Job Type
Full-time
Description
SCHEDULE: 40 hours; Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm with availability for early mornings, evenings
Pays $23.48 per hour DOE
"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 the role. Employees who leave their position before they have worked all the time required for each bonus instalment will not be eligible to collect further payment for their prior position, even if they stay at Pine Street Inn."
LOCATION: 444 Harrison Ave, 363 Albany St, 1 Lingard St, community-based work
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
The Housing Stabilization Specialist (HSS) will work within a team of Housing Placement Specialists, a Clinician, and a Housing Benefits Navigator to ensure partnership with previously homeless clients that will provide supports to help sustain housing. At times, these tasks will be done in conjunction with community partners. Through all stages of the program, the Housing Stabilization Specialist will utilize progressive engagement; least amount of support needed to be successful. The HSS will provide stabilization services to ensure the client does not return to homelessness and can achieve independent living in the community. A key component of the work is successfully connecting individuals to assets, which increases income and mainstream benefits, and supports which increases stability while in housing. The Housing Stabilization Specialist will facilitate on-going communication between the guest, housing authorities, property owners and community programs and partners. The Housing Stabilization Specialist will also develop Individual Service Plans (ISP) as part of the transition from shelter to housing. The Housing Stabilization Specialist will also develop and help educate individuals with skills that better helps them to manage money and be good neighbors and tenants. The Housing Stabilization Specialist will work under tight timeframes for accurately entering guest information into the Pine Street Inn's approved Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Carelogic data for those guests who are enroll in CSPECH. Attention to detail and accuracy is critical in this position, The Housing Stabilization Specialist will provide exceptional customer service both internally and externally and will work in partnership with other emergency services and housing department staff to provide integrated service delivery, which furthers our mission to eliminate homelessness.
*Please note - All credentials and licensures to be reviewed annually as part of the PSI credentialing process. Additionally an annual CORI review and OIG Medicaid Fraud checks to be conducted for the Housing Stabilization Specialist. Acceptable results of annual credentialing and CORI reviews and OIG Medicaid Fraud checks will be required of the Housing Placement Specialist.
The Housing Stabilization Specialist will work from the following principles:
Shelter is a temporary safety net, not a home. The Place Me Home program staff must assertively motivate guests and incentivize them to seek better alternatives using best practices.All people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their housing history and duration of homelessness, can achieve housing stability in permanent housing.Never warehouse or institutionalize our guests in our shelters.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".Leverage guests' strengths, assets, and connections to move quickly out of shelters and to any other housing.Recognize the impact of violence and victimization on development and coping strategiesEmploy an empowerment modelMaximize guest choices and control over her/his recovery based in a relational collaborationCreate an atmosphere that is respectful of the guests' need for safety, respect, and acceptanceEmphasize the guests' strengths, highlighting adaptations over symptoms and resilience over pathologyMinimize the possibilities of re-traumatizationStrive to be culturally competent and to understand each person in the context of his or her life experiences and cultural backgroundSolicit guest input and involve guests in designing and evaluating services
Requirements
EDUCATION/TRAINING:
REQUIRED:
BSW, BA or BS in a human services related field [can be substituted for High School Diploma and at least three (3) years of equivalent experience in a social service setting]Valid Massachusetts Driver's License and acceptable driving record PREFERRED: Bilingual, with an emphasis in English and SpanishTraining in Trauma Informed Care, Progressive Engagement, and Motivational InterviewingBasic understanding of Homeless Management Information SystemsCertification, training, or formal education in counseling and/or case management/stabilization services KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:
REQUIRED:
Minimum of 2 years of experience delivering services to challenged population struggling with addiction and untreated mental health concernsStrong written communication and documentation skillsComputer proficiency in Microsoft Office Products, including Excel and OutlookExperience working with people who have untreated mental illness, and/or active substance addictionKnowledge of the issues related to homelessness, particularly around housing, S/A, mental illness and economic factors as precipitants to homelessnessA working knowledge of homeless referral networksRequires knowledge and belief in "Housing First" philosophy and strategiesBasic Math Skills and Budgeting ExperienceExperience and knowledge of housing support, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, domestic abuse, and basic benefit systems.Proven ability to problem solve, work independently, creatively, and prioritize within a faced-paced environment.
Salary Description
$23.48 per hour DOE