Service Coordinator I- Housing Specialist FSP

Step Up on Second, Inc

place San Bernardino, 92404

local_atm $25.48 - $27.88 an hour

JOB TITLE: Service Coordinator I - Housing Specialist FSP

REPORTS TO: Program Manager

HOURS: 40 (Full-Time)

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

REQUISITION NUMBER: 1717

SUMMARY: The Full Service Partnership (FSP) Housing Specialist will function as a part of a multidisciplinary team to support members in establishing and maintaining their housing. Housing Specialist will assist with locating housing units and support successful tenancy of Step Up members in San Bernardino, including High Desert. The Housing Specialist will be in the field representing benefits of Step Up’s housing program to property owners/managers and advocating for Step Up members. The FSP Housing Specialist will serve as a liaison with the San Bernardino Housing Authority. The FSP Housing Specialist will support in the completion of Housing Authority recertifications and other Housing Authority requirements to support members with obtaining and retaining housing. The Housing Specialist will provide support and services to promote success with permanent supportive housing placement. The Housing Specialist will also provide Individual Housing and Tenancy Support services, including those that support the member become a successful tenant in their housing arrangement, sustain tenancy, and end homelessness. Candidates must embrace Step Up’s Mission, Housing First philosophy and present well to the community at large.

DUTIES: The following reflects essential functions for this job but does not restrict other tasks, which may be assigned:

Landlord/Property Owner Relationships and Developing Housing Stock

Form and foster new and existing relationships with Property Owners and landlords (PO/LL) housing agencies and permanent housing providers, including supportive housing providers.
Locate available and affordable units for member residency. Enroll in or encourage them to remain PSH HUD rental subsidy providers
Survey rental market for affordable housing, and advocate for clients with prospective landlords and maintain lists of prospective PO/LL’s for future placements and expansion of housing resources.
Attend all Community Housing related meetings, develop relationships, and collaborate with other housing providers such as Inland Housing Solutions and the San Bernardino Housing Authority.
Follow all Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations for TBRA.
Interface with PO/LL to resolve tenancy concerns and enlist the support of the RA and SS team to ensure successful placement. Foster good relationships with PM and PO.

Housing Placement and Support

Provide rehabilitation skill building services to FSP members experiencing severe and persistent mental illness in order to support with housing obtainment and retention and improve overall quality of life.
Coordinate with team viewing and rental interview with members. Assist with overcoming rental obstacles such as background checks, credit history, etc.
Process landlord leasing packet including establishing a right to payment and ownership.
Complete and process housing applications including review of submitted documentation for accuracy and eligibility.
May, when necessary, hand deliver rental subsidy checks to property management or owners.
Conduct Housing Quality Standards Inspections and ensure HUD Housing Quality standards are met in accordance with HUD program expectations.
Monitor progress of each member through their housing search and develop strategies that result in successful placement.

Data Collection and Record Keeping

Maintain a database of owners and landlords working with the agency.
Data entry of housing placements, services, and financial assessments.
Complete DBH and Medi-Cal documentation within a timely and accurate manner.
Track housing placements for all housed individuals.

Team Engagement and Support, Promote Step Up’s Core Values and Community Relationships:

Collaborate on Member care issues with other Step Up team participants in weekly systematic case reviews and ad hoc case reviews and consult with team before taking any actions.
Model the highest ethical behavior in relationship with co-workers, supervisor, members, provider, and colleagues in the community and within Step Up.
Promote a collaborative and effective working environment with then STEP UP by engaging in evidenced based communication strategies (such as Motivational Interviewing) when discussing responsibility/sharing of tasks, effectively resolving conflict as they arise and

collaborating on member case discussions.

Model commitment to continuous quality improvement by engaging in quality improvement initiative and projects such as by identifying and assessing gaps and by identifying, developing, and testing new practices for improving the outcomes.
Participate in staff meeting, trainings, committee meetings and other activities as needed or directly by supervisor.
Work collaboratively with other members of the SUOS team as needed to support and effectively perform their assigned job duties and contribute to the achievement of the program's goals and objectives of housing and income stability.
Reviews housing paperwork and submits to Housing Authority. Acts as the point person for communication with Housing Authority. Attends all Housing Authority collaboration meetings.

SKILLS: Ability to work independently and as a part of a team is crucial. Must have effective communication skills both verbal and in written and be organized. Must be an outgoing and professional individual who can represent housing program to the community of landlords and property owners and advocate for Step Up members. Understanding of and sensitivity to mental health, physical health conditions and addictive disorders and multi-cultural communities. Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office and intermediate MS Excel skills are required.

QUALIFICATIONS: Experience working in public housing or other property management setting with public funding source. Housing Authority experience preferred. Must have own a vehicle, have a clean driving record and current California’s driver’s license and insurance. Agency will reimburse for mileage.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Work with people experiencing homelessness whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services, may present inherent challenges and difficulties such as: exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, individuals who may have poor hygiene or unclean homes due to homelessness, mental health symptoms, or poverty. Additionally, in working with our members, employees may encounter instances of profanity, sexually explicit or derogatory language, or verbal or physical expressions of anger and trauma. Very rarely do these situations ever escalate to physical contact, and negative or derogatory communication patterns can often be negotiated successfully. All direct care staff are provided adequate training to develop skills to deescalate crisis situations that may arise and Step Up has established procedural safeguards for all employees to mitigate (but not eliminate) these inherent risks of employment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers; handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, balance, stoop, kneel, and/or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Keyboard data entry required.

Step Up utilizes the principles of trauma-informed care and mental health recovery. These principles inform our Core Values of Hope, Wellness, Voice and Choice, Respect, and Collaborative Relationships. As representatives of Step Up, employees agree to adhere to these values in their interactions with members, colleagues, supervisors, and associated community members.

STEP UP CORE VALUES

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

Step Up provides equal employment opportunities without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER