Housing Stablizer

San Diego Rescue Mission; Vista (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

San Diego Rescue Mission seeks a Housing Stabilizer to support individuals transitioning from homelessness into permanent housing. You will review handoff materials, maintain budgets, and monitor client progress to ensure stable tenancy and ongoing financial stability.

The role emphasizes collaboration with the Outreach team, landlords, and community partners, while maintaining confidentiality and trauma-informed care in all client interactions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Experience in homelessness services, housing stabilization, case management, behavioral health, or related field may substitute for formal education.
• Relevant lived experience is valued and may be considered with demonstrated professional skills.
• Combination of education, lived experience, and job experience may be considered to meet qualifications.
• Experience with homelessness, housing instability, behavioral health challenges, or barriers is strongly preferred.
• Experience with housing navigation, landlord engagement, budgeting, benefits/resources, or housing-retention services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Receive clients through a scheduled warm handoff from Outreach/Housing Navigation, ideally before transition.
• Review all handoff documentation, including client budget, income/paystubs, bank statements, stabilization agreement, housing information, and other program documents.
• Meet with assigned clients at least monthly, with additional contact based on client needs.
• Obtain and review monthly bank statements and updated income documentation to monitor financial stability.
• Develop realistic budgets and plans for maintaining rent, utilities, food, transportation, and other essential expenses.
• Help clients develop the skills to independently maintain housing after program ends.
• Identify potential housing-stability concerns early, including missed rent, lease violations, employment/income changes, behavioral concerns, landlord issues, or difficulty managing finances.
• Coordinate with landlords and property managers to resolve tenancy concerns and prevent housing loss.
• Connect clients to community resources, benefits, employment services, behavioral health services, ECM, and other supportive services.
• Maintain clear boundaries between Outreach, Housing Navigation, and Housing Stabilization responsibilities after handoff.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in HMIS/Clarity and other required program systems.
• Ensure ROIs, assessments, case notes, housing documents, and program documentation remain current.
• Track housing retention, client progress, income changes, and other required program outcomes.
• Participate in weekly team meetings and communicate emerging concerns to the Manager/Director.
• Collaborate with the Social Worker, Housing Navigator, Outreach team, landlords/property managers, and community partners as needed.
• Follow SDRM policies regarding confidentiality, client privacy, trauma-informed care, professional boundaries, documentation, and safety.

Skills

Case management

Documentation

Trauma-informed care

Communication

Boundaries

Time management

Driving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

HMIS/Clarity

Job description

Position Summary

The Housing Stabilizer supports individuals transitioning from homelessness into permanent housing and helps them achieve long-term housing stability. The position begins after a warm handoff from the Outreach/Housing Navigation team and provides ongoing support to help clients successfully maintain their housing, meet program requirements, strengthen financial stability, and address barriers that could jeopardize their tenancy.

Description

Housing Stabilizer — Job Description

Position Summary

The Housing Stabilizer supports individuals transitioning from homelessness into permanent housing and helps them achieve long-term housing stability. The position begins after a warm handoff from the Outreach/Housing Navigation team and provides ongoing support to help clients successfully maintain their housing, meet program requirements, strengthen financial stability, and address barriers that could jeopardize their tenancy.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive clients through a scheduled warm handoff from Outreach/Housing Navigation, ideally at least one week before the transition.
• Review all handoff documentation, including client budget, income/paystubs, bank statements, stabilization agreement, housing information, and other required program documents.
• Meet with assigned clients at least monthly, with additional contact based on client needs.
• Obtain and review monthly bank statements and updated income documentation to monitor financial stability.
• Work with clients to develop realistic budgets and plans for maintaining rent, utilities, food, transportation, and other essential expenses.
• Help clients develop the skills necessary to independently maintain housing after program assistance ends.
• Identify potential housing-stability concerns early, including missed rent, lease violations, employment/income changes, behavioral concerns, landlord issues, or difficulty managing finances.
• Coordinate with landlords and property managers when appropriate to resolve tenancy concerns and prevent unnecessary housing loss.
• Connect clients to community resources, benefits, employment services, behavioral health services, ECM, and other supportive services.
• Maintain clear boundaries between Outreach, Housing Navigation, and Housing Stabilization responsibilities after the client handoff.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in HMIS/Clarity and other required program systems.
• Ensure required ROIs, assessments, case notes, housing documents, and program documentation remain current.
• Track housing retention, client progress, income changes, and other required program outcomes.
• Participate in weekly team meetings and communicate emerging concerns to the Manager/Director.
• Collaborate with the Social Worker, Housing Navigator, Outreach team, landlords/property managers, and community partners as needed.
• Follow all SDRM policies regarding confidentiality, client privacy, trauma-informed care, professional boundaries, documentation, and safety.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field preferred, but not required.
• Relevant professional experience in homelessness services, housing stabilization, case management, behavioral health, substance use recovery, social services, or a related field may substitute for formal education.
• Relevant lived experience is valued and may be considered as qualifying experience when combined with demonstrated professional skills and an understanding of appropriate workplace and client boundaries.
• A combination of education, lived experience, and relevant job experience may be considered in determining whether a candidate meets the qualifications for the position.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, behavioral health challenges, substance use disorders, or other significant barriers is strongly preferred.
• Experience with housing navigation, landlord engagement, budgeting, benefits/resources, or housing-retention services preferred.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation, manage a caseload, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively with clients, landlords, community partners, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of professional boundaries, confidentiality, trauma-informed care, and person-centered services.
• HMIS/Clarity experience preferred; training may be provided.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet agency driving requirements, when applicable.

Equivalent Qualifications Statement

San Diego Rescue Mission recognizes that relevant skills and expertise may be developed through multiple pathways. Candidates who do not possess a bachelor’s degree may qualify through a combination of relevant professional experience, lived experience, training, certifications, and demonstrated competency related to housing stabilization and serving individuals experiencing homelessness.