Housing Liaison Specialist

Ozark Center; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ozark Center in Detroit, Michigan is seeking a dedicated professional to deliver housing resources to individuals affected by behavioral health issues, including substance use and mental illness. This role involves providing outreach to clients in crisis, referring them to necessary services, and maintaining collaborative relationships with landlords.

The ideal candidate will utilize trauma-informed approaches to promote autonomy among clients, ensuring they receive the support needed for stable housing while navigating various community resources.

Qualifications

• Experience in behavioral health or social services preferred.
• Ability to effectively engage with clients experiencing homelessness.
• Familiarity with housing resources and community services.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach to individuals in housing crises.
• Refer clients to necessary community resources.
• Build relationships with landlords to secure housing.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Communication skills

Outreach abilities

Job description

Job Description Summary

Delivers housing resources and supports for individuals impacted by a range of behavioral health issues including substance use, trauma, and mental illness. Utilizes trauma-informed and person-centered approaches to promote maximum levels of independence and autonomy for persons served. Acts as program resource for teams needing assistance in accessing housing for homeless and near homeless clients served.

Responsibilities

• Provides active outreach to individuals not currently engaged in services who are in a housing crisis or experiencing homelessness and connects clients to community resources as needed.
• Refers and transports individuals, as needed, to initial appointments to establish services for behavioral health, substance use, physical health, employment, benefits, or other unmet needs.
• Utilizes SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) with clients experiencing unstable housing due to needing disability benefits due to serious mental disorder, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring disorder.
• Recruits landlords and builds rapport by directly contacting potential landlords to provide information and make referrals to their units. Follows up with landlords about referrals and problem-solves tenant issues to maintain collaborative working relationships.
• Promotes housing resources and train/educate staff on available avenues to help clients receive and/or maintain housing.
• Attends and actively participates in local Continuum of Care meetings related to coordinated entry/case conferencing; manages and receives referrals to/from Continuum of Care programs to assist individuals with housing stability.
• Develops and utilizes a variety of housing service delivery models to promote stable housing.
• Attends Housing Liaison meetings and submits data to DMH as required by DMH Housing Grant.
• Ensures clients have applied, receive, and maintain medical insurance benefits as well receive available community resources based on client’s income eligibility.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Requires prolonged sitting, frequent standing, bending, squatting, kneeling, and reaching above shoulder level frequently, climbing and twisting occasionally.
• Requires a typical range of hearing and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator, and other office equipment as needed.
• Requires repetitive use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulation.
• Requires standing, sitting, or walking for up to 8 hours or longer per workday.
• Requires regular use of a computer.
• Requires driving into the community, transporting clients, assisting with moving goods for clients, getting in and out of vehicle frequently.
• TB test upon hire.