Housing Specialist - Back @ Home (Alexander/Caldwell/McDowell)

***This is a grant funded position.***

LOCATION:  Remote – must live in or near Alexander, Caldwell, or McDowell County, North Carolina. This position will serve these counties. Incumbent in this role must be a resident of NC or live within 40 miles of the NC border. Travel is required for this position.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Vaya’s Housing Specialist – Back@Home is responsible for implementing Vaya’s Back@Home – Balance of State program aimed to provide quality housing stabilization (case management, outreach, system navigation, housing navigation) to people in unsheltered settings and people experiencing homelessness in rural areas (Alexander, Caldwell, McDowell, Franklin, Granville, Rowan, Vance). Housing Specialist will outreach and identify households with service needs in unsheltered locations and in shelters not participating in the Continuum of Care’s Coordinated Entry system. Housing Specialist will connect households to the homeless service system, provide system navigation to services and benefits, support households as they identify and move to permanent housing (through the Coordinated Entry system in each Balance of State region or public resources), and assist them in maintaining their housing up to 6 months after being housed.

Housing Specialist will maintain a caseload of approximately thirty (30) households and provide person-centered, trauma-informed services. This position must be filled by an individual who has a passion for social justice work, is a team player, and committed to working alongside people as they transition out of homelessness into permanent and stable housing.

Vaya’s Back@Home program is an evidence-based practice that provides housing stabilization to households experiencing homelessness under the Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness, and the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency guidance for this program. 

The Housing Specialist, in collaboration with Vaya’s Housing Manager and Supervisor, ensures that all housing activities are delivered in accordance with the terms and conditions of the DMH/DD/SAS Contract, and guidelines/manuals/protocols/procedures established by the Department of Health and Human Services, federal and state rules and regulations, best practices, standards, and internal Vaya policies/procedures/manuals/guidelines.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Housing Stabilization:

• Provide supportive services and develop trusting relationships with a caseload of at least 30 households in various stages of the housing process
• Exercise patience, understanding, and concern for each participant’s well-being, safety, development, and enjoyment of life
• Ensure that participant interactions are person-centered, goal-focused and reflect each participant’s goal plan
• Work with each participant to develop and/or strengthen their housing stability plan according to participant goals and objectives to obtain and maintain housing
• Assist households experiencing homelessness in obtaining appropriate vital documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, and IDs
• Work with Housing Collaborative on “hybrid housing navigation” (Housing Collaborative will take primary responsibility for housing search and navigation for the household, as well as unit recruitment, landlord engagement, and housing placement)
• Provide some aspects of housing navigation including helping the participant with documentation for housing applications, establishing housing preferences, supporting lease-up/move-in processes, and offering transportation to see potential units, for example
• Assist in moving in and moving out participants (must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.) and cleaning unit
• Maintain positive working relationships with local public housing authorities (PHA) and HUD Administrative agencies to improve access and increase the supply of housing resources for specialty populations
• Maintain contact with all participants on a scheduled basis, appropriate to their status and needs, including contact in their homes and in the community
• Provide participants training and support in the areas of personal hygiene, accessing community resources, medical adherence, household cleanliness and management or other needs as outlined in the participant’s housing stability plan
• Support participants to maintain housing stability through individually tailored services and by facilitating effective connections to community services and resources - examples of support services include successful tenancy problem-solving, independent living skill-building, connection to public benefits and employment assistance, money management support, and connection to medical, mental health, and substance use disorder services. Facilitate move-in process
• Perform annual re-certifications for each household and accurately update files as necessary
• Mediate and advocate for all housing participants
• Transport participants as part of their job function(s) when required per Driving on Vaya Business Policy *staff who are specifically required to transport participants as part of their job function will be offered the position contingent upon an acceptable MVR and qualification for Vaya automobile liability insurance coverage
• Report to Human Resources any motor vehicle violations that result in the imposition of points on their license within three (3) business days of final adjudication
• Use compliance tools and ensure observance of all data standards and record-keeping as required by Back@Home-BoS 
• Input case notes in a timely manner and ensure that all participant records are complete and accurate, including organizational and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) databases
• Attend regular case management team meetings, supervision and other specified meetings/trainings as required
• Participate in Coordinated Entry case conferencing sessions as required with the Balance of State Continuum of Care
• Communicate effectively in oral and written forms with participants, their families, their significant others, coworkers, supervisors, other service agencies and the community – includes obtaining Release of Information
• Build professional relationships with participants, providers, and community partners
• Collaborate with the supportive service team, household, landlord/property manager, and other service providers to creatively problem solve behaviors that put client housing at risk
• Coordinate with other Vaya departments to ensure effective collaboration, business processes, process improvement, and consistent practices within the agency
• Attend internal critical case staffing conference calls as requested or directed to provide education regarding community-based resources
• Attend monthly community housing meetings
• Provide education to participant and team members (including family) on options and community-based resources that can assist members with making informed and timely decisions as it relates to housing stability

Other duties as assigned:

KNOWLEDGE OF JOB

Highly motivated, team player, self-starter and able to work independently with little or no direction

• Prior experience with homeless population or populations with severe service needs
• Knowledge of the local Homeless Services System and a familiarity with social service providers and public benefits programs
• Knowledge of best practices in street outreach and housing focused case management specifically harm reduction, Housing First, trauma informed and person-centered care
• Ability to problem solve and provide practical, thorough, and creative solutions to work tasks Crisis management experience is preferred
• Strong knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and program practices/requirements applicable to Vaya Health’s operation in North Carolina
• Ability to adhere to strict confidentiality requirements
• Bilingual English/Spanish speakers or Spanish language written/verbal communication skills at a professional working proficiency are preferred, but not required Experience with using the Homeless Management Information System is helpful but not required.
• Experience in leading a performance relationship with external stakeholders
• Proficiency in analyzing, understanding, and communicating network needs
• Strong customer service skills paired with a positive demeanor – a “can do” attitude
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to speak clearly and concisely, conveying complex or technical information in a manner that others can understand, as well as ability to understand and interpret complex information from others, including but not limited to reimbursement policy standards
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• High level of knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and adept at learning software applications – expert level preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of the assessment and treatment of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorder, sometimes co-occurring, is helpful

QUALIFICATIONS & CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS 

Bachelor’s Degree required. Five (5) years of service experience required. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparation and analysis of documents; viewing a computer terminal; and extensive reading. 
• Physical activity in this position includes crouching, reaching, walking, talking, hearing and repetitive motion of hands, wrists and fingers. 
• Sedentary work with lifting requirements up to 10 pounds, sitting for extended periods of time. 
• Mental concentration is required in all aspects of work.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:  The person in this position IS required to reside in North Carolina or within 40 miles of the NC border.
 

SALARY: Depending on qualifications & experience of candidate. This position is non-exempt and is eligible for overtime compensation.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Open until filled

APPLY: Vaya Health accepts online applications in our Career Center, please visit https://www.vayahealth.com/about/careers/.

 Vaya Health is an equal opportunity employer.