Placement Specialist

Heading Home, Inc; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Heading Home, Inc. seeks a Placement Specialist - Family to provide housing search and case management for families experiencing homelessness in the Lawrence, MA area. The role works within a team to monitor progress, secure resources, and help families obtain permanent housing.

Responsibilities include developing rehousing plans, assisting with subsidy applications, and guiding clients through housing processes while maintaining compliance with housing laws and agency policies.

Qualifications

• Associates Degree or High School Diploma with three years related work experience.

Responsibilities

• Develops Rehousing Plans with heads of households and meets weekly to review progress and plan next steps.
• Obtains resources and services to address housing barriers, including CORI mitigation, credit repair, and financial applications.
• Guides clients through housing applications and referrals to housing authorities, non-profits, private management, and community housing partners.
• Assists with ongoing housing search activities: finding housing, contacting landlords, accompanying to view/appliances and applications.
• Supports move-in transition: budgeting, furniture and furnishings assistance, and other resources as needed.
• Documents client interactions using reporting systems; participates in on-call rotations and supervision.
• Maintains knowledge of housing laws to assist client advocacy; participates in required trainings and development activities.

Education

Associates Degree or High School Diploma with three years related work experience

Job description

• Location 186 Massachusetts Ave,Boston, MA, 02115-3011,United States
• Base Pay $26.26 - $26.26 / Hour
• Job Category Case Manager
• Employee Type FT Non-Exempt
• Manage Others No

Description

Heading Home's mission is to prevent and end homelessness. Through personalized support and shelter, as well as larger advocacy and affordable housing work, we provide stability and foster the independence every family and individual needs to thrive.

Founded in 1974, Heading Home is a leading provider of housing and support services for low and extremely low-income individuals and families currently or formerly experiencing homelessness in Eastern Massachusetts. For over 50 years, we have successfully helped thousands of people end their homelessness.

As an agency, our services are diverse; we provide emergency, transitional, permanent and affordable housing, and support services, to low-income individuals and families.

We are proud to share that for 17 years running, 90%+ of Heading Home's clients retained permanent housing. Last year, 97% of Heading Home clients remained housed after one year.

Job Title: Placement Specialist

Reports To: Program Manager

Location: Lawrence, MA

Position Type: Full Time; Non-Exempt

Hourly Rate: $26.26

Overview: The Placement Specialist - Family(PSF) will provide housing search and case management services to families experiencing homelessness. The CMPSF works within a team to monitor and support efforts of program participants to obtain community resources and services, improve living skills and gain permanent housing. The CMPSF requires the ability to address the components of apartment search and showings, application support and lease negotiations. Assists with client’s subsidy applications and collecting necessary documents.

Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with heads of households, develops Rehousing Plans and meets with families weekly to review RHP progress and plan next steps;
• Obtains resources and services as requested and/or needed to address barriers to housing including but not limited to; CORI mitigation, credit repair, and assistance with financial applications;
• Ensure that all clients receive explanation and assistance with navigating housing application processes and referral to all appropriate housing opportunities; including but not limited to, local housing authorities, regional non-profit housing agencies, private management companies, and community development corporations;
• Assists clients with on-going housing search activities including but not limited to, finding housing opportunities, contacting prospective landlords and/or management companies, accompanying clients to view and apply for units, attending appointments at housing agencies and other search activities as they present;
• Assists client with move-in transition supports including but not limited to; furniture and furnishings assistance, budget support, and other resources and services as needed;
• Documents all interactions with clients utilizing appropriate reporting mechanisms, including web-based data collection systems;
• Participate in on call rotation schedule;
• Maintain familiarity with relevant housing laws and regulations around Fair Housing and Landlord Tenant laws to assist in client advocacy as appropriate.
• Participates in individual and group supervision as assigned by Program Manager;
• Participates in all required training and professional development activities;
• Works collaboratively with Development staff to participate in volunteer activities as needed;
• Observes all program and agency rules and policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Heading Home, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or other legally protected status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

Cubicle space within large office building; prolonged sitting at a desk and working on a computer, ability to climb up to three floors of stairs, ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Associates Degree or High School Diploma with three years related work experience;
• Knowledge and experience with service agencies and resources for families experiencing homelessness;
• Willingness to accompany clients as needed to appointments;
• Willingness to work as part of a team to promote the goals of the agency;
• Sensitive to the needs of people experiencing homelessness, low income and diverse populations;
• Ability to work in a busy, diverse team setting;
• Excellent time management, organizational and communication skills;
• Ability to independently meet with clients in the field.