The Housing Specialist assists families living in the Mary Eliza Mahoney House Shelter (MEMH) to search for, identifying and addressing barriers to secure permanent housing. The work includes screening families for eligibility for various housing programs and assisting families to apply, developing an individualized re-housing plan for each family/individual, working effectively with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, human service and community agencies to obtain and sustain permanent housing. They must be willing to accompany families into the community to search for housing and apply and interview for same. Working closely with the Stabilization Specialist to secure and maintain permanent housing for families.

Essential Functions

• Develop and maintain a warm, friendly, professional, cooperative atmosphere in the shelter in which families live and staff work.
• Safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of the residents and staff and to treat all individuals with dignity and respect at all times.
• Provide housing search services for all families.
• Accompany families to community venues related to housing search and placement.
• Perform duties that ensure the health, safety and well-being of individuals and staff, including working with Case Managers, Stabilization Specialist, Program Director and Support Staff, to this end.
• Assist families in the development and implementation of Housing Plans.
• Maintain appropriate records pertinent to Housing Search and Plans and other records as necessary and as directed by the Program Director.
• Implement and instruct families in DHCD regulations and guidelines.
• Meet the DHCD benchmark for rehousing families on an annual basis. The current benchmark is to rehouse 26 families every year.
• Meet with all families on a weekly basis to review housing plans.
• Attend staff meetings, management meetings, supervision meetings and other meetings or trainings as directed by the Program Director.
• Establish and maintain professional, courteous communication at all times with all families, co-workers, colleagues, community representatives, medical personnel, legal personnel, DHCD personnel, and all others involved in the families’ lives.
• Represent Dimock’s Mary Eliza Mahoney Shelter program to the public in a professional manner at all times.

Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of homeless and housing issues, including housing subsidies, and of community resources.
• Must be able to develop professional relationships with landlords, property managers, and other community personnel to secure permanent housing options.
• Must be able to work sensitively and effectively with people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Must be willing to drive in Boston and surrounding communities, to work a flexible schedule at times, including some evening hours.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong collegial relations with co-workers and service providers.
• Demonstrates a customer focus and team spirit in carrying out responsibilities.
• Possesses a work ethic that supports agency policies and goals.

Work Environment
This position mainly operates in an office/shelter environment and sometimes accompanying families off campus.

Physical Demands

This position involves sitting and standing for long hours, driving and accompanying families off campus. Lifting up to 20lbs at times.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
General Hours 8 am to 5 am, Monday to Friday. Flexible schedule to work with the resident’s schedule.

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent with 3 years of experience in human service, housing, homelessness or related field required.
• BA/BS in Human Services related field with a minimum of experience in human service, housing, homelessness or related field preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License required.
• CPR and First Aid Certification required within 90 days of hire.
• Bilingual: English/Spanish, English/Creole preferred.

Other Duties

Note this job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of duties that are required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

The Dimock Center values diversity and its committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)