Housing Specialist - Bringing Families Home Program

TITLE: Housing Specialist

REPORTS TO: Bringing Families Home Program Manager

CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt, Full Time 

COMPENSATION RANGE: $29.00 to $32.00 per hour

Plus eligible for benefits such as: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid holidays, sick time. 

401K matching after 1 year. 

Agency Description:

Inspired by the power of our vibrant, determined community, our vision at Amigos de Guadalupe (“Amigos”) is to bring about transformational change in East San José.  At Amigos, we ensure that the basic needs of our community are met, deliver high-quality programs, and mobilize and organize for justice.  We do this by providing housing and rental assistance, mental health services, immigration legal services, education programs, and community organizing programs that advocate for systems change.

Primary Duties:

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Housing Specialist will work with families referred to the Bringing Families Home (BFH) program. The program's goal is to reduce the number of families in the child welfare system (CWS) experiencing or at risk of homelessness, to prevent foster care placement, and to increase family reunification by providing supportive services.  The Housing Specialist will be a liaison between the client, housing entities and landlords to interpret and determine the needs of the clients utilizing Amigos de Guadalupe’s core values of Radical Hospitality and 2-Gen. Approach. The Housing Specialist will perform a variety of clerical operational functions in support of the BFH program. This position requires commitment to daily timelines, accurate data entry and record keeping, attention to detail, and skill in responding effectively and tactfully to inquiries from clients. The Housing Specialist actively models and communicates the mission and vision of Amigos de Guadalupe and supports a culture of empowerment, team building, and open communication.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and maintain inventory of appropriate units for our clients taking in consideration affordability, location, etc.
• Identify appropriate rental housing for clients that takes into consideration their needs and goals
• Engage with landlords to build and sustain relationships with Amigos de Guadalupe and our clients
• Provide assistance to clients with completing housing applications and obtaining required verifications to determine eligibility
• Network with landlords, renter’s associations, property management businesses, and county wide permanent housing providers.
• Educate community members about the housing needs of clients and the importance of supportive housing.
• Provide direct assistance to clients with housing search.
• Guide and educate clients on how to search for, secure and maintain permanent affordable housing, including tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities.
• Inspect units to ensure they meet Housing Quality Standards
• Prepare and process all required documents for financial assistance for move-in costs, deposits and/or delinquent rent.
• Follow agency policies and procedures regarding financial assistance  documentation and reconciling all requests.
• Maintain thorough and accurate progress notes, files, and correspondences in HMIS as required
• Coordinate with Case Managers to ensure client’s needs are being met.
• Collaborate with Education, Immigration and other Housing programs to ensure the client remains housed
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

• BA recommended
• Ability to work in an environment that promotes compassion, equity, access and social justice
• Experience with HPAT and VI-SPDAT a plus
• Experience in HMIS data system
• Experience or prior work as a housing specialist a plus
• Knowledge or personal connection to East San Jose
• Knowledge of housing availability in Santa Clara County
• Proficiency in all Microsoft applications and data entry
• Ability to work cooperatively with others toward a common goal
• Fluently bi-lingual in Spanish and English preferred

Amigos de Guadalupe is an equal opportunity employer. At ADG we encourage and promote a learning environment and encourage anyone to apply regardless of prior experience, we look for a growth mindset, positivity and an eagerness to learn.