Resource Specialist

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 38,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k contribution after 1 year

Employee Assistance Program

Life insurance

Health, Vision and Dental Insurance

Job summary

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency seeks a Resource Specialist to provide rental assistance to households facing eviction. You will process cases, gather required documentation, and collaborate with landlords to ensure timely support.

This grant-funded role offers growth opportunities and hands-on experience in homeless service delivery. The position requires day shifts, with flexibility for evenings and weekends as needed, and on-site work at MWVCAA.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Four years of relevant social services experience required.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and working with vulnerable populations preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates the eviction prevention assistance application process.
• Works with landlords to gather required documentation and build positive relationships.
• Maintains knowledge of eviction prevention resources and funding pathways.
• Manages intake, assessment, and eligibility determinations with clients.
• Ensures confidentiality of client information and documentation across HMIS and agency systems.
• Provides on-site services at the Gussie Belle Complex and coordinates with partners.

Skills

Customer service

Time management

Written communication

Phone skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Four years of relevant social services experience

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency

OUR MISSION: Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency invests in people and their futures to reduce the impacts of poverty.

Our Vision: We envision a just future, where our communities are empowered to

reach positive outcomes and everyone is respected for their infinite worth.

Working at MWVCAA means becoming part of a mission-driven community dedicated to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all. We offer competitive pay, a rich company culture that values diversity, and an array of benefits - but we consider the best benefit here to be the reward of helping those in our community live better lives. Come find meaningful work and bring your skills as a Resource Specialist. Your main responsibilities will beproviding rental assistance to households facing eviction. The person in this position processes rental assistance for households that are at risk of eviction due to nonpayment of rent. This position will perform case processing tasks and work with clients to collect the required documentation. This is a grant funded position contingent upon the continuation of program funding. This team offers a lot of growth opportunities and professional development through hands-on experience.

Monday to Friday. Day shift. Flexibility required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Four years of relevant social services experience.
• Knowledge of/or experience with the principles of trauma-informed care, trauma awareness, working with unsheltered or vulnerable populations, as well as best practices in homeless service delivery is preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Driver qualifications are required for this position. Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required.
• Basic Life Support/First Aid Certification is required within first 30 days of hire.
• Candidate must pass a comprehensive MWVCAA background screening prior to employment.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug screenings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Must possess computer skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, data entry, and internet applications;
• Effective customer service, phone skills, as well as writing and appropriate email etiquette.
• Must possess time management skills, meet deadlines, and process cases accurately with a sense of urgency.
• Exhibits a positive attitude and engages with others in a cooperative and supportive manner.
• Must be willing to work day, evenings and weekend shifts as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

• Facilitates the application process for eviction prevention assistance.
• Works closely with landlords to gather required documentation, obtain signatures, and build positive working relationships.
• Maintains current knowledge of all available eviction prevention resources and funding pathways to maximize housing stability for households.
• Works directly with clients throughout the intake, assessment, and eligibility determination process.
• Creates and maintains an efficient service delivery process from intake through eligibility determination, payment processing, and case closure while ensuring confidentiality of client information and documentation.
• Ensures complete, timely, and accurate client documentation within the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and other required agency data systems.
• Provides coverage for the Eviction Prevention lobby as needed by welcoming clients, responding to inquiries, conducting initial screenings, directing individuals to appropriate staff or resources, and ensuring a positive and professional customer service experience.
• Provides onsite services at the Gussie Belle Complex, serving as a resource for residents by conducting outreach, completing assessments and intakes, providing housing stabilization support, connecting residents to community resources, and coordinating services with internal and external partners.
• Supports the delivery of Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) services by completing screenings and eligibility determinations, coordinating referrals, assisting with service planning, documenting services, and ensuring compliance with HRSN program requirements and Medicaid documentation standards.
• Collaborates with internal programs and community partners to ensure coordinated service delivery and reduce barriers to housing stability and overall wellness.
• Maintains professional relationships with property managers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and partner agencies to improve client outcomes.
• Complies with all Agency policies and procedures, including finance, confidentiality, safety, health, and grant compliance requirements.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory duties in this position.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

• Maintains calm disposition when clients or others may become escalated.
• Regulates emotions during interactions with escalated clients and staff
• Regulates emotions and handles pressure of frequent demands for attention, time and work tasks.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to focus.
• Regularly lift and/or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Manual dexterity for handling office equipment.
• Ability to physically and mentally tolerate escalated and occasionally destructive behavior from clients. Able to de-escalate others and respond calmly, and lead others in a crisis.
• Ability to proceed independently in accordance with Agency and program policies, guidelines, and initiatives.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position requires on-site work and is not eligible for remote work.

• Occasional urgent situations requiring law enforcement involvement and/or paramedic professionals.
• Close quarters, often with a client population experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and/or severe and persistent mental illness, and/or unpredictable behavior.
• Exposures to trash and potential biohazards.

WHAT WE OFFER

• 401k contribution after 1 year
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance
• For some positions, employees may be eligible for company-sponsored continuing education

MWVCAA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, veterans, and people with disabilities or any other protected category. We welcome all people to join us in achieving our Mission. If you require any assistance in the application process, or reasonable accommodations to perform the essential duties of the position, please notify a member of our team at [phone]

This is a partial list of essential duties and responsibilities. To review the full job description, download below.

Note that compensation for each role at MWVCAA is based off a number of factors such as experience and education.

If you need ADA accommodations to apply for MWVCAA job openings, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or call 503-585-6232 to ask for a HR Team Member.