Housing Specialist
Job Description
Housing Specialist Location:Sun Valley, CA Job ID:2981 Salary:$23.53 - $24.77 Per Hour Area of Interest:Housing Division:Adult Services Shift Type:Day About Us: VOALA Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans- services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org. PAY RATE:$23.53 - $24.77 Per Hour BENEFITS:VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits. JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE The Housing Specialist is responsible for identifying suitable housing options for program participants and their families, and assisting the participants to achieve sustainable and healthy independent living. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless participants, including referral to VOALA shelters as appropriate;
Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the VOALA programs and the unique needs of participants
Conducts habitability and lead-based paint inspections of housing options as needed
Works directly (One on One) with landlords on behalf of clients and program
Develops support systems to meet individual client's housing needs; coordinates and facilitates move-in activities, rental negotiations, and service referrals as needed
Facilitates the use of community resources to assist both tenants and landlords in the event of problems leading to potential eviction
As a member of the program case management team, provides information referrals, crisis intervention, and assistance with permanent housing placement for participants
Assists case managers in conducting the comprehensive screenings and assessments to collect functional, environmental, financial, employment, housing, educational, and health information, as appropriate, to develop an Individual Service Plan
Coordinates follow-up services with case management team
Additional duties as assigned
Qualifications REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications EDUCATION: Bachelor-s Degree in Social Services or related discipline, Or Equivalent combination of education and work experience (four years) EXPERIENCE: One year of experience working with veterans, people in recovery and or homelessness individuals PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Bilingual in English and Spanish (written and verbal)
Experience and familiarity using a HMIS (homeless database)
Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form 1-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (OHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.