Housing Advocate - Huntingdon, United States - Huntingdon House

Description

Job Title:
Housing Advocate


Department:
Counseling/Shelters


Reports to:
Assistant Executive Director


FLSA:
Non-exempt, Full-time


EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent, accompanied with a minimum of oneyear work experience in a social work or human services related field. Domestic Violence knowledge preferred. Proficient interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to establish a professional relationship with staff, clients, volunteers and community partners. Knowledge of available community resources preferred. Flexibility and the ability to deal with daily crises. Moderate computer skills are required. A valid Pennsylvania Driver's License required.

Philosophy consistent with the battered women's movement including:
- the provision of Domestic Violence services with a feminist perspective;
- the struggle against ageism, classism, racism, ableism, homophobia and heterosexism and gender bias; support and involve people of all racial, social, ethnic, religious, cultural and economic groups


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides crisis intervention, advocacy, empowerment and followup counseling to program guests in all Huntingdon House programs, in a professional supportive, empathic and respectful manner.
• Provides shelter staffing, legal advocacy, housing advocacy, medical advocacy and accompaniment activities.
• Conducts intakes for all Huntingdon House programs.
• Performs hotline duties after hours and on weekends.
• Assists survivors in developing and implementing their selected individualized service plan goals.
• Provides safety planning education and assistance in the development of such a plan to all survivors who are receiving services.
• Provides community resource education to all survivors who are receiving services.
• Provides transportation assistance to program guests as needed/requested, and available.
• Facilitates support group programs and activities for program guests and their children.
• Maintains and monitors the safety and security of the facility.
• Coordinates, schedules and puts into action monthly fire drill exercises.
• Completes all paperwork essential to the Housing Advocate position in a timely manner.
• Immediately reports to the Assistant Executive Director any safety hazards, needs and/or problems encountered at the facility.
• Participates in assigned/voluntary staff development trainings.
• Cooperates with, participates in and supports adherence to Huntingdon House's mission/goals and all internal policies and procedures of the agency.
• Communicates with other counselor advocates within the established organizational communication tools, to ensure efficient and appropriate responses to client needs. 17. Serves as primary liaison between landlords and Huntingdon House for Rapid Rehousing clients.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participate, as needed/requested in staff/leadership/board meetings.
• Participate, as needed/requested in community outreach activities, such as tabling events, or inservices.

PERSONAL CAREER/GROWTH:

• Completes the 45hour counselor advocate training as provided by Huntingdon House.
• Attends, participates in at least 20 hours of training, workshops, conferences, webinars or seminars per fiscal year.
• Attends regional and state meetings related to victim services; and work with PCADV/PCCD for continued training in domestic violence.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• PA Acts 33/34 certifiable.
• Required to pass FBI background check.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and talk or hear.

The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and /or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Advocates work one of the following shift rotations Monday through Friday-8am-4pm, 12 pm to 8pm, or 8pm to 8am. Also provides weekend hotline coverage on a rotation basis with agency staff.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


OTHER INFORMATION:

• Employees are required to occasionally attend out of town meetings and/or overnight trainings.
• Huntingdon House policies and procedures must be adhered to at all times;