Housing Stabilization Specialist

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

ORCA card subsidy

Paid Time Off (34 days per year)

Retirement Plan

Job summary

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) in Seattle seeks a housing stability professional to create and implement client-centered plans and support residents in achieving stable, independent living. You will collaborate with a CSS team, address complex needs, and help tenants maintain housing through proactive coordination and advocacy.

The role emphasizes high client engagement, creativity, independence, and teamwork, with measurable progress toward long-term housing outcomes in a dynamic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science; OR a combination of 1 year of relevant paid work experience and demonstrated ability to perform required duties.
• Internal applicants in direct, client-facing positions can substitute 6 months of experience for 1 year.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing on-going services to adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
• Advocate for consumers' access to community resources and services, ensuring that needs are met and rights maintained; consult with community providers for continuity of care.
• In collaboration with residents and their treatment team, complete the Housing Stability Plan and help clients achieve goals.
• Assist with unit inspection preparation with the treatment team.
• Regularly review and modify Housing Stability Plans to address retention barriers.
• Provide transitional care when residents are discharged from inpatient settings.
• Assist with accessing supports to preserve independent living.
• Assist residents with communicating with landlords and housing staff.
• Lead activities contributing to long-term housing success and independent living skills.
• Complete documentation on all client interactions according to agency standards.

Skills

Communication

Diverse populations

Behavior management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science

1 year paid work experience or demonstration of ability

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Days Off

Friday, Saturday

Shift

Day

Insurance Benefits

Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits

Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation

This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

JOB DEFINITION

When it comes to housing retention and independent living skills, some Permanent Supportive Housing tenants need more support than can be easily brought to bear by their care team. This innovative position, in partnership with the existing care team, will create and implement client-centered housing stability plans and assist residents with achieving goals that align with their stability plan. Support will range from managing challenging unit conditions, mitigating lease violations, to supporting community building events and activities. This position will be part of the CSS team at the location, although will not have a defined caseload, but instead work directly tenants how have extra support needs in doing whatever it takes to promote housing retention.

This role seeks to heighten positive engagement with individuals with high medical needs, persistent mental illness and substance use disorders, frequent institutional contacts and treatment stays, or simply more intensive support. It’s the perfect position for someone who wants high client engagement; likes creativity, independence and teamwork; and wants to see long-term, tangible results!

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team providing on-going services to adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
• Advocate for consumers' access to community resources and services, ensuring that consumers' needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• In collaboration with residents and their treatment team, complete the Housing Stability Plan and help clients achieve their short and long-term goals.
• Assist with unit inspection preparation in collaboration with the treatment team.
• Regularly review and modify each client’s Housing Stability Plan to address housing retention barriers.
• Provide transitional care when residents are discharged from an inpatient setting.
• Assist with accessing supports to preserve independent living.
• Assist residents with communicating with landlords and other housing staff.
• In partnership with other staff members, help facilitate or lead activities that contribute to long-term housing success and improve independent living skills.
• Complete documentation on all client interactions according to agency standards and prepare and submit documentation of services.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to obtain an Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) license in WA soon after hire.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of behavior.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science, OR
• A combination of 1 year* of relevant paid work experience and demonstration of the ability to perform required job duties
• Internal applicants in direct, client facing positions can substitute 6 months of experience in lieu of 1 year

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid Washington State driver’s license and insurable driving record

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to stand for long periods, climb stairs, sit, communicate with other employees, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Salary Description

$39.08 - $43.15 per hour