Housing Placement Specialist

Hyacinth Foundation; Paterson (NJ); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Hyacinth AIDS Foundation seeks a Housing Placement Specialist to coordinate housing navigation and counseling for PLWH and others in Paterson and surrounding regions. The role supports short-term housing needs and connects clients to medical care and social services.

Under supervision, you will identify permanent housing options, assist with referrals, and collaborate with landlords and community partners to help clients live independently.」「Fluency in Spanish preferred; Associate’s Degree and

Qualifications

• Active listening skills.
• Lease agreements knowledge.
• Ability to provide budgeting and ADL education to clients.
• Understanding of HIPAA guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide Housing Navigation statewide, focusing on Paterson, Plainfield, and Trenton.
• Provide housing case management and counseling.
• Identify permanent housing for customers.
• Determine eligibility for short‑term and/or long‑term housing assistance.
• Assist customers with placement in transitional housing.
• Identify and develop relationships with landlords for long‑term rental options.
• Negotiate with landlords and provide assistance with lease and other documents.
• Complete required paperwork for emergency financial assistance (rental and utility).
• Provide Daily Living Skills training and counseling.
• Provide Housing Retention Counseling.
• Refer customers to ensure connection to medical care.
• Collaborate with primary care providers and MCM staff to identify newly diagnosed patients needing housing support.
• Document baseline viral load, CD4 count, AIDS diagnosis and antiretroviral prescriptions for all clients.

Skills

Active listening

Lease agreements knowledge

Budgeting education

ADL education

HIPAA guidelines

Spanish language

Education

Associate’s Degree

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Housing Placement Specialist

Paterson, NJ

Full‑time

General Responsibilities

Hyacinth AIDS Foundation’s mission is to help people live with HIV, stop the spread of the epidemic, and serve as a critical voice in the public debate surrounding AIDS in New Jersey.

Service/Customer Services

• Treat each customer as a priority
• Respects each customer’s right to quality service, confidentiality, and dignity
• Works with co‑workers to ensure integration of services
• Displays a welcoming, helpful attitude to customers
• Establishes and maintains personal boundaries in clinical supervision with customers or co‑workers

Community/Teamwork

• Actively cooperates within the region and/or program and participates in the constructive resolution of conflict
• Focuses on improving communication and collaboration
• Tries to understand the other person’s point of view when there is a challenge
• Works with all regional staff to provide a full continuum of services to customers
• Understands local community resources and can make appropriate referrals
• Is clear and tactful when collaborating and working with others

Leadership

• Takes pride in his/her/their work
• Advances Hyacinth’s reputation for excellence
• Incorporates boundaries and ethical guidelines into decision making

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Regional Services Manager, performs duties relating to the counseling of customers regarding housing services and providing information and referral services as needed. The Housing Specialist works with customers in need of short‑term housing and/or utility service needs to maintain stable and affordable housing, including identifying long‑term permanent housing plans. The Housing Specialist connects customers with services, provides peer support and linkage to care that helps PLWH and people receiving PrEP treatment achieve the goal of living independently.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Customer Services (70%)

• Provide Housing Navigation statewide, focusing on Paterson, Plainfield, and Trenton
• Provide housing case management and counseling
• Identify permanent housing for customers
• Determine eligibility for short‑term and/or long‑term housing assistance
• Assist customers with placement in transitional housing
• Identify and develop relationships with landlords for long‑term rental options
• Negotiate with landlords and provide assistance with lease and other documents
• Complete required paperwork for emergency financial assistance (rental and utility)
• Provide Daily Living Skills training and counseling
• Provide Housing Retention Counseling
• Refer customers to ensure connection to medical care
• Collaborate with primary care providers and MCM staff to identify newly diagnosed patients needing housing support
• Document baseline viral load, CD4 count, AIDS diagnosis and antiretroviral prescriptions for all clients
• Conduct counseling sessions on housing needs, options, and social service referrals
• Provide housing case management, aligning clients with appropriate service providers throughout the service area
• Develop and implement outreach activities, networking with community‑based organizations, support groups, religious organizations, and high‑risk groups

Reporting / Monitoring (10%)

• Establish, maintain and update case records using approved agency forms and procedures; ensure confidentiality of all records
• Prepare monthly reports in accordance with agency policies and procedures
• Refer and advocate for placement in permanent and transitional housing programs
• Maintain and update customer information in eCOMPAS and CAREWare

Hyacinth Representation / Advocacy (10%)

• Attend and participate in staff meetings and supervisory conferences
• Maintain working relationships with other community providers
• Observe established administrative procedures
• Provide written reports and maintain statistics as required
• Represent the agency at community events, meetings and conferences
• Attend and participate in staff training opportunities
• Adhere to Hyacinth policies and procedures, including client confidentiality provisions

Training and Certifications (5%)

• Participate in local COC

Other Duties

• Maintain working relationships with other community providers
• Observe established administrative procedures
• Assist in preparation of written and electronic reports, maintaining records and statistics of program data as required
• Assist with group activities, outreach events and other formal and informal social events
• Work flexible hours, including nights and some weekends as needed

Requirements

Required Minimum Education: Associate’s Degree

Required Years of Related Experience: 1‑3 years in social services/community services

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Active listening skills
• Lease agreements knowledge
• Ability to provide budgeting and ADL education to clients
• Understanding of HIPAA guidelines

Supervisory Experience Is Not Required

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree and one year previous office experience; or no degree but exceptionally suitable with additional office systems experience

Fluency in verbal and written Spanish

Other

• Excellent oral presentation and writing skills
• Expressed commitment to Hyacinth philosophy

Key Working Relationships

Internal

Hyacinth’s leadership team, training and cross‑departmental collaboration & communication

External

Clients, funders, medical providers and other social support providers

Preferred Area Of Expertise

Experience working in communities in Passaic and Union Counties and the city of Trenton; knowledge of housing resources.

Preferred Related Industry Experience

Housing Market

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledgeable about working with PLWH and/or at‑risk communities
• Culturally competent and sensitive to socio‑cultural factors that contribute to HIV infections in New Jersey
• Ability to work non‑traditional hours and days, including late nights and weekends to reach high‑risk populations