Housing Specialist

Preble Street; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 49,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Preble Street in Portland, ME seeks a Housing Specialist to work with clients to obtain and maintain stable housing, and guide them through annual certifications and service needs. You will also troubleshoot landlord-tenant issues and orient new households to the program for success.

The role is full-time (40 hours/week) with a Monday–Friday 8:00am–4:30pm schedule, offering a competitive hourly rate and employee benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement options.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field of study, or a comparable combination of education and relevant experience.
• Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the Preble Street mission, harm reduction, and social and economic justice, including policy advocacy.
• Applicants must demonstrate understanding of homelessness and poverty and support individuals accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with new and existing clients to obtain and maintain stable housing.
• Ensure households complete their required annual certification process.
• Assess needs for services and troubleshoot issues between landlords and households.
• Orient new households to the program and set them up for success.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Preble Street - PORTLAND, ME 04101, The Housing Specialist will work directly with new and existing clients to obtain and maintain stable housing. The Specialist will ensure that existing households complete their required annual certification process, assess their needs for services, and troubleshoot issues between landlords and households. Specialists will also work to orient new households to the program and set them up for success.

Population Served

People currently or previously experiencing homelessness in York, Cumberland, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc counties.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position with a Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm schedule

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field of study, or a comparable combination of education and relevant experience, is required.
• Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the Preble Street mission, harm reduction, and social and economic justice, including the role of policy advocacy across all programs and positions. A strong understanding of mental illness, substance use, and co-occurring disorders, as well as low-barrier services and the related challenges, is required. Applicants must also demonstrate an understanding of and positive regard for individuals experiencing homelessness and/or living in poverty.

Compensation and Benefits

This full-time position offers an hourly rate of $23.82 as well as generous paid time off, insurance, and retirement plan benefits include:

• 4 weeks (160 hours, accrued) vacation time, 12 days (96 hours, accrued) sick time, 32 hours personal time, 12 Paid Holidays
• Health insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Dental insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Vision insurance; Employer-paid Life, STD, and LTD insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan w/ employer match

Preble Street, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, has been working since 1975 to provide best practice social services that meet urgent needs and end hunger and homelessness for individuals and families in Maine living in poverty.

Preble Street is an equal opportunity employer.

We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace.

We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and consider applications for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Preble Street recognizes that Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2IA+ people and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every qualification described in a job posting.

Our hiring process recognizes the value of various lived experiences and backgrounds when assessing candidates.

Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply.