Housing Specialist

Liberty Resources is seeking a Housing Specialist to support our HUD and ESSHI Programs in Onondaga and Madison County.

Our employees have passion around the services they provide and our corporate values of excellence and staff support. We pride ourselves on high quality, integrated, community-based services that meet the evolving needs of our communities. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce that values contributions of all team members and work to recognize cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and how they apply to provision of positive health outcomes.

What We Offer:

• A Collaborative and Supportive Team Atmosphere
• Competitive Compensation and Paid Time Off Package
• Family-Friendly Workplace
• Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Continuing Education Opportunities

Housing Specialist Position Summary:

The Housing Specialist performs case management-related functions to facilitate and maintain independent housing for individuals who may have serious mental illness, and/or co-occurring disorders and who may be homeless to be successful maintaining stable housing by providing direct support, teaching and coordinating daily living activities, which promote full and meaningful community integration across Onondaga and Madison counties. The Housing Specialist provides high-quality supportive services to ensure individuals and families maintain their permanent housing as well as assists in providing assistance to facilitate financial independence and maintain independent housing for eligible recipients.

Housing Specialist Job Responsibilities:

• Provides community-based support for participants of the program at the time of initial engagement and throughout the participant’s time in the ESSHI Mental Health Scattered-Site Supportive Housing program.
• Provides outreach, assessment, intakes and referral services to prospective residents to ensure access to appropriate housing options and services.
• Provides necessary housing search/placement, ongoing rental and utility assistance for residents.
• Assists program participants in development of basic daily living skills including communication, problem solving, and transportation and community navigation.
• Identifies and develops linkages in the community to improve individuals' ability to access community resources.
• Supports the person to develop their own person centered goal plan and provides participant identified supports that are needed to accomplish their goals.
• Establishes individualized service plans that target barriers to maintaining stable housing; implements goals in collaboration with the client and other service providers; and coordinates and facilitates service delivery in accordance with the service plan. Ensures continuity of services and is responsible for the full implementation and direct delivery of services consistent with the client’s treatment plan.
• Provides housing placement assistance, ongoing rental assistance and supportive services to individuals and families who are considered chronically homeless under the HUD definition.
• Completes a Strengths-based Assessment related to maintaining permanent housing for HUD clients.
• Offers services to clients that may include outreach, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, supportive case management, caregiver support, budgeting, skill building, vocational/educational services, assistance with stabilizing income, and access and adherence to medical and mental health treatment including emergency care and substance abuse treatment.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with other service providers such as DSS, SSI, HUD, Section 8, Shelter Care Plus, Landlords, and Care Managers.
• Responds to and effectively handles crises, which may require flexibility of time and area of assignment. Shares on-call responsibility and takes necessary action to ensure staff coverage, appropriate crisis interventions, and untoward incident notification.
• Works in cooperation with a multi-disciplinary team and assures continuity of participant services.
• Completes all required documentation, in timelines in accordance with program standards.

Housing Specialist Qualifications:

High school diploma and one year experience in a mental health or related setting required. Bachelors/Associates Degree preferred. Must possess a valid New York State driver’s license and reliable access to transportation. Must be able to use personal vehicle to transport others as required.

Pay Rate: $21.63/hour

Liberty Resources is committed to creating a diverse inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Liberty Resources offers equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, housing status, source of income or military status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.