Job Information
Pine Street Inn Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist in Boston, Massachusetts
Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist
Department: Daytime and Veterans' Outreach -- O & T
Office: Chauncy Street
Location: Boston, MA
Position Type: Direct Care
Hours/Shift: Morning - First Shift
Employee Type:: Regular Full-time
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4 open Positions Required - Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist
SCHEDULE: 40 hours, Monday, Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Nights and Weekends as needed during adverse weather conditions
Pays $23.48 per hour DOE
This position carries a retention bonus of $5000.00, payable in equal instalments of $1000 at 3 months, $1000 at 6 months, and $3000 at 1 year.
This bonus is only available to new, external hires to Pine Street Inn, including temporary staff who are thereafter converted to permanent employment status. This bonus is not available to Pine Street Inn staff or paid interns or paid co-op students who are seeking a transfer to this role. This bonus is only payable for work actually performed in this role. Employees who leave their position before they have worked all the time required for each bonus installment will not be eligible to collect further payment for their prior position, even if they stay at Pine Street Inn in another position.
LOCATION: 105 Chauncy Street, the Streets & community-based work
JOBDESCRTION:
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION :
The Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist (OHPSS) will work within the Outreach Department to provide housing navigation support to unsheltered homeless clients and housing stabilization services to previously unsheltered housed clients. The OHPSS will work in collaboration with OHP team and Outreach Specialists and Clinicians from BHOT and Veterans Outreach. This targeted housing placement and stabilization work will have a -Housing First- approach and will focus on assisting program participants to move into and sustain permanent housing and maximize independence and well-being. The work include vital document gathering, filling out housing applications, enrolling clients in mainstream benefits, accompanying guests to unit showings and lease signings, and providing assessments for and referrals to community based services. The OHPSS will work with Outreach team Specialists, Clinicians, and current or past providers to determine risk factors and need areas (using provided specialized assessment tools) to improve safety, independence, and well-being. Extreme weather conditions may require the OHPSS to assist the Outreach team with support to unsheltered individuals and vulnerable housed clients. This position is considered an essential employee for the PSI. Outreach Housing Placement and Stabilization Specialist will work from the following principles:
Shelter is a temporary safety net, not a home
All people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their housing history and duration of homelessness, can achieve housing stability in permanent housing
Everyone is -housing ready.- Sobriety, compliance in treatment, or even a clean criminal history is not necessary to succeed in housing. Rather, homelessness programs and housing providers must be -consumer ready-
Engage guests- strengths and assets to move as rapidly as they can tolerate, into permanent housing
Working as a member of a larger team, asking for help and providing it to others as needed
Recognizing the impact of violence and victimization on development and coping strategies
Employ an empowerment model
Maximize guest choices and control over her/his recovery supported by an alliance with staff
Create an atmosphere that is respectful of the guests- right to safety, respect, and acceptance
Emphasize the guests- strengths, highlighting adaptations over symptoms and resilience over pathology
Minimize the possibilities of re-traumatization
Strive to be culturally competent and to understand each person in the context of his or her life experiences and cultural background
Solicit guest input and involve guests in designing and evaluating services
REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION/TRAINING:
REQUIRED:
Associate-s Degree in a human services related field [can be substituted for High School Diploma and three (3) years of equivalent experience in a social service setting.
PREFERRED:
Undergraduate degree, certification, training, or formal education in counseling and case management
Bilingual
Training and experience in Trauma Informed Care, Progressive Engagement, Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing
Valid Driving license in good standing
KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:
REQUIRED:
Minimum of six (6) months of experience working with homeless or similar population, providing direct care and/or active case management and referral services to homeless individuals or similar population
Capacity for working collaboratively on a multi-disciplinary team
Affinity for considering and working with new approaches and expressing their own in a group setting
Strong written communication and documentation skills
Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products, including Excel and Outlook
Knowledge of the issues related to homelessness, particularly around housing, substance use, mental illness and economic factors as precipitants to homelessness
A working knowledge of homeless referral networks
Knowledge and belief in -Housing First- philosophy and strategies
Basic math skills and budgeting experience
PREFERRED:
One (1) year experience working with homeless population, providing direct care
Extensive experience with case management, housing placement, and landlord engagement
Experience with Clarity, or similar HMIS system
Knowledge of tenant rights, and responsibilities as well as -Strengths based- Case Management
Experience with case conferencing with challenging presentations
PHYSICAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:
REQUIRED:
Ability to stand for moderate periods of time
Ability to stretch, bend, lift and assist guests up and down stairs during difficult and/or emergency situations
Ability to respond safely and quickly in case of emergency situations
Ability to sit for moderate periods of time at a desk in an office while interacting with individuals and/or managing documentation
Ability to operate PSI vehicles.
Ability to work outdoors in all inclement weather
MENTAL ABILITIES/SKILLS:
REQUIRED:
Ability to perform an array of difficult tasks at the same time
The temperament to work with guests with problems indicative of untreated emotional/physical health needs and active substance use/abuse/dependency behaviors
Ability to work in intense emotionally charged situations
Possesses strong organizational skills with ability to meet a demanding workload
Detail oriented to complete requirements of files and contract compliance
Creative thinking needed to work with complex presentations on the streets and in housing.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Outreach and engage individuals on the streets to assist them in developing housing pathways and assist with all activities leading to a successful housing placement.
Enroll eligible individuals into the program, collect and maintain all required paperwork and documentation.
Enter all required work into Clarity database in a timely fashion with accuracy, documenting each interaction with program participant within 72 hours of interaction.
Assessing Risk Factors and Need Areas with in collaboration with staff from inside and outside the team to maximize safety and independent living skills.
Provide stabilization services to program participants once housed to assist with continued housing stability. Successfully connect individuals to benefits, resources, supports and jobs to maximize income and resources which sustain housing. Actitvities include home visits, assistance with connecting with community resources and acquiring the basic skills necessary to maintain permanent housing.
Maintain individuals records, including database files, incident reports and daily and weekly service records and progress notes
Perform other additional assignments or projects as requested/directed by supervisor.
INTERNAL CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION PLEASE SUBMIT A PROMOTION/TRANSFER APPLICATION TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF POSTED DATE.
Pine Street Inn is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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