Job Information
Hildebrand Self-Help Center Housing Specialist Supervisor in Cambridge, Massachusetts
The Housing Specialist Supervisor will join one of the largest providers of services for families experiencing homelessness in the Metro Boston Area. Founded in 1988, Hildebrand is solely focused on families experiencing homelessness. Hildebrand’s mission is to transition families out of homelessness to safe, affordable, permanent housing while working to disrupt the systems that lead to poverty and homelessness. Hildebrand operates 157 units of emergency shelter throughout the neighborhoods Boston and Cambridge and 22 units of affordable housing in four buildings and an array of services that include case management, housing search, and stabilization services to ensure families remain stably housed. Hildebrand is a rapidly growing organization with a staff of 60 employees and operates on a $9.1M budget.
Our vision is Every Family Has a Home.
SUMMARY:
The primary function of the Housing Specialist Supervisor (HSS) is to oversee Hildebrand’s Scattered-Site Emergency Shelter Program’s Housing work and meet or exceed the exit goal set by HLC. Reporting to the Family Shelter Manager, the HSS is an integral part of the Programs team, and a key contributor to the organization. The HSS plans and communicates with the FSM and broader management team to ensure the high functioning of daily emergency shelter program operations.
The Housing Specialist Supervisor, working in conjunction with the FSM, Case Management team, Housing Specialists and program staff ensures the organization achieves its intended impact on families by accomplishing annual goals and objectives. The HSS is expected to accomplish this by managing the delivery of high-quality trauma-informed services to families who reside in scattered-site and ensuring a safe and supportive environment for clients and staff. The HSS will create and implement systems to improve quality of care and consistency of program delivery. The HSS will stay current on all Housing related updates from HLC and the local housing market and communicate changes out to all staff. The Housing Specialist Supervisor ensures that all client activities are documented and communicated as required by contract, agency policy and procedure.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Recruit, hire, onboard/train, supervise, support and evaluate direct reports to ensure Hildebrand retains top talent and staff are aligned with the organization’s values.
Ensure Housing Search staff is communicating well with clients and other organization staff and are operating in a fair, consistent and trauma informed manner.
Ensure Housing Specialists are working effectively with their Case Manager and completing their portion of the client work.
Work in collaboration with other Housing Specialist supervisors to monitor programs for content, quality assurance, service delivery, equality, and procedural consistency.
Contribute to and help refine and develop programs team approach to clients and programs standard operating procedures.
Assist in the development and implementation of procedures and policies to ensure contractual compliance and consistent program delivery across all participants.
Participate in regular program evaluations and file audits to ensure that staff and clients are in compliance with contractual and/or funding obligations including evaluating program outcomes and measuring achievement of programmatic performance standards as directed.
Assign staff new cases, manage caseloads, and communicate out assignments to all pertinent parties and ensure high-quality and a welcoming intake is provided to families. Conduct intake in the absence of a housing specialist.
Facilitate the assessment of family needs, the implementation of self-sufficiency plans and the education and advocacy of life skills and housing placement to achieve organizational goals.
Ensure clients are properly transitioned to the stabilization team.
Ensure all key policies and procedures are followed.
Take the lead programs role during end of year apartment moves.
Conduct weekly inspections with the facilities/operations team of all scattered site units and ensure program compliance by the participants.
Ensure Housing staff is conducting additional programmatic unit inspections.
Ensure work orders are being submitted in a timely manner and contain required and clear detailed information.
Help triage client facility issues and provide clear and ongoing communication with the facilities and operations staff.
Ensure the creation and implementation of action plans for problem units and work to create proactive solutions to limit future problem units.
Track on the client board problem units and units of concern.
Engage and help lead intensive case management for families with the most complex needs and directly meet with clients as needed.
Ensure Housing staff are updating accurate client information on the client board.
Ensure Housing staff are up to date on all rehousing plans and ETO notes and provide accountability and or retraining for any staff out of compliance.
Ensure families are educated about Homebase and make sure Housing Staff are submitting Homebase correctly and on time.
Maintain accurate reporting in state required client information management system (currently HMIS/ETO/ASIST).
Ensure Housing staff are following all move-out protocols for clients.
Review and submit client noncompliances to HLC and up to date with all noncompliance procedures.
Maintain an updated list of pending move outs and client move-out status.
Review, approve and submit accurate weekly time sheets in accordance with Hildebrand policies and procedures.
Conduct regular supervision with staff with the goal of assisting each direct report to develop best practices in an effective, culturally competent manner. Provide accountability for service delivery of direct reports. Monitor staff performance and provide support to the employee’s evaluation and development through the agency’s performance management program.
Participate in meetings, workshops and training as assigned and participate in activities designed to increase skill in related areas. Share learnings to others.
Participate in the implementation of a core curriculum of in-service training programs designed to meet program goals and to maintain and improve staff skill and performance.
Develop, create and implement innovative, productive, and supportive programming and workshops using a trauma- informed model that meets the needs of the families and contributes to the overall milieu.
Ensure that staff proactively address identified areas of concern with clients and develop plans to assist families in engaging with Hildebrand policies and procedures.
Review incident reports, program violations and other reports for accuracy and ensure proper, timely reporting. Ensure 51a’s are submitted and documented.
Develop, create and implement innovative, productive, and supportive programming using a trauma informed model that meets the needs of the families and contributes to the overall milieu.
Plan and co-facilitate regular housing team meetings and trainings.
Identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve services and promote client success.
Provide statistical and programmatic information needed by the FSM and the Chief Program Officer.
Communicate verbally and through written communication, memos, emails and log documentation with peers, supervisors and other team members to provide appropriate program updates, identify issues related to program operations, areas of concern and suggestions for necessary improvements.
Represent the organization and the program effectively both internally and externally.
Interface effectively with the Program Coordinator and provide necessary communication and requested information.
Prepare necessary data, provide information, and produce routine reports that reflect client outcomes and demographics.
Track agency compliance with required documentation and data collection efforts.
Create and submit agency, state and funder required documentation.
Provide back-up on-call support as needed and support staff performing on-call duties.
Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Associates degree in human services or related field and 1-2 years supervisory experience in a housing/homeless service organization.
5 - 7 years of intensive housing case management work
Must have demonstrated leadership experience, collaborating, and building and fostering teamwork.
Experience working across multiple locations.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills especially in a team setting.
Proven ability to successfully manage several projects simultaneously, quickness, agility, and ability to exercise sound judgment in managing a crisis.
Demonstrated commitment to use innovative ideas in order to address and meet needs of families experiencing homelessness
Experience working with people from broadly diverse ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software and Google Suite including Excel, and sheets. Must possess strong computer skills and database navigation skills.
Experience working with families experiencing homelessness.
Experience with governmental contracts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
As with all Hildebrand staff positions, a CORI and SORI check is required.
This position requires a valid driver's license and private transportation or the ability to effectively navigate traveling to all scattered site locations in a time efficient manner.