Housing Specialist

Volunteers of America Los Angeles; Canada; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A non-profit organization in Canada is seeking a Housing Specialist to help vulnerable populations find suitable housing and achieve healthy independent living. The role involves identifying housing options, developing support systems for clients, and facilitating community resources. Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services and have a year of experience working with veterans or homeless individuals. The hourly pay is between $23.53 and $24.77, with competitive benefits offered.

Benefits

Competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits

Qualifications

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance and background check.
• Experience working with veterans, individuals in recovery, or homelessness.
• Ability to develop support systems for clients.

Responsibilities

• Identify and locate housing options suitable for homeless participants.
• Develop support systems to meet clients' housing needs.
• Facilitate community resources to assist tenants and landlords.

Skills

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Strong communication skills

Ability to work with vulnerable populations

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services or related discipline

Tools

HMIS (homeless database)

Job description

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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

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Identifies and locates housing options suitable for homeless program participants.
  • Creates and maintains a housing database linking tenants to apartments
  • Communicates with landlords and familiarize them with the program
  • Works one‑on‑one with landlords to help clients, and represent program
• Develops Support system for clients to achieve and keep permanent housing, involving landlords and services available in the community.
• Coordinates efforts with Case Management team, supporting Case Management initiatives for clients served, meets regularly to stay current with client needs
• Participates in Community engagement and outreach efforts
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

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.