Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist

Boston, MA, United States

Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist 4 open Positions Required - Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist

SCHEDULE: 40 hours, Monday, Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Nights and Weekends as needed during adverse weather conditions

Pays $23.48 per hour DOE

This position carries a retention bonus of $5000.00, payable in equal instalments of $1000 at 3 months, $1000 at 6 months, and $3000 at 1 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: 105 Chauncy Street, the Streets & community-based work

JOBDESCRTION:

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION :

The Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist (OHPSS) will work within the Outreach Department to provide housing navigation support to unsheltered homeless clients and housing stabilization services to previously unsheltered housed clients. The OHPSS will work in collaboration with OHP team and Outreach Specialists and Clinicians from BHOT and Veterans Outreach. This targeted housing placement and stabilization work will have a “Housing First” approach and will focus on assisting program participants to move into and sustain permanent housing and maximize independence and well-being. The work include vital document gathering, filling out housing applications, enrolling clients in mainstream benefits, accompanying guests to unit showings and lease signings, and providing assessments for and referrals to community based services. The OHPSS will work with Outreach team Specialists, Clinicians, and current or past providers to determine risk factors and need areas (using provided specialized assessment tools) to improve safety, independence, and well-being. Extreme weather conditions may require the OHPSS to assist the Outreach team with support to unsheltered individuals and vulnerable housed clients. This position is considered an essential employee for the PSI. Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist will work from the following principles:

Shelter is a temporary safety net, not a home

All people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their housing history and duration of homelessness, can achieve housing stability in permanent housing

Everyone is “housing ready.” Sobriety, compliance in treatment, or even a clean criminal history is not necessary to succeed in housing. Rather, homelessness programs and housing providers must be “consumer ready”

Engage guests’ strengths and assets to move as rapidly as they can tolerate, into permanent housing

Working as a member of a larger team, asking for help and providing it to others as needed

Recognizing the impact of violence and victimization on development and coping strategies

Employ an empowerment model

Maximize guest choices and control over her/his recovery supported by an alliance with staff

Create an atmosphere that is respectful of the guests’ right to safety, respect, and acceptance

Emphasize the guests’ strengths, highlighting adaptations over symptoms and resilience over pathology

Minimize the possibilities of re-traumatization

Strive to be culturally competent and to understand each person in the context of his or her life experiences and cultural background

Solicit guest input and involve guests in designing and evaluating services

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

REQUIRED:

Associate’s Degree in a human services related field [can be substituted for High School Diploma and three (3) years of equivalent experience in a social service setting.

PREFERRED:

Undergraduate degree, certification, training, or formal education in counseling and case management

Training and experience in Trauma Informed Care, Progressive Engagement, Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing

Valid Driving license in good standing

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:

REQUIRED:

Minimum of six (6) months of experience working with homeless or similar population, providing direct care and/or active case management and referral services to homeless individuals or similar population

Capacity for working collaboratively on a multi-disciplinary team

Affinity for considering and working with new approaches and expressing their own in a group setting

Strong written communication and documentation skills

Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products, including Excel and Outlook

Knowledge of the issues related to homelessness, particularly around housing, substance use, mental illness and economic factors as precipitants to homelessness

A working knowledge of homeless referral networks

Knowledge and belief in “Housing First” philosophy and strategies

Basic math skills and budgeting experience

PREFERRED:

One (1) year experience working with homeless population, providing direct care

Extensive experience with case management, housing placement, and landlord engagement

Experience with Clarity, or similar HMIS system

Knowledge of tenant rights, and responsibilities as well as “Strengths based” Case Management

Experience with case conferencing with challenging presentations

PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

REQUIRED:

Ability to stand for moderate periods of time

Ability to stretch, bend, lift and assist guests up and down stairs during difficult and/or emergency situations

Ability to respond safely and quickly in case of emergency situations

Ability to sit for moderate periods of time at a desk in an office while interacting with individuals and/or managing documentation

Ability to operate PSI vehicles.

Ability to work outdoors in all inclement weather

MENTAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:

REQUIRED:

Ability to perform an array of difficult tasks at the same time

The temperament to work with guests with problems indicative of untreated emotional/physical health needs and active substance use/abuse/dependency behaviors

Ability to work in intense emotionally charged situations

Possesses strong organizational skills with ability to meet a demanding workload

Detail oriented to complete requirements of files and contract compliance

Creative thinking needed to work with complex presentations on the streets and in housing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Outreach and engage individuals on the streets to assist them in developing housing pathways and assist with all activities leading to a successful housing placement.

Enroll eligible individuals into the program, collect and maintain all required paperwork and documentation.

Enter all required work into Clarity database in a timely fashion with accuracy, documenting each interaction with program participant within 72 hours of interaction.

Assessing Risk Factors and Need Areas with in collaboration with staff from inside and outside the team to maximize safety and independent living skills.

Provide stabilization services to program participants once housed to assist with continued housing stability. Successfully connect individuals to benefits, resources, supports and jobs to maximize income and resources which sustain housing. Actitvities include home visits, assistance with connecting with community resources and acquiring the basic skills necessary to maintain permanent housing.

Maintain individuals records, including database files, incident reports and daily and weekly service records and progress notes

Perform other additional assignments or projects as requested/directed by supervisor.

INTERNAL CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION PLEASE SUBMIT A PROMOTION/TRANSFER APPLICATION TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF POSTED DATE.

Pine Street Inn is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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