Housing Specialist

Institute For Human Services; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The Institute For Human Services in Honolulu, Hawaii seeks a Housing Specialist to create permanent housing opportunities by building an inventory of available units for clients, across price ranges, and by maintaining landlord relationships.

You will work with case management staff to implement supportive housing programs, coordinate subsidy applications, ensure lease compliance, and document assessments and outcomes for HUD reporting under the Housing & Employment Director.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; experience with homeless services a plus.
• Proficient in Word/Excel/Access and general database use.
• Strong communication, documentation, and negotiation abilities.
• Ability to work independently and manage landlord relationships.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate Ho'okipa by providing welcoming service to clients and interacting professionally with landlords, vendors, and staff.
• Develop and implement housing program objectives to meet tenancy requirements and outcomes.
• Market housing programs to landlords and maintain an inventory of units at various prices.
• Inspect rental units and communicate housing quality to HUD, Case Manager and client.
• Coordinate subsidy applications (e.g., Section 8) with Case Manager for follow-up.
• Address lease compliance issues and support clients to avoid eviction.
• Assess client living skills with Case Manager and develop maintenance plans to prevent crises.
• Provide ongoing evaluation and housing assessments; document referrals and placements per HUD plans.
• Generate internal reports of program activity and maintain compliance records under Housing & Employment Director.

Skills

Housing market knowledge

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Computer literacy

Written and verbal communication

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Access

Job description

Description:

Summary

The housing specialist creates permanent housing opportunities by developing an inventory of available housing units for IHS clients he/she is responsible for with varying price ranges. The specialist works with case management staff to maintain landlord/rental management relations and implements the IHS Supportive Housing programs to achieve performance outcomes of the program.

Essential Functions

• Facilitate a culture of Ho'okipa (hospitality) by providing service to clients with a warm and welcoming attitude; interacting professionally with employees, vendors, landlords etc.
• Compile and implement necessary objectives of housing programs to ensure outcomes are met and assists consumers in meeting tenancy requirements, i.e. payments and lease requirements.
• Provide outreach and establish relationships with landlords to market housing programs and develop an inventory of available housing units for clients with a range of pricing.
• Inspects rental units and communicates housing quality to HUD, Case Manager and client.
• Conducts face to face housing presentations and schedules housing interviews with clients.
• Coordinates clients' applications to subsidy programs such as Section 8, or other types of permanent housing solutions with Case Manager to coordinate follow up efforts.
• Handles lease compliance issues and makes every effort to assist the client in preventing eviction.
• Works with the long-term Case Manager to assess the functioning level of clients' independent living skills and develop janitorial, maintenance and preventive plans that include regular check-ups to uncover problems to avoid crisis or failed placement.
• Provides on-going evaluation assistance, including Housing Assessments.
• Maintains records of referrals, assessments and placement plans in compliance with HUD Housing Counseling Plan; provides internal reports of program activity as well as administer standardized client self-report measures as required by the program and as determined by the Housing & Employment Director.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge of Oahu/Honolulu housing market and property managers, fair housing laws, and landlord/tenant rights.
• Possess effective problem solving and organizational skills and computer proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and Access and/or database applications.
• Able to exercise judgment and work independently under general direction.
• Ability to effectively interact with professionals, partnering agencies and high needs clients including those with mental illness and/or substance abuse problems.
• Strong written documentation, communication, negotiating and organizational skills.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field.
• At least one year experience working with disenfranchised or at risk individuals related in a homeless service and/or in a case management setting
• Proficient in Word, Excel and Access and/or database applications.

IHS is an EOE, Drug/Alcohol Free Workplace and an employer of National Service