Housing Specialist - Hazel Heights - HS067

Paycom; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

15 Paid Holidays

Sick time (13 days)

PTO (up to 26 days)

Life Insurance & AD&D

Disability (short/long-term)

401(k) with match

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

NARA Northwest (NARA NW) is seeking a Housing Specialist for the Hazel Heights program in SE Portland. You will deliver in-home and community-based housing support for adults over 50 with housing history challenges, focusing on stability and recovery through Housing First principles.

Responsibilities include creating housing plans, documenting progress, coordinating with health and social service providers, and ensuring safety in all client interactions.

Qualifications

• QMHA credential required or obtainable within 6 months.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience with homelessness or behavioral health is preferred.
• Ability to prepare service plans and progress notes.

Responsibilities

• Provide home and community based housing support using strengths-based case management.
• Develop housing plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Complete paperwork verifying homelessness, disability, and income.
• Build relationships with partners and Hazel Heights managers.
• Coordinate with providers for behavioral health, medical, and vocational services.
• Assist referrals, gather documentation, and address barriers to housing.
• Ensure safety and compliance when transporting clients and working in the community.

Skills

QMHA credential

Strong communication

Safe driving record

Team collaboration

Documentation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Documentation skills

Job description

Job Details:

Job Location: River House - Portland, OR 97214, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: 2 Year Degree, Salary Range: $26.09 - $35.70 Hourly, Job Shift: Day, Job Category: UDS-Outreach Worker-26-11c, Title: Housing Specialist - Hazel Heights

Location: River House (211 SE Caruthers Portland, OR 97214) and Hazel Heights

Schedule: In-person, Monday through Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm.

Wage Range: $26.09 -$35.70, Hourly. Non-exempt

If you are a motivated and dedicated Housing Specialist looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!

About the Company:

At NARA NW, you’ll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether you’re passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, there’s a place for you to make a meaningful difference.

Company Mission:

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.

Position Overview:

The Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Specialist works independently and collaboratively with multiple NARA Northwest teams and Central City Concern’s Hazel Heights housing program in SE Portland to provide community and home-based housing support services to individuals 50 years and over with a history of homelessness and whose health, behavioral health, and socioeconomic issues have prevented them from accessing housing in the past. Services are focused around supporting the individual and/or couple to stabilize their housing, end their experience with homelessness, and improve their health and move forward in their recovery.

What you will do:

• Provide home and community based support services to program participants utilizing strengths-based case management while embracing the philosophy of Motivational Interviewing and Housing First. Utilize assertive engagement techniques to meet participants where they are willing to participate and coach participants in setting goals and identifying realistic steps to achieve them.
• Complete housing-related service plans, progress notes, discharge summaries and other documentation as required.
• Complete program specific initial and annual paperwork with participants, including verification of homelessness, verification of disability, and income verification.
• Develop positive relationships with collaborative partners, external providers, and Hazel Heights property managers.
• Be responsive to property managers as concerns arise in order to support participants in successfully maintaining their housing and preventing eviction. Follow up with property managers to determine outcome of any needed interventions.
• Work in close coordination with other providers/ support systems to address the needs of clients. Includes initiating clinical consults, assuring coordination of treatment planning and ongoing support services. This may also include facilitating referrals and engagement in behavioral health, medical and dental services, vocational resources, and income acquisition.
• Assist new referrals through the housing process including gathering necessary documentation, addressing possible barriers to housing approval, accessing funding for move-in costs, and obtaining furnishings for their home.
• Consistently use strong clinical and professional judgment while providing services to clients; including taking appropriate safety precautions while transporting clients and providing services to clients in the community/homes.
• Demonstrate responsibility for safety of participants and property. Must be familiar with fire and building regulations and evacuation procedures.
• Provide ongoing assessment of needs and risk of harm for each individual and respond appropriately.

Qualifications:

• QMHA credential required. If not currently credentialed, must be able to obtain QMHA credential within 6 months of hire.
• Requires a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
• Professional experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or experiencing severe and persistent mental illness.
• Experience creating service plans, progress notes, and other documentation.
• Knowledge of housing resources and programs.
• Knowledge and understanding of recovery-based, holistic approaches to addressing behavioral health needs.
• Ability to engage and interact positively with individuals and families to promote strengths and improve health and well-being.
• Excellent communication skills and initiative to effectively coordinate care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clients, other NARA NW staff, and team members, and to treat everyone with respect and dignity at all times.
• Access to reliable transportation, current driver’s license with a clean driving record, and proof of auto insurance.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
• Ability to pass criminal background and DMV checks.

What’s in it for you?

15 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, December 25th and your Birthday!

Benefits:

• Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
• 15 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)
• 13 Paid Days of Sick Time
• 13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
• $50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• 401(k) with 4% Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC

NARA NW Mission:

Our mission is to provide education, physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and everyone in need.

NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. To support NARA NW in its mission, all employees agree to refrain from illicit drug use, marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse, both on and off the job. In addition, all employees agree to model alcohol sobriety. Modeling alcohol sobriety means not consuming, discussing, or promoting the use of alcohol, on the job, on social media and when in the community where the employee would be likely to be seen by NARA NW clients or community. If in recovery, employees must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that they will be able to remain sober.

Consistent with NARA NW’s sobriety policy, all employees, volunteers, interns, and contractors, as applicable, are required to sign a "Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace Certification Form" and NARA NW "Modeling Sobriety Policy Form" as a condition of employment to confirm that they are aware of this policy and that they agree to comply with it. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. This policy is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state counterpart

Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 and 473). NARA Northwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration. Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position’s activities and requirements, the agency reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties, as necessary.