Job Description

The Program:
YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program offers 24/7 shelter, a help hotline, and emergency intervention for victims of domestic violence. Providing services for the entire family in Kanawha, Clay, and Boone counties, YWCA Resolve also offers case management, court advocacy, counseling, support groups, safety planning, monitored parent-child visitation/exchange, programs for children, and teen dating safety. Licensed by the West Virginia Family Protection Services Board, our mission is to eliminate domestic violence through leadership, education, empowerment, and community collaboration.

The Position:
The Housing Specialist under the supervision of the Program and Assistant Directors, is responsible for the orientation of eligible participants into a rapid rehousing/transition-in-place program and to provide housing search and supportive services to promote the participant's self-sufficiency, integration into the community, and permanency in housing.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services preferred.
• Or at least a two-year degree in human services with two years of experience.

Additional Requisites:

• Requires knowledge and belief in the “Housing First” philosophy and strategies.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly listening, mediation, and writing skills.
• Possesses strong organizational skills and is detail-oriented for completing the requirements to maintain contract compliance, while handling a potentially demanding workload. 
• Knowledge or understanding of tenant’s rights and responsibilities and trauma-informed advocacy.
• Possess adequate record-keeping, budgeting, and mathematical skills and the ability to produce required reports to federal, state, and local government agencies and funding sources.
• Demonstrate knowledge of community resources, social service agencies, and landlords.
• Sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the population served.
• Establish and set appropriate limits with people served to help them gain skills and confidence.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and service providers or professionals.
• The capacity to empower and hold participants accountable to reach the objectives of their initial stabilization plan and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
• Workaround moderate noise, stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift or carry up to 50 lbs.
• Have and maintain a valid driver’s license and a vehicle.
• Must pass a criminal background check.

Responsibilities:

• Assess housing barriers of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to determine housing and service needs.
• Develop a housing procurement, financial, and self-sufficiency case management plan with participants. This shall include an intake interview to determine the participant’s needs, goals, and eligibility.
• Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice while providing mediation and advocacy with landlords on the participant’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing.
• Create and maintain consistent communication channels that are both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e. tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors). 
• Serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers and participants and between participants and neighbors.
• Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and community programs.
• Assist in developing and encouraging a participant's adherence to a personal budget through pro-active housing and budget counseling sessions; provide budget counseling and education to assist participants in establishing payment plans for bills and past debts and assist in obtaining and maintaining their housing.
• Assist participants in developing a strength-based/solution-focused individualized goal and action plan that promotes permanent housing and self-sufficiency; develop an effective, timely referral network to ensure ongoing direction and support as needed.
• Identify participant strengths and barriers to stability and assist participants in reducing barriers and linking to resources and services.
• Provide proactive follow-up home visits to ensure stability and further progress towards self-sufficiency; this includes support, advocacy, reducing isolation, listening, problem-solving, and identifying resources to assist with the reintegration of participants in the community.
• Apply knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate participants about their rights and responsibilities.
• Transport participants as deemed necessary for housing and job searches and occasional visits to relevant social service agencies.
• Meet with participants in their homes, at least monthly and more often as appropriate, to assess needs specifically related to housing, noting other issues that could impede housing stabilization.
• Schedule and conduct meetings with participants to review their budget and work on longer-term stabilization goals that address employment/income, money management strategies, family/parenting, interpersonal relationships, self-development, and vocational/educational needs.
• Refer participants to other community resources to gain support for goals and follow up to ensure referrals were completed. A referral may include providing or setting up transportation for a participant to access the resource effectively. It may also mean accompanying them and setting up an advocate to attend a meeting with the participant. Resources may be external to the organization or internal.
• Collect and report program data, including Osnium reporting and funders’ required data, and complete appropriate monthly and annual report forms.
• Maintain a complete working file providing activity documentation, program participant caseload data, and copies of all corresponding paperwork to track and document participant progress.
• Other duties, as assigned.

A complete job description is provided at the time of the interview.

Why Should You Apply?

• You want to make a difference and see positive change in a person’s life!
• You are passionate about helping people become empowered to be self-sufficient!
• You want to be part of a team that collaborates for the greater good of an individual and the organization!

Compensation: $13.00 per hour w/ Shift Differential Pay.

About YWCA Charleston:

The YWCA Charleston has been fostering self-sufficiency and independence. Originally designed as safe lodging for young women from rural communities coming to Charleston to pursue careers, the YWCA has evolved into the city’s most diverse and comprehensive network of social service programs. YWCA programs, facilities, and services assist more than 5,000 individuals annually. Equal opportunity is given to all applicants. The YWCA was built upon our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. We can continue to be successful when people are treated fairly and allowed to grow and achieve their potential. We take pride in treating people equally, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, blindness, sexual orientation, or any legally protected status.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Local area, Shift work,

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