Housing Resource Specialist Jobs

The Housing Resource Specialist is responsible for
connecting individuals and families with housing resources, who are in unstable
housing situations or at risk of homelessness. The Housing Resource Specialist
works with both affordable and market rate housing partners and solutions.

Specific Duties:

• Provide case management specific to housing placement for participants

seeking housing assistance

• Do housing counseling and conduct housing assessment screenings with

participants to identify appropriate housing intervention (market rate
housing; affordable/subsidized housing, HACC waitlists, SRN, etc.)

• Serve as an advocate and liaison between participants and Housing

Authority Cook County (HACC), Statewide Referral Network (SRN), and
other affordable housing institutions.

• Build and maintain relationships with landlords and affordable housing

providers and works on a team that maintains a housing database.

• Provide tenant rights and fair housing counseling to participants. Refer

participants to legal resources as needed.

• Mediate between landlords and participants to resolve issues impacting

tenancy

• Coach participants through application process with landlords and assist

with subsidized and affordable housing application and certification
process as needed**

• Refer housing participants as needed to other Connections services

(mental health, prevention, etc.) to maintain housing stability and increase
overall quality of life.**

• Support participants in credit counseling and repair.**

• Maintain participant files in HMIS, respond to Internal Referral Forms (IRF),prepare reports, and ensure other required documentation is completed in

a timely manner.

• Effectively engage potential participants and explain the scope of services

provided by Connections for the Homeless**

• Attend agency and Prevention related meetings, conferences, and

trainings, and represent Connections for the Homeless on external
committees as assigned.*
*

*HOUSING RESOURCE SPECIALIST 2
*

• Represent agency values and vision.**

• Perform other duties as assigned**
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct and Core Values of Connections for theHomeless.**

The following qualifications are requirements for the position:

• Deep understanding of principles of harm reduction and trauma-informed care, and the

impact of severe mental illness on individuals and their families

• Strong administrative skills, ability to multi-task, and good attention to detail

• Ability to work independently and with diverse populations

• Good speaking, writing and interpersonal skills

• High level of computer literacy and data entry skills

The following qualifications are highly desirable:

• Bachelor’s degree

• Experience with client databases (Homeless Management Information System/HMIS, etc.)
• Bilingual Spanish or Arabic
• Experience with providing diversion, homeless prevention services, or case management
• Valid Illinois Driver’s License
• Experience working remotely

Other requirements:

• Must submit to a criminal background check and submit to or provide evidence of a recent

test for tuberculosis

Reports to: Supervisor of Homeless Prevention Programs
July, 2023

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Paid time off
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health insurance
• 401(k)
• Retirement plan
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift