Homelessness Prevention Specialist

Description

Homelessness Prevention Specialist

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT 
Sacred Heart Community Service, located in San José, CA, is looking for Full-time

Homelessness Prevention Specialist to join the Homelessness Prevention System

(HPS) Network Coordination Team. The Homelessness Prevention Specialist will assist in outreach, intake, and coordination of the HPS program to provide assistance to households at-risk of homelessness. This individual must be highly organized, possess an ability to work flexibly and creatively, and have a passion for our mission – to change lives and impact poverty. For more than 60 years, SHCS has been one of the leading institutions in addressing poverty in Santa Clara County through a strategy that combines meeting basic needs, offering tools for self-sufficiency, and engaging the wider community to be involved.

POSITION SUMMARY: 
Sacred Heart Community Service is the lead agency for the HPS and facilitates collaboration among the participating partner agencies. The Homelessness Prevention Specialist will coordinate efforts to connect families and individuals at risk of homelessness throughout Santa Clara County to the HPS program. They will spearhead collaborative efforts among all partner agencies to provide outreach and screening to at-risk people across the county. The Homelessness Prevention Specialist will help assess and provide services to households seeking eviction prevention through the Housing Collaborative Court, a partnership between SHCS and Law Foundation. They will coordinate outreach efforts, represent SHCS and the HPS Network Coordination Team at events and in the field, conduct direct outreach, and conduct eligibility assessments at SHCS and in the field.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: 
HPS Network Support (75%-85%)

• Conducts outreach to schools, courts, health care systems, community partners, and other systems and institutions that interact with low-income families at-risk of homelessness.

• Provides remote and on-site eligibility screening, conducts assessments, and intake support for SHCS and HPS partner agencies.

• Develops and nurtures collaborative relationships with community partners, including schools and the court system.

• Spearheads eviction prevention services within the Housing Collaborative Court partnership with Law Foundation.

• Processes financial assistance for partner agencies.

• Conducts HPAT assessments and accompanying releases of information and HMIS intake paperwork.

• Provides information and referrals to other resources in the community.

• Provides a warm hand-off of eviction prevention cases that need ongoing support to Case Managers in the Family Assistance department at Sacred Heart Community Service.

Administrative (10%-15%)

• Completes all required assessment and intake paperwork.

• Maintains records of all outreach activities and contacts.

• Enters releases of information, assessments, intakes, and financial assistance into the Clarity HMIS software and Salesforce database.

• Maintains outreach calendar.

Team Support & Leadership (5%-10%)

•          Engages and develops program volunteers, including training, supervising, and supporting volunteers and interns.

•          Engages program members, including connecting people to organizing committees, conducting 1:1s, and assessing and implementing community engagement opportunities with volunteers and people receiving housing assistance.

•          Supports the planning and implementation of agency-wide programs, events, and outreach efforts.

•          Supports the planning of and attends staff meetings, retreats, and other team and agency events.

•          Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

•                Strong commitment to our vision of a community united to ensure that every child and adult is free from poverty.

•                Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health or a related field or 2 years of paid or unpaid work in a field related to housing, homelessness, and/or social services.

•                Bilingual in Spanish and/or Vietnamese (written and verbal).

•                Experience providing culturally competent, strength-based supportive services, and linkages to community resources.

•                Outstanding customer service skills. Excellent public speaking, writing and communication skills. Strong communication skills, including the ability to deliver difficult messages with compassion and to communicate respectfully with families in stressful situations.

•                Flexible, compassionate, and supportive attitude. Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast-paced environment, while maintaining a positive, solution-oriented approach.

•                Ability to multitask, provide quick responses and be highly organized.

•                Sensitivity to issues surrounding households experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, including substance use, mental illness, or disabilities.

•                Experience with providing culturally competent support and leadership development. Treat all students, volunteers, and staff with dignity, compassion, and respect while adhering to program rules and procedures. Sensitivity to issues surrounding households experiencing homelessness, substance use, mental illness, or disabilities.

•                Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to work independently with limited supervision when necessary. Ability to work in a team and follow directions.

•             Computer skills including proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Google Suite and ability to quickly learn and develop proficiency with tracking database systems. Computer literacy with proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.

•              Ability to work one to two weekend days during the Holiday months of November or December. Available to maintain a regular schedule of 8AM-5PM. Available to work some evenings and weekends.

•                Must be able to lift 25 pounds without assistance and up to 50 lbs. with assistance. The position requires computer use/walking/sitting/standing. Able to walk for an extended period of time. The physical demands described here are representative of what an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with differing abilities to perform the essential functions.

•                Must complete a DMV and a background check and qualify to be insured under SHCS driving policy.

•                Must have a reliable car for daily travel between work sites and community locations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

•          Experience working in outreach, shelter, or supportive housing programs for homeless or at-risk households.

•          Experience and/or knowledge of one or all the following: housing rights, tenant protections, legal advocacy, and the court system.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

The Homelessness Prevention Specialist is a member of the HPS Network Coordination Team and reports to the HPS System Manager.

COMPENSATION:

This is a non-exempt, hourly position that pays $29.41/hour. This position is represented by the SEIU, Local 521 bargaining unit. Salary placement is per the union’s negotiated salary schedule beginning at Step 1 and including step increases based on tenure.

0-6 months

6-18 months

18-30 months

30 months or more

Hourly/Salary

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

November 1, 2024 - October 31, 2025 -- (3.5% COLA)

Hourly

$           29.41

$           29.85

$           30.30

$           30.75

November 1, 2025 - October 31, 2026 -- (3% COLA)

Hourly

$           30.29

$           30.75

$           31.21

$           31.68

November 1, 2026 - October 31, 2027 -- (3% COLA)

Hourly

$           31.20

$           31.67

$           32.14

$           32.63

Excellent benefits include fully paid medical insurance for employees and majority paid medical insurance for qualified dependents, dental insurance, vision insurance, 12 paid holidays, 10 paid sick days per year, paid vacation starting at 10 days per year, additional wellness benefits, basic life and long-term disability insurance, professional development and more.

Sacred Heart Community Service is proud to be an Equal Opportunity workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. SHCS is committed to building a team of people of diverse ethnic, cultural, and experiential backgrounds. We especially encourage members of historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, people of color, women, people living with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ+ people to apply. It is the policy of Sacred Heart Community Service to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. SHCS will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Rev.05/01/2025