Housing Resource Specialist - Chicago, United States - Heartland Human Care Services

Description

Job Description

Summary:

Are you passionate about making a difference in people's lives? Join our team at Heartland Human Care Services as a Housing Resource Specialist and be a driving force in providing technical assistance, information, advocacy, and resource development for our program participants and service providers. Your role will be pivotal in supporting our residential program, where you may be required to remain on agency premises during break and/or meal periods, ensuring continuous support for our residents.

Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.

As a Housing Resource Specialist, you will leverage industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of Heartland Alliance. You will also play a key role in supporting culture development and management efforts. If you're ready to be part of a team that is dedicated to creating positive change and making a real impact, we want you on our team

Why Join Us:

• Make a Difference: Be a part of an organization that is deeply committed to creating positive change in the lives of individuals and communities.
• Professional Growth: Take on a leadership role where you can develop and implement asset management systems, supervise a dedicated team, and contribute to ongoing education initiatives.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) match, paid maternity and paternity leave, commuter benefits, student loan assistance, and more.

Our Benefits:

• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• 401(k) match.
• Paid maternity leave.
• Paid paternity leave.
• Commuter benefits.
• Student loan assistance.
• Tuition assistance.
• Disability insurance.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Locates and secures appropriate private market housing units available to homeless or at-risk individuals.
• Interviews clients to determine the appropriateness of potential referral both from the perspective of the individual need and the resource referral criteria.
• Instructs clients in budgeting skills, employment interviewing, job search skills, and other specific skills necessary to achieve successful referrals.
• Meets with employees, landlords, and service providers to help resolve conflicts that might arise with referred clients and negotiate linkages to provide follow-up services.
• Assists in the identification of supportive service "gaps" and needs at the program level.
• Networks with other housing service providers to ensure that the housing needs of homeless or at-risk individuals are adequately addressed.
• Administers funds for client assistance per program policies and procedures that will help clients access resources (i.e. resources such as buying household items and groceries.).
• Participates in organizations and coalitions, which help promote greater resources for clients.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with social service and government agencies and with other organizations to enhance service delivery and the agency's image. Interprets agency programs for other social service and government agencies, the public, and civic groups.
• Continues his/her professional development by active, self-initiated participation in/with supervision, in-house training, conferences, seminars, and independent study.
• Participates in program and operational planning.
• Assists in the preparation of grant applications, which will increase resources or linkages to existing resources.
• Participates actively in all supervisory, Unit, and agency meetings.
• Adheres to professional standards as outlined by governmental bodies and or other appropriate professional associations) private funding sources Agency plans/policies and unity guidelines.
• Participates in periodic evaluative reviews and/or in-house and external staff training to ensure that he/she understands and continues to adhere to such standards. Initiates requests for assistance or guidance from the Supervisor to address new issues or complex concepts affecting adherence to professional standards.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in a social service field and one year of experience in advocacy services, case management, or similar work in a direct service setting or a bachelor's degree in a social service field and three years of experience in advocacy services, case management or similar work in a direct service setting or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in working with special populations including homeless and at-risk individuals; individuals with psychiatric disorders and/or individuals with chemical dependencies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and access to regular, dependable, and timely transportation and comfortable working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Ability to speak and be fluent in a second language including but not limited to the following multi-language abilities:
  • Ability to read and interpret documents such as operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
  • Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
  • Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
• Access to regular, dependable, and timely transportation
• A valid driver's license may be required.
• Ability and comfortability working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Excellent communication skills. Strong networker, convener, relationship builder, and communicator with experience collaborating with diverse work teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information possessing skills to handle situations professionally and diplomatically.
• A high degree of collaboration and emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and analytical ability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange; Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by Heartland Alliance.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work independently and remain self-motivated with minimal direct supervision.
• Strategic thought partnership and consultancy skills.

Work Arrangement:

This role is eligible for a "hybrid" or "remote" work arrangement. If hybrid, it is expected this person would be able to meet for "in person" meetings when needed or at the request of others. In-person meetings may be required regularly (weekly, monthly, etc.). There may also be the availability to work from home when appropriate.

Work Environment:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Each program site operates on a 24/7 basis, 365 days per year. To meet both the needs of our participants and contractual obligations, employees are required to be flexible regarding scheduling and work location.
• Program sites are located throughout the Chicago area, including the North and South sides of Chicago, as well as the suburbs. Employees may be required to report to any one of our locations on a temporary or permanent basis.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.
• The employee must be able to stoop, kneel, and/or crawl.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to key, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The employee must have unrestricted ability to provide physical restraint.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Heartland Human Care Services makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.