Housing Access Specialist Jobs

Description:

Under the supervision of the Manager of Housing Search Services, the Housing Access Specialist provides intensive and comprehensive housing search and advocacy services to people living with HIV and those who are at risk of HIV. The Housing Access Specialist also works closely with the Access: Drug User Health Program to provide housing services to people who inject drugs (PWID). This role will work cooperatively with housing colleagues, internal and external Medical Case Managers, Social Workers and other service providers to identify clients in need of services and coordinate care.

Representative Duties:

• Contingent on the return of group meetings and drop in sessions, co-facilitate at least one weekly Housing Search group.
• Maintain and expand a network of relationships with provider organizations, housing authorities, low income housing property managers, and potential landlords.
• Act in accordance with the Fenway Health and AIDS Action Committee mission and values at all times, including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality.
• Attend meetings and trainings, and come prepared to contribute to the conversation: weekly supervision and team meeting, monthly training, all staff, clinical supervision and data meetings, and quarterly division meetings.
• Work directly with clients to identify potential housing options that meet their individual needs, complete applications, and attend all housing related appointments with clients, including interviews, appeal hearings, apartment viewings and lease signings.
• Work with clients to identify and resolve any possible barriers to obtaining housing. Discuss criminal, credit and eviction history. Request CORI and credit reports with all clients willing to do so and work to problem solve. Proactively plan strategies to appeal housing denials and present mitigating factors.
• Perform related duties and projects as assigned
• Determine appropriate housing possibilities and create an individualized housing service plan including short and long-term goals associated with stable, affordable housing.
• Work with clients to access rental assistance programs, utility assistance and/or other supportive services related to housing stability. Assist clients with all steps of the move-in process including lease-up, arranging movers and setting up furniture bank appointments.
• Works with a caseload of 30-40 clients – consisting of clients living with HIV and clients at risk for HIV within the Access: Drug User Health Program.
• Meet agency participatory expectations
• Regularly engage in outreach to potential referral and collaboration sources responsible for administering affordable housing options such as housing authorities, landlords and private management companies to remain informed of available housing, open waiting lists, eligibility requirements and application processes.
• Complete comprehensive assessments for each client in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, including housing history, factors affecting social determinants of health, and potential barriers to housing.
• Coordinate services with the Drug User Health Program, Medical Case Managers and other service providers to arrange appointments with clients and to gather documentation necessary for eligibility and enrollment.
• Works closely with Access: Drug User Health Program to ensure seamless, effective, appropriate delivery of services within a harm-reduction framework to the PWID population.
• Provide housing search, advocacy and stabilization support in compliance with agency standards and contractual requirements.
• Maintain timely and accurate records of all client interactions. Enter all client interactions into the electronic medical records database with five days. Maintain electronic files for each client in accordance with program standards. Demonstrate commitment to comprehensive data entry and work with program leadership to track client and program outcomes.

Requirements:

• Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity, disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran status, and/or limited English proficiency.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to practice harm reduction in all interactions with program participants
• Willingness to contribute towards Fenway’s efforts in becoming an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and valued.
• Minimum two years of experience in a related field.
• Working knowledge of HIV/AIDS community trends, harm reduction, trauma informed care principles, motivational interviewing and at-risk populations (including people who use and inject drugs, formerly incarcerated people, and people engaged in transactional sex work).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience advocating for clients with government assistance agencies, housing authorities, private landlords or realtors.
• Experience with the provision of HIV services.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Experience working within a safe syringe exchange setting
• Experience using an electronic medical record or similar database to track client work.
• Strong orientation to Harm Reduction; experience working within the Harm Reduction framework
• Knowledge of health-related issues faced by injection drug users, including awareness of injection drug user networks, norms and culture.
• Experience with affordable housing.

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more. LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Highly experienced individuals may be compensated at a higher rate.