Housing specialist Jobs in Boston, MA

Job Description

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable. The BPHC envisions a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of antiracism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

BACKGROUND

The Commission's Homeless Services Bureau, in existence since 1983, has extensive experience providing integrated primary health, substance abuse, and mental health services to homeless individuals. We offer transitional health and social assistance to homeless Bostonians, including emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing throughout the city and a broad range of rehabilitative services. Our programs are part of a continuum of care designed to help homeless individuals achieve independent living in permanent housing in the community. We are one of the largest providers of emergency shelter in New England running two emergency shelters, which operate 24 hours a day 365 days a year and provide more than 5,000 homeless individuals annually with food, beds, lockers, emergency clothing, health care, case management, and housing services.

Utilizing a Housing First framework, the housing search and placement department provides an array of programs and supports to help guests quickly find and move into permanent housing. The housing department provides housing search and placement services to homeless individuals looking for housing. These services are essential to help homeless individuals navigate the complexity in obtaining housing. Services include identifying available units, accompanying individuals to view units, negotiating directly with property owners, working with individuals to help them mitigate and address their barriers to accessing housing (e.g. criminal record), assisting individuals with completing all aspects of the lease-up process, securing rental start-up funds and making supported referrals to other types of move-in assistance as needed (e.g. furniture bank).

DUTIES

• Working to help BPHC become an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.
• Responsible for the day to day operation, supervision and execution of housing services including housing information, assessments, referrals, and housing search and placement for guests at the Boston Public Health Commission Emergency Shelters.
• Assists clients of Homeless Services emergency shelters in all facets of housing stabilization and retention.
• Coordinates referrals to Boston Housing Authority and City of Boston's Coordinated Entry and other housing agencies and assists in placements and housing search process.
• Responsible for recruitment, training, scheduling and direct supervision of assigned staff.
• Provides follow up housing stabilization services to individuals placed in housing, including assistance with paying rent and utilities, helping to resolve landlord / tenant problems and connecting individuals with community resources and supports. Assists clients with obtaining furniture and moving into housing.
• Coordinates community integration activities for clients, teaching life skills and independent living skills necessary for succeeding in permanent housing.
• Hosts community-based housing agencies (BHA, HomeStart New England Center and Home for Veterans, etc.) in providing on site housing search assistance.
• Completes intakes and assessments on shelter guests to determine needs and eligibility for services and public benefits. Provides case management, crisis intervention and supportive counseling to clients.
• Provides substance abuse counseling to program participants.
• Coordinates the delivery of services and referrals in areas of family reunification, DSS, obtaining benefits, etc.
• Provides support and assistance to clients with legal issues (probation, parole, courts).
• Transports guests to housing appointments.
• Maintains up to date and accurate service plan contacts, and progress note records for the department.
• Works in a multi-disciplinary team approach with other social service, work rehab and health services departments of the shelter. Develops and facilitates budgeting, money management and other life skills groups.
• Participates in weekly social service treatment team and other assigned meetings and trainings.
• Collects data and prepares reports for funding sources and bureau.
• Shares in emergency on-call beeper rotation. Performs other duties as assigned.