAIDS offers a supportive work environment and excellent benefits. People of color, people with disabilities, sexual minorities and people living with AIDS or HIV encouraged to apply. Please forward cover letter and resume to:

svereen@actionaids.org

All resumes will be retained for one year. No calls please. ActionAIDS is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.

ActionAIDS – Human Resources
1216 Arch St., 6th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107