Housing Access Coordinator

Communityactionhouse; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous paid time off

401(k) plan with company matching

Job summary

Communityactionhouse seeks a Housing Access Coordinator in Holland, Michigan, to engage with individuals experiencing homelessness and connect them with essential resources. The role focuses on building relationships, conducting outreach in various community settings, and providing case management services to clients.

Ideal candidates will possess strong interpersonal skills and a background in social services, with a commitment to advocating for the community and finding stable housing solutions.

Qualifications

• Experience in social services preferred.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience in suicide prevention and crisis management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with clients experiencing homelessness.
• Conduct street outreach and engagement activities.
• Assist clients with applying for benefits from agencies.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Active listening

Empathy

Education

High School Diploma

1+ years of relevant experience

Tools

Google applications

Database management

Job description

Are you deeply concerned about the issue of homelessness in our area? Do you possess a genuine passion for forming meaningful connections with individuals? Are you eager to engage with and support our unhoused neighbors? If so, we invite you to become a vital member of our Outreach Team as a Housing Access Coordinator.

Our Outreach Team operates within a dynamic, community‑focused organization. We are in search of a compassionate individual who thrives on building genuine relationships and serves as a steadfast advocate for our community. As a Housing Access Coordinator, you will navigate various sites, including the encampments, the Community Kitchen and Refresh, and other areas spanning across Ottawa County.

This role requires adaptability, adept problem‑solving abilities, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Your primary objective will be to utilize your expertise to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with vital resources, all with the overarching goal of finding stable housing solutions for our houseless neighbors.

Start Date: July 2026

Responsibilities

• Locate and build relationships with clients experiencing homelessness throughout Ottawa County; identify their barriers and make appropriate referrals to local resources.
• Engage people experiencing homelessness at established inreach and outreach service locations such as the library, Community Kitchen, Refresh, and throughout the community.
• Operate agency vehicles to provide street outreach, transport supplies, and assist guests with access to services, appointments, shelter, and housing resources while maintaining safe driving practices and compliance with agency vehicle policies.
• Conduct street outreach and engagement activities in a variety of community settings, including encampments, wooded areas, shelters, and public spaces, requiring the ability to walk on uneven terrain, hike through outdoor environments, and work in varying weather conditions while building rapport with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Provide case management services to clientele including relationship building, assessment, engagement (goal setting in the areas of obtaining housing and other community resources), advocacy (collaboration with service providers and references for housing) and termination.
• Assist clients with a variety of tasks including applying for benefits from local, state, and federal agencies and locating appropriate resources.
• Carefully listen to client stories with the ability to both empathize as well as search for solutions to potentially ambiguous underlying issues.
• Create and maintain relationships with local service providers to obtain program referrals and to collaborate effectively when working with shared clientele.
• Maintain timely and accurate program and client records across multiple required platforms.
• Work collaboratively with a cross functional team to ensure highest client service and to ensure programming efficiently and effectively helps our guests build skills to achieve a stable and prosperous life.
• Update and learn about new community, local, state, and federal resources that may benefit our guests, as they become available.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Work experience or education in social services preferred.
• Ability to work independently and without direct supervision; handle a variety of constituencies, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities.
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
• Strong communication skills with a variety of guests, community members and collaborative agency team members.
• Strong active listening skills and ability to offer empathy.
• Integrity, positive attitude, strong work ethic, self‑directedness, and strong critical thinking & problem solving.
• Experience in suicide prevention, deescalation techniques and crisis management preferred.
• A team player with a flexible and creative approach within a friendly, yet demanding, work environment.
• Creativity in developing new and innovative approaches to challenges with a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
• Comfort with technology and database entry and management; experience in recording case notes and database management preferred; working knowledge of Google applications and platforms.
• Self‑reflective, humble, and able to compassionately engage and process with coworkers and diverse populations with a history of trauma.
• Knowledge of the lived experience, systems‑level barriers to housing, and resources available to houseless neighbors preferred.
• Willingness and interest in continuous learning and adaptation based on your professional interests and organizational needs.
• A high standard of performance and integrity, and ability to lead by example to foster a positive workplace culture.
• Proficiency in clear and effective written and verbal communication, and ability to develop trusting professional relationships.
• Demonstrate a genuine passion for our mission and a commitment to upholding our team’s values: Radically Welcoming, Guest‑Centered, Lead with Kindness, Curiosity‑Driven, Always Improving, Collaborative by Design, Contagious Commitment, & One Team.

Experience & Education

• 1+ years of relevant experience required.
• High School Diploma required; some college preferred or equivalent years of experience.
• Valid driver’s license in good standing required.
• No supervisory experience required.
• Bilingual Spanish proficiency preferred.

Position Details

Position Type: Full‑time Regular

Overtime Status: Non‑exempt

Reports To: Assistant Manager, Housing Access

Direct Reports: None

Department: Housing Access

Primary Location: Food Club & Opportunity Hub

Supervision Received

General Direction: Receives broad guidance and direction and has some autonomy in decision‑making and flexibility in determining how to achieve goals. Supervisor provides support and resources as needed but may not be directly involved in day‑to‑day decision making or task assignments.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None. Does not have formal people–leading (supervisory) responsibilities.

Physical Requirements

• Continuously use eyesight clarity/accuracy or visual perception.
• Continuously read and understand written word.
• Continuously engage in real‑time verbal communication in English.
• Continuously move about work area.
• Frequently reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently drive a vehicle for work.
• Frequently operate computer and general office machines.
• Frequently work outside in variable weather conditions.
• Frequently work in stationary position.
• Occasionally ascend/descend stairs/ladder/etc.
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally ability to push, pull, and lift up to 20 pounds.

Other Factors

• Access to consistent and reliable transportation.
• Ability to hike to outdoor encampments in variable weather conditions.
• Evening hours occasionally, on an as‑needed basis.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support you and your family. This includes medical, dental, and vision coverage options for employees and their dependents, along with employer‑paid holidays, generous paid time off and sick leave. Our benefits also feature a 401(k) plan with company matching, as well as employer‑paid short‑term disability, long‑term disability, and life insurance. In addition, we invest in your growth through ongoing professional development opportunities, with a strong commitment to fostering inclusion, belonging, emotional intelligence, and cultural competency in a collaborative and diverse workplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Community Action House is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.

Note: This job posting is a description of the typical duties of this position, and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties. Full job descriptions will be provided and job incumbents may be asked to perform other duties.