Housing Specialist

Abode; Santa Cruz (CA); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (100% paid)

Dental & Vision coverage (100% paid)

PTO 19 days + 12 holidays

Voluntary benefits: FSA, EAP, Commuter

Retirement match 3%

Professional development opportunities

Leadership Academy programs

All-staff events

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Abode Services in Santa Cruz County is seeking a Housing Specialist for our program. The role is hybrid, with initial in-office hours transitioning to 3 days on-site and 2 days remote, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.

You will locate housing units, work with landlords, collaborate with service providers, and help participants secure and maintain housing. We offer strong benefits and a mission-driven culture.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least 1 year experience in housing, social services, or sales/customer service.
• Valid California driver's license, auto insurance, and clean DMV record required.

Responsibilities

• Provide housing placement and assistance for participants, focusing on household needs and goals.
• Search for housing units and place participants with suitable units.
• Network with landlords, renter associations, property management, and county housing providers.
• Assist with lease approvals and Housing Assistance Payments contracts with landlords.
• Distribute subsidy payments to landlords as needed.
• Provide move-in support and arrange HQI inspections prior to move-in; negotiate lease start date and terms.
• Monitor housing readiness and assist with housing transitions as needed.
• Maintain contact with participants and monitor progress; refer to team members as necessary.
• Provide conflict resolution and problem-solving support to landlords or staff.
• Ensure compliance with fair housing laws and contractual requirements.
• Attend staff meetings and other agency functions.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Emotional intelligence

Cultural humility

Relationship building

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Abode, one of the largest and effective nonprofits working to end homelessness in the Bay Area, is seeking a Housing Specialist for our program in Santa Cruz County.

* This is a Hybrid position with a standard Monday-Friday 9am-5pm shift. (HYBRID: 1st month of hire, will be full time in office , then it will be 3 days on site and 2 days remote)

The Housing Specialist is responsible for locating housing units, working closely with landlords, collaborating with service providers, and providing general housing support to ensure that homeless individuals and/or families can secure and maintain housing.

The People and Culture:

You will be surrounded by some of the most talented, supportive, smart, and kind leaders and teams - people you can be proud to work with Abode Services regularly recognizes employees’ efforts, seeks employees’ input, and cares for employees as people with lives outside of work. We believe that we make better decisions and provide quality services when our workforce reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate. People of color make up nearly 70% of our workforce and we strive to recruit and retain employees from all backgrounds.

Our Benefits & Perks

• $28.85 - $31.74 per hour DOE
• 100% paid health, vision, and dental options
• 19 PTO days & 12 Holidays per year
• Voluntary benefits: FSA, EAP, Commuter Checks, Life Insurance, Legal, and more
• 3% retirement match/contribution
• Professional Development Trainings and Opportunities, Leadership Academy Programs, and All Staff Events
• Dynamic, mission-driven culture and supportive leadership. We support you in supporting others

How You Make An Impact

• Provide housing placement and assistance for participants, focusing on the household’s needs and goals.
• Housing search and placement of appropriate units for potential participants.â¯
• Network with landlords, renter’s associations, property management businesses and county wide permanent housing providers.
• Assist with the approval of all leases and help execute Housing Assistance Payment contracts with landlords.
• Prepare and ensure the accurate distribution ofâ¯subsidy payments to landlords as needed.
• Provide move-in support for program teams, including perform or arrange for Housing Quality Inspections (HQI’s) prior to move-in,â¯negotiate lease start date, review /approval of lease terms, coordinate housewarming furniture move, get documentation from landlord for check request, prepare move in documentation, upload housing documentation to Welcome Mat housing database.
• Provide notices of contract renewals and rental adjustments.â¯
• Participate as a member of the service team by attending case conference meetings, assisting service staff in evaluation of participant’s housing readiness, reducing housing barriers and status of unit availability.
• Maintain contact with participants, monitor progress, report, and refer to team members as necessary after housing is secured.
• Provide aid and expertise to landlords or service staff for conflict resolution and problem solving.
• Ensure that all regulatory agreements, contracts, and fair housing laws are met as they relate to housing.
• Attending staff meetings and other agency functions as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

How You Meet Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required.
• 1 year of experience working in the housing field, social services, or sales/customer service experience and knowledge of the local housing markets and geography.
• Use of personal vehicle and proof of valid California Driver's License and current auto insurance, along with a clean DMV record, is required.

Competencies

• Excellent verbal & written communication, organizational, and time management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with teams.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, systems, and platforms.
• Ability to learn and use required mobile devices and business-related applications.
• Outstanding communication skills and high degree of emotional intelligence, cultural humility, with a proven track record to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts.

Notice:

This description is to be used as a guide only. It does not constitute a contract, commitment or promise of any kind. Abode Services reserves the right to change, add, delete, upgrade, or downgrade the position as dictated by business necessity at any time with or without notice.

Notice:

Abode Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug Free Workplace