Housing Specialist - Youth Supportive Services

Schedule: Full time, benefits eligible
Pay: $20 / hr

Benefits - Approximate full-time benefits package value = $21,000+:

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• $1,200 annual employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly).
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off.

Mission Statement
Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, VOA Utah encourages individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person’s life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

Program Mission Statement
To recognize and meet the distinctive needs of youth ages 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness by providing shelter, mental health care, case management, life skills training, connection to community services and resources with the ultimate goal of assisting all clients in obtaining safe and stable housing and mental health care.

Position Summary 

The Housing Specialist is a position with two main job functions. This individual works to assess youth experiencing homelessness or maintaining housing for grant eligibility. They will assist youth by performing housing searches, coordinating with other housing departments and programs, and connecting guests to relevant resources in the community as applicable. This position will work to find new housing leads and encourage property managers/owners to participate in VOA Youth housing programs. This position is located at the Youth Resource Center.  

 

Essential Duties  

• Housing Assessor 
  • Process client eligibility, including assessments and recertifications. 
  • Maintain client files and eligibility timely and accurately in line with grant requirements. 
  • Inspect units before client moves in using HQS standards.  
  • Become familiar with rental assistance funding sources and grants. 
  • Communicate with tenants, property managers and community partners on a regular basis regarding eligibility, rental payments, client stability, and unit safety. 
  • Work with Youth Resource Center clients and youth referred by outside agencies to connect them with funding sources.  
• Housing Locator 
  • Build and maintain relationships with property managers and landlords. 
  • Work closely with case housing case management teams to determine appropriate funding sources and assist with housing placements according to individualized needs of youth. 
    • Support youth with applying to appropriate housing placements using a trauma-informed lens. 
  • Educate property owners/managers on our programs and the housing first model. 
  • Coordinate payments accurately to ensure property owners/managers get paid timely. 
• Collaborate with program manager in ensuring program fidelity, documentation accuracy, and intra-agency collaborations. 
• Daily collaboration with all departments promoting a healthy team environment.
• Attend weekly team meetings and contribute to case staffing.  
• Update internal tracking and databases in a timely manner. 
• De-escalate, empower and advocate for the diverse populations we work with. 
• Attend work as scheduled and arrive at the designated time.   
  • Work must be performed on-site (unless pre-approved by supervisor) due to the need to provide direct client care. 
• Demonstrates awareness and desire to understand diverse populations. 
• Willingness to understand that housing first, harm reduction & low barrier access to resources is best practice and essential to this role. 
• Perform other functions as necessary or assigned. 

Qualifications 

High school diploma or equivalent required and 2 years of social services or homelessness-related experience or any combination of education, experience, lived experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 

• Ability to utilize Microsoft Office and other computer programs.
• Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, agency policies and procedures, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
• Ability to prioritize tasks; flexibility to respond to changes.  
• Must be able to qualify and pass Utah Department of Human Services Case Management Certification within 60 days of being hired.
• Willingness to accept supervision and direction. 
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record, and be insurable on the agency liability policy.  
• Must be able to pass Utah-DHS – Office of Licensing background screening and pre-employment drug screen.  

Physical Demands 

• Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs.  
• Ability to move around the facility, interacting with clients for extended periods. 
• Work is generally performed in an office environment.  May entail using a computer for extended periods of time. 

Complete the application on the career page of our website:  www.voaut.org/careers

Volunteers of America, Utah is committed to creating a diverse environment, where all people feel valued, have the opportunity to do their personal best and where leadership development is fostered. The organization is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs without regard to race, ethnicity, skin color, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and developmental abilities, physical ability or religious belief. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.