Housing Specialist - Options for Community Living : Job Details

Description*$500 Sign-on Bonus!*Options for Community Living, Inc. is looking for a Housing Specialist to join our team! An ideal candidate should meet the following requirements:

• High School Diploma and 3 years of qualifying experience*, or an Associate's degree in health or human services or certification as an RN or LPN and 2 years of qualifying experience*, or a Bachelor's degree in health or human services and 1 year of qualifying experience.*
• Excellent time management skills and assessment abilities are required.
• Valid driver's license, safe driving record, access to a vehicle and valid auto insurance is required.
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish speaking).

*An alternative combination of education, credentials, and experience may be substituted for a degree. *Qualifying experience: Verifiable full or part time case management or case work with persons with HIV/AIDS, and/or persons with a history of mental illness, homelessness, or chemical dependence. Experience with families preferred. Our Company Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous PTO: 5 Wellness Days, 10-22 Vacation Days, 8 Sick Days, 11 Paid Holidays - yearly
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Assistance
• Wellness Initiatives
• Paid Training & On-the-Job Training
• Promotional Opportunities
• Mileage reimbursement
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account

Salary Range: $43,680/yr. ($24.00/hr.) - $54,600/yr. ($30.00/hr.) Salary offers will be commensurate with experience and other qualifications. Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM or 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (35 hours/week) Location: In-person based out of our Hempstead office, with field visits required. Pay Type: Non-exempt Responsibilities: The Housing Specialist assists the Program Supervisor of Options MRT Health Home Supportive Housing Program in the coordination of support services to clients. The ATC Housing Specialist assists homeless health home members who are high-cost, high-utilizers of Medicaid in Nassau County to obtain and maintain their housing. The Housing Specialist works with clients to reduce barriers and assists them with preparing for meeting with landlords and conducting housing searches. The Housing Specialist provides outreach, engages with landlords within the community, and creates a database of vacancies, landlords and landlord criteria to assist with housing placements.

• Provide housing retention services including outreach, identification and documentation of eligible clients, intake, assessment and reassessment of needs, advocacy, and assistance to obtain housing.
• Ensure access to comprehensive housing support services, crisis intervention, educational and independent living skills services, and health, nutrition, and vocational readiness education.
• Make regular visits to housing sites to ensure health and safety of clients and access to services. Coordinate with other providers to identify issues and barriers that may prevent an individual from maintaining stability in MRT housing.
• Conduct physical site audits monthly and coordinates service requests for needed repairs and follow up.
• Maintain contact with referral sources to identify program candidates. Complete intakes and gather supporting documentation. Review all intakes to screen for appropriate eligibility. Maintain and update status of waiting list clients.
• Arrange for submission of DSS housing requests, inspection of sites and maintain relationship with appropriate DSS staff.
• Ensure client is connected to medical provider and assist with follow up as needed.
• Participate in case conferences as needed (at least annually).
• Assist in coordination of discharges when necessary, ensuring appropriate residential alternatives and services.
• Other program or administrative activities as appropriate.
• Meet with internal or external case management staff regularly to coordinate services.
• Coordinate admissions and discharges.