Housing Resource Specialist - with Growth Opportunities

We are looking to hire a capable Housing Resource Specialist to join our dynamic team at Pine Street Inn in Boston, MA.
Growing your career as a Full Time Housing Resource Specialist is an amazing opportunity to develop productive skills.
If you are strong in project management, cooperation and have the right drive for the job, then apply for the position of Housing Resource Specialist at Pine Street Inn today!

SCHEDULE: 40 hours, Monday - Friday 7:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. 

Pays $23.48 per hour

This position carries a retention bonus of $1500.00, payable in instalments of: $500.00 at 3 months, $500 at 6 months and $500.00 at one year.

This bonus is only available to new, external hires to Pine Street Inn, including temporary staff who are thereafter converted to permanent employment status. This bonus is not available to Pine Street Inn staff or paid interns or paid co-op students who are seeking a transfer to this role. This bonus is only payable for work actually performed in this role. Employees who leave their position before they have worked all the time required for each bonus installment will not be eligible to collect further payment for their prior position, even if they stay at Pine Street Inn in another position.

LOCATION: 444 Harrison St, Boston MA

JOB DESCRIPTION:

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:  The Housing Resource Specialist is responsible for greeting guests at the Rapid Engagement Center and helping them navigate the next steps toward housing.  

The Housing Resource Specialist is also responsible for “in-reach” at the shelters to help ensure guests are aware of housing services offered in order to increase housing placements, reduce length of stay in shelter, to assist guests in accessing mainstream benefits, job training, and other community resources as needed.  The Housing Resource Specialist exhibits excellent customer service and possesses a sense of initiative, is self-directed, works well with groups, and is knowledgeable about housing resources in the Boston area.  They are able to research and access new housing opportunities and is regularly updating all resource materials for guests and staff. 

The Housing Resource Specialist is able to discern which guests are able to manage housing search independently and which guests need more hands-on help.  The Housing Resource Specialist works effectively and collaboratively with all departments and staff.  The Housing Resources Specialist takes a positive, collaborative, client-centered approach to the in-reach work, seeking to motivate guests who are reluctant to engage in the housing process, and identifying and communicating within the CHS team as to barriers to these guests’ accessing services.     

REQUIRENENTS:

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

REQUIRED:         

• Bachelor’s Degree or minimum of 2 years of experience working with homeless population toward housing

PREFERRED:      

• Bachelor's in social work, or related field of study

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with people facing homelessness, mental health issues, trauma and substance abuse issues
• Knowledge of housing resources in and around the Boston area
• Ability to use internet, social media, and other research tools to identify resources and housing opportunities
• Fluent in 2010 MS Office Suite, applications (Word, Excel, etc.), email, and internet browsers
• Highly detail oriented
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills are essential
• Experience in maintaining confidential records and information
• Experience in prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Experience working in a team-oriented environment
• Superior organizational and written communications skills and demonstrated project management experience
• Demonstrated commitment to Pine Street Inn’s mission, positive approach to change, promoting best development practices

PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

• Ability to sit for long periods of time
• Ability to access different building locations and program sites
• Requires stooping, bending, and stretching
• Ability to use a computer for email, word processing and spreadsheets; and other office equipment (fax, copier etc.) as needed
• Ability to respond quickly and calmly in emergency situations

MENTAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

• Superior attention to detail

• Strong computer skills
• Ability to adapt to changing goals and priorities
• Must be able to perform a wide variety of difficult tasks at the same time
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to take initiative
• Must be self-directed
• Must be able to take direction well
• Works proactively to keep up with program innovations and new administrative technologies
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a fast-paced, goal-oriented team environment
• Enthusiasm, positive sense of humor and can-doattitude
• Highly developed organizational and communication skills required
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies in a stressful environment
• Successful candidate must be able to work independently as needed and also function as a member of a team

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Responsible for helping the Coordinated Housing Solutions team meet housing placement goals and reducing length of stay for shelter guests
• Ensure every regularly staying guest is approached, at least once per month, to offer support, information and/or connections to a housing pathway; record whatever guest’s stated housing goal may be
• Responsible for gathering and disseminating resources regularly to guests and staff; provides connections to internal PSI housing resources
• Proactively engages shelter guests around housing; responsible for connecting with guests who are not on a housing pathway
• Meets with guests daily to provide resources and assist with housing applications and obtaining necessary documents for housing applications (ie; IDs, birth certificates, verification of homelessness, etc)
• Enters data into Clarity and city wide HMIS system
• Maintains files for guests served,tracking all referrals and housing applications
• Makes referrals to appropriate resources as needed (ie; benefits applications, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, etc)
• Available to attend housing related appointments with guests as appropriate
• Uses motivational interviewing skills to help guests move through stages of change to take action steps toward housing and accept reasonable housing placements
• Identifies internal and external barriers to housing pathways for guests expressing repeated reluctance to engage in housing process, and suggests solutions to supervisor
• Accepts supervision and guidance and actively participates in efforts to improve quality of performance
• Protects and maintains confidential information and adheres to Pine Street Inn’s policies and procedures, including occupational health policies and procedures
• Collects and compiles information for reports and contracts
• Conducts research to support projects as assigned
• Assists in preparing for monitoring and audit visits
• Performs other dutiesas assigned by the Housing Resource Specialist Supervisor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits of working as a Housing Resource Specialist in Boston, MA:

● Excellent benefits
● Advancement opportunities
● Attractive package