Position Title: Housing Support Specialist
Classification: Full-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt
Location: 130 Wabasha St S Ste 100, St. Paul, MN 55107
Salary Range: $17.17 – $20.20 Hourly
Website: https://guildservices.org/
About Guild:
Guild believes that dignity is a basic human right- which is why we work hard to connect individuals to proper mental health treatment, competitive employment, and stable housing. We serve individuals 16 and older who are experiencing serve and persistent mental illness, mental illness concerns, and chronic homelessness. On any given day, Guild staff serves nearly 900 individuals in the Twin Cities metro area. Services are mobile, provided in the community when and where needed. By looking at the holistic wellness of each client we serve, we are able to facilitate healing, growth, and new quality of life.
Purpose:
Housing Support Services provides an environment where services are available to help individuals secure housing while developing the necessary skills to maintain housing stability and engage in their communities. This includes identifying housing needs and barriers, navigating rental market vacancies, providing housing education/coaching, and coordinating services with other providers. Housing Support Specialists work alongside individuals on their person-centered housing support goals.
Key Responsibilities:
This position is responsible for promoting tenant independence for individuals who are experiencing or who have experienced long-term homelessness and have a disabling condition through skill development and building on participant’s strengths to assist them in obtaining and maintaining their housing, primarily in Scott County.
A few responsibilities of this position include:
• Assist individuals in benefit applications with county financial systems and services providers.
• Communicate and correspond with participants, landlords and other support services.
• Complete all activities related to obtaining and maintaining housing, such as educating participants about tenant rights and responsibilities, advocating for participant rights, coordinating with landlords, ensuring individual’s choice and access to appropriate housing options, and assisting individuals with obtaining and maintaining housing support benefit.
• Visit participant apartments monthly to ensure that they are safe and adequately maintained.
• To the extent requested by the participant, provide collaboration and education to other supports and/or family members who are assisting the individual.
• Conduct outreach services to connect individuals to housing, medical supports, employment and community resources.
• Help participants navigate transportation needs, including access to bus tokens, gas cards, and driving individuals to appointments in personal or Guild vehicles.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with program participants, external service providers and other agency program staff, landlords, funders, and community resource providers.
• Document all pertinent information pertaining to participant services.
• Assume other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Education and Experiences:
Required
The Housing Support Specialist shall be qualified under Minnesota law as follows:
• Has an associate of arts degree in one of the behavioral sciences or health and human services-related field; or
• One-year experience working with persons who have experienced long-term homelessness, addiction and mental illness; or
• Experience as a Minnesota Department of Human Services certified peer specialist; or
• Meets the requirements of unlicensed personnel in licensed home care settings, i.e. three years of life experience as a primary care giver to an adult with a serious mental illness or traumatic brain injury.
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
• Residential and/or clinical experience with persons experiencing mental illness, chemical dependency, co-occurring disorders, and homelessness.
• Knowledge and experience in supportive housing.
• De-escalation and crisis intervention skills.
Other Position Requirements
• Efficiently coordinate, track, and complete multiple tasks as well as adjust to changing priorities.
• Excellent facilitation, mediation, interpersonal, organizational, and outreach skills.
• Able to respond to the unique cultural, economic, and social needs and resources for individuals.
• Must be ambulatory and able to negotiate stairways.
• A valid Class ‘D’ Driver’s License, reliable vehicle, satisfactory driving record and necessary insurance.
• The ability to lift and carry heavy weights (e.g., moving household furnishings, carrying groceries) that could be up to or even exceed 40 pounds.
• Must not be actively receiving services from Guild and must not have received services within the last two years.
• Complete and pass DHS background study.
• Complete and obtain online certificates for:
-DHS Vulnerable Adult Mandated Reporting
-Housing Support and Housing Stabilization Services
