Job Title: Community Housing Specialist
Department: Client Services
Program: Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)
Reports To: Youth Housing Stability Program Coordinator
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Part Time
- Work Schedule – Regular – Normal work hours and days assigned based on a work week of 20 hours.
Position Summary
The Community Housing Specialist supports the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) in stabilizing the housing of low-income, highly vulnerable youths aged 18 to 24 years old who are experiencing homelessness. The primary responsibility of the Community Housing Specialist is to identify and establish new housing opportunities and to maintain relationships with current property managers that house YHDP clients. The Community Housing Specialist also works to provide support with housing resources, property inspections, consultations for hard to house clients, grant required housing documentation, and the processing of background checks for housing through AmRent. This position actively works with other community groups on affordable housing issues for targeted populations.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities (inclusive but not exhaustive):
- Identifies affordable housing properties in Austin/Travis County where clients can reside and with consideration to special populations.
- Gains expertise in housing barriers for populations served through YHDP and be able to communicate to property managers and prospective property managers the
- rationale for housing people with negative or no rental history, criminal background, mental illnesses, substance abuse issues, and with inadequate or no income.
- Participates in ECHO Housing Outreach Task group and other community housing groups.
- Serves as a housing resource for agency staff, lending additional support for hard to house clients.
- Provide the following to YHDP staff: housing consultations for hard to house clients, information on tenant’s rights/responsibilities, and availability to mediate if problems arise with property manager/tenant relationships.
- Works with Caritas of Austin’s YHDP team and finance department to ensure reconciliation of monthly AmRent invoices, including verifying that client service transactions are entered in HMIS Service Point.
- Inspects new and existing properties, as time allows, for safety and habitability standards.
- Trains and supervises interns/volunteers to assist with housing duties, as assigned.
- Researches and identifies innovative housing opportunities for program clients (such as roommates, shared housing, and others).
- Tracks clients from referral process to completed housing in order to maintain data on housing successes.
- Develops and implements a property manager outreach plan.
- Establishes procedures and processes for providing housing assistance for YHDP program participants.
- Participates in the Community Housing Specialist group.
- Provides input and information to the Caritas and YHDP budgeting process and assists with monitoring budget expenditures based on evaluation of Caritas and partner agency goals and objectives.
- Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Qualifications:
Education
- Required: High School Diploma/GED
- Preferred: Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business, social science, or human services
Experience
- At least one year experience working in property management, apartment/housing location, housing clients with significant barriers, and/or real estate
- At least one year experience working with people experiencing homelessness, mental health disorders, and/or substance use, preferred
- Knowledge and skills in identifying affordable permanent housing units
- Knowledge of housing market trends within Travis County
- Proficiency in organizational and record keeping skills
- Experience with non-profits preferred
- Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver’s license within 30 days of employment
Computer Skills
- Experience with internet, MS Office, and databases required.
- Preferred: HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) experience
Other
- Required: Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Texas driver’s license within 30 days of employment
- Preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish
Salary/Benefits:
- 2Base Salary Range: $19.28-$3.89
- The salary offered will follow Caritas of Austin salary guidelines based on candidate's education and experience.
- 14 Paid Holidays per year.
- 10 days of accrued PTO in year one
- Retirement plan with employer match.
- Discounted Rates on Gold’s Gym and Legal Shield memberships.
- Mileage Reimbursement.
- Monthly Phone Stipend.
- Monthly Paid Parking for employees who office from Downtown Location.
Caritas of Austin is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
