Housing Support Services Specialist (Grant Funded)

This announcement may be used to fill future vacancies.
Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Housing Support Services Specialist to provide housing-focused case management and support to individuals with a serious mental illness and various disabilities. This Specialist will work with program participants to set goals for healthy individual growth with an emphasis on maintaining housing stability.
This position is assigned to the Arlington County Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH) as part of the Housing Assistance Bureau of DHS and reports to the Supportive Housing Services Assistant Manager. Permanent Supportive Housing is an evidence-based practice and an effective housing strategy for persons with disabilities.
To learn more about our services please visit DHS.
Responsibilities include:

• Teaching daily living activities to assist with maintaining housing;
• Conducting initial, interim and annual Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspections, annual housing assessments and bi-annual housing service plans.
• Assisting participants with move-in activities including developing a budget, setting up utilities, accessing subsidies, and securing furniture;
• Maintaining and updating client charts;
• Updating internal and external reports for program systems (i.e. Homeless Management Information System); and
• Guiding participants through the housing application process including assisting with obtaining federal, state and local benefits;
• Determining program and subsidy eligibility for PSH applicants and customers;
• Responding to housing emergencies of PSH participants:

Minimums:
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Special Education, Mental Health, or Counseling; and
Experience: Some experience working with human service delivery systems to provide supportive housing needs for low-income populations with cognitive, mental, developmental disabilities and/or individuals with substance use disorders.
Substitution: Additional directly related experience may substitute for the education requirement. A Master's degree in a directly related area may substitute for up to one year of experience.
Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Solving housing issues that may not be addressed through traditional service delivery;
• Bilingual speaking English/Spanish; and/or
• Using Motivational Interviewing and Harm Reduction techniques;
• Working with a Housing First model;
• Negotiating between tenant/landlord and leases, eviction preventions and property management issues;
• A Master's degree in a directly related field.

• Housing Quality Standard certification

The applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or the applicant must have the ability or willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide, a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.
Completion of a State of Virginia Central Registry Check.
A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.
An assessment of oral Spanish proficiency would be required before a candidate can be appointed to a bilingual position (English/Spanish). The incumbent in a bilingual position would receive the language pay premium on all hours worked and on paid leave hours.

Work hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with some flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed. Some telework may be available. On-call 24 hours a day availability is required.
This is a grant-funded position from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health Development Services (DBHDS).
The official job title is Human Services Specialist.
The pay ranges listed above are effective June 18, 2023.
Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
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