Re-Entry Stability Specialist

EDEN Inc; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

EDEN Inc. is seeking a Stability Specialist to help individuals exiting prison, who are homeless or at risk of losing housing, find stable housing and navigate subsidy programs.

You will outreach in homes and the community, coordinate with landlords and case managers, and assist with housing options and inspections to ensure HUD standards are met. You will collaborate with Housing Eligibility Specialists and other staff, maintain records, and participate in program meetings.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in social services related field is required.
• Two years of background work in the social services field, including experience working with individuals with criminal backgrounds is preferred.
• Ability to overcome housing barriers and connect participants to landlords and resources.
• Strong problem-solving skills; experience with re-entry adults preferred.
• Must have a valid driver's license, reliable automobile and insurance; transportation of participants will be required.

Responsibilities

• Outreaches to participants to assist with retaining or finding housing.
• Receives and responds to referrals from EDEN staff, partnering agencies, landlords, and others in a timely manner.
• Maintains/referrals in a database and reports statistics to supervisor.
• Educates and orients new participants on subsidy programs.
• Work with participants, subsidy program staff, property managers, and partners to arrange needed support for housing.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Case management

Housing outreach

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in social services related field

Job description

SUMMARY

This position works with individuals exiting prison, who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing. The Stability Specialist will work to find housing, outreach to participants in their homes and in the community, assist with emergency moves, act as liaison between landlord and tenant, and assist in the education and communication between the participant and their case manager.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Outreaches to participants in order to assist them with retaining or finding housing.
• Receives and responds to referrals from EDEN staff, partnering agency staff, landlords, concerned citizens, governmental offices, etc. in a timely manner.
• Maintains/organizes referrals for outreach service/outcomes in a database and reports statistics regularly to supervisor/agency.
• Educates and orients new participants on the various subsidy programs that EDEN administers.
• Works directly with participants, subsidy program staff, property managers, department managers, as well as with partnering agencies to arrange needed support for participants.
• Discusses housing barriers and develops solutions to overcoming these barriers with participants.
• Assists participants with identifying housing options and if needed, accompanies them to view potential units.
• Develops and maintains relationships with landlords in the community by networking and searching for housing through websites, periodicals and in communities while promoting EDEN's subsidy programs.
• Conducts housing inspections to ensure compliance with HUD's Housing Quality Standards.
• Assists Housing Eligibility Specialists and Property Managers in outreaching to participants who are severely impaired, have a severe mental illness, physically disabled, temporarily hospitalized and/or non-compliant or without housing options.
• Handles sensitive communication with social service agencies/landlords/tenants regarding matters pertaining to participants and their ongoing tenancy and/or participation in EDEN's subsidy programs.
• Assists in the completion of bi-annual United Way statistical and narrative reports, as requested.
• Participates in monthly Housing Subsidy Programs Department meetings and follows up on individual and group projects, as assigned.
• Provides back-up to other Housing Stability Specialists in their absence or when needs require it.
• Maintains awareness of new developments in the field by establishing personal networks, reading professional literature and attending conferences and seminars.
• Contributes to team efforts by assisting with other duties, as assigned.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adheres to EDEN's core values of communication, teamwork, respect, empowerment, good will, accountability, inclusion, and trust during all activities and presentations to meet agency, department, and individual goals.
• Adheres to EDEN Inc.'s policies and procedures.
• Strives to improve work processes within and across agency departments.
• Meets or exceeds the expectations of internal and external customers.
• Is accountable for the results of work conducted on individual and collaborative levels.
• Adheres to ethical, confidential and professional standards and requirements of federal and state laws, as well as the policies of licensing and credentialing boards and funders.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

A bachelor's degree in social services related field is required. Two years of background work in the social services field, including experience working with individuals with criminal backgrounds is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to work to overcome housing barriers. Ability to follow-up, connecting participants to landlords, as well as to resources in the community. Strong problem-solving skills required. Experience working with re-entry adults preferred.

Certifications, Licences, Registrations

Must have a valid driver's license, reliable automobile and insurance. Transportation of participants will be required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; talk or hear, in person, in meetings, and by telephone; use hands to handle, feel, or operate standard office equipment; use fingers to type; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; and occasionally perform other motions including stooping, kneeling; and bending. The nature of work requires an ability to lift up to 25 lbs. The ability to drive a motorized vehicle is also required. As per EDEN Inc.'s policy, EDEN will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The majority of duties are performed at headquarters although the job requires frequent travel to off-site locations and meetings including EDEN's PSH projects. The majority of work is performed in a climate-controlled general office environment with minimal noise. Hours of work may exceed normal business hours during peak periods. Potential job conditions include eyestrain from extensive computer use, working in extreme temperatures (both hot and cold), and interacting with a diverse population of residents having both physical and mental barriers.

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of EDEN, Inc. Since no position description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

Mission: EDEN's mission is to provide housing solutions to people facing the challenges of housing insecurities and homelessness.

Vision: EDEN recognizes that housing is a basic right of all people, and the first step in helping those vulnerable and disadvantaged transform their lives. We envision, that through our efforts, homelessness will be brief and rare; and every family will have a safe, secure place to call home. We believe housing serves as a foundation to build stable lives, advance independence, and fulfill aspirations.

Equal employment opportunity in full compliance with applicable law will be provided to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.