Housing Specialist - South Boston, United States - Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston

Verified Company

South Boston, United States

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

The Housing Specialist will be part of a dedicated Refugee Resettlement team and responsible for finding housing for refugee and migrant individuals and families.

The Housing Specialist will
assist families with securing, moving into, and retaining safe and affordable housing and develop relationships and resources for permanent housing such as realtors, landlords, housing assistance programs, and management companies.

The Housing Specialist will educate and motivate families to address future planning and goal setting to enhance the family's abilities to be successful in permanent housing and local integration.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Always maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Adhere to all privacy policies and procedures related to the security of Personally Identifiable Information and Protected Health Information for all clients.
Develop working knowledge of state contract for permanent housing placement services.
Adhere to programmatic and contractual timelines for provision of services, including accurate reporting required by US Department of State, MA Office for Refugees and Immigrants and the agency.
Ensure all services are provided in the native language of the client; use designated interpreter or translation services as needed to have effective communication.
Identify and secure safe and affordable apartment units or homes for permanent housing.
Orient landlords and property management companies to any unique needs of the population. Negotiate lease agreements on behalf of families.
Complete a housing specific needs assessment for all family heads of household within one week of their referral or enrollment to the program under the guidelines set by MORI and program.
Together with the Case Manager(s) and family, develop customized permanent housing plan. Educate families on how to be active participants in the housing search.
Assist with apartment/home setup and ensure required furniture, household and personal items are in home prior to movein date.
Transport or arrange for transport of family to permanent housing. Conduct safety orientation to new home and neighborhood within twentyfour hours of placement.
Assist the family to open accounts with local gas, electric and waste companies as needed.
Conduct monthly followup meetings with the family head of household once placed into permanent housing.
Engage in regular checkins with landlords to maintain positive working relationship. Identify any challenges that may lead to termination of lease and raise concerns to program manager.
Comply with MORI guidelines for family stabilization after placement into permanent housing.
Complete all client and program required reports and submit within specified timeframes.
Maintain orderly case files and comprehensive documentation on client services and referrals. Ensure that all information reported is accurate, documented, and reliable.
Maintain compliance with all required statewide database guidelines.
During weekly team meetings, provide status updates on housing progress for all assigned families.
Maintain a working knowledge of all US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), MA Executive Office of Healthy and Livable Communities (EOHLC), state, city and local grant or housing subsidies and other financial opportunities.
Ability to work evening and weekends as needed.
Attendance at all internal and external meetings and training as required.
Local travel.
Other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience and training with 34 years of prior experience required. Certified academic degree from native country may be considered.
Experience and prior training with refugee resettlement, homelessness, and mental health and/or residential social services.
Bilingual ability, specifically native Haitian-Creole, French or Spanish speakers strongly preferred.
A commitment to the mission of Catholic Charities including understanding and identifying with the organizational mission.
Demonstrated experience with traumainformed care and working with refugee, immigrant and migrant populations. Interest in supporting individuals in a caring and compassionate manner.
Experience working with diverse socioeconomic and often difficult client populations experiencing barriers to housing stability related to homelessness, legal immigration status, substance use disorders, trauma, domestic violence, criminal justice issues, HIV/AIDS and mental health treatment, dual diagnosis.
Cultural responsiveness, commitment to racial justice, and ability to relate well and effectively in a multicultural and multilingual workplace with diverse team and client population.
Strong outreach and relationship building skills. Good critical thinking skills
Strong organizational ability with attention to detail and multitasking skills.
Interest and ability to work as a member of a team and