Housing Search Specialist

Description

Under the supervision of the Manager of Housing Search Services, the Housing Search Specialist works with HIV + clients, triage staff, medical case managers, medical providers, landlords, housing authorities, and property managers to provide intensive and comprehensive housing search and housing advocacy services to people living with HIV.

Representative Duties:

1. Work with a caseload of 40-50 clients. Work with clients to determine appropriate housing possibilities and create an individualized housing service plan including short and long-term goals associated with stable, affordable housing. Work with clients to set priorities and take steps toward reaching these goals.
2. Coordinate services with Medical Case Managers and other service providers to arrange appointments with clients and to gather documentation necessary to housing search process.
3. Attend all housing-related appointments with clients, including interviews, appeal hearings, apartment viewings, and lease signings.
4. Work with clients to identify possible barriers to obtaining housing. Discuss criminal, credit, and eviction history. Request CORI and credit reports with all clients willing to do so. Proactively plan strategies to appeal housing denials and present mitigating factors.
5. Serve as a resource on affordable housing for all AAC staff. Respond to questions and requests for housing information by AAC staff. Serve as a guide to staff navigating the affordable housing system.
6. Co-facilitate at least one of two weekly Housing Search groups for AAC clients. Provide housing information and application assistance to any client attending this group.
7. Maintain communications with housing authorities, landlords, and private management companies responsible for administering affordable housing options. Contact these providers on a regular basis to remain informed of available housing, open waiting lists, eligibility requirements, and application processes.
8. Share information on housing opportunities with the rest of the Housing Search team, other AAC staff, and clients on a weekly basis by updating existing housing search systems. Enter housing opportunity information into the database, update and create files, and contribute to the creation of a weekly blog post used to disseminate these updates.
9. Maintain timely and accurate paper and computer records of all client and property interactions. Enter all client and property interactions into the database by the monthly deadline.
10. Attend weekly team meetings, and come prepared to contribute to the conversation. Attend weekly administrative supervision and monthly clinical supervision meetings. Attend quarterly All Staff meetings. Attend staff trainings when offered.
11. Meet agency participatory expectations.
12. Perform related duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of one year of experience in a related field.
• Experience with the provision of HIV services preferred.
• Experience with affordable housing preferred.
• Bilingual in Haitian Creole/ English or Spanish/English strongly preferred.
• Experience advocating for clients with government assistance agencies, housing authorities, private landlords or realtors preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Working knowledge HIV/AIDS community trends, harm reduction, and at-risk populations.
• Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity, disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran status, and/or limited English proficiency.
• Willingness to contribute towards Fenway's efforts in becoming an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and valued.

Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Sit at a computer station for extended periods of time
• Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more. LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply

Salary Description

$24.62-30.77 per hour ($48,000-60,000 per year)