Housing Specialist

We value an equitable and inclusive workplace and seek candidates with diverse backgrounds and abilities

Why work at Rocky Mountain Human Services?
You will have the opportunity to contribute to an organization that is dedicated to embracing the power of community to support individuals and families in creating their future.

RMHS provides great benefits such as:

• Employer paid medical options, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous paid time off such as vacation, sick, personal, and holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement (full-time employees only)
• Mileage reimbursement
• 403(B) with company match
• Employee assistance program

Position Purpose

The Housing Specialist will research the Denver Metro and surrounding areas housing market to establish connections with landlords, public housing providers and local housing authorities to develop affordable housing options for Homes for All Veterans (HAV) Veteran households throughout the Denver Metro Region. The Housing Specialist will establish and maintain relationships with landlords that facilitate the ability of HAV clients to gain and maintain permanent housing. The Housing Specialist will represent Rocky Mountain Human Services and the HAV program, ensuring that housing providers understand both their responsibilities and the responsibilities of RMHS and our clients under the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) guidelines. The Housing Specialist will coordinate with clients’ Veteran Support Specialists to support Veteran clients’ housing placement and stability. The Housing Specialist will perform housing unit safety and habitability inspections.

Essential Duties

• Recruit and maintain strong relationships with local landlords, public housing providers local housing authorities, civilian and government agencies serving the homeless population in the Denver Metro and surrounding areas.
• Develop and maintain a written plan for recruiting, training, and retention of qualified landlords for the HAV program in the Denver Metro and surrounding areas.
• Maintain a current list of qualified Landlords for the Denver Metro and surrounding area.
• Represent the HAV program with local housing providers to provide them a single point-of-contact for questions and issues regarding the HAV program.
• Coordinate with the Veteran and with the Veteran Support Specialist to facilitate the search, application and entry into permanent housing for HAV client households. This will include a Veteran specific long-term retention of housing plan between Veteran and Landlord.
• Conduct unit inspections to ensure they comply with SSVF standards of safety and habitability.
• Maintain contact with the Veteran and the Veteran Support Specialist to provide liaison between the client and housing manager, if required.
• Develop knowledge of local housing laws and common practices and communicate that knowledge to HAV staff and Veteran clients.
• Provide support, education, and mentoring to Veteran clients and Landlords on tenant-landlord rights to facilitate good tenant-landlord relations and tenant behaviors that promote permanent housing and stability.
• Notify the HAV Operations Manager and the applicable Veteran Support Specialist if there are any obstacles that may prevent clients from maintaining permanent housing or undermine housing stability.
• Other duties as assigned by the Operations Manager or HAV Team Lead.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational, communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work cooperatively with administrative support staff to assure completion of necessary information.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to evaluate individual needs and requires professional judgment within established policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of basic computer functions.
• Excellent customer service skills.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Actively communicate with clients, caregivers, families, stakeholders, advocates and providers.
• Works with clients, families and appropriate community agencies as necessary to facilitate services for staff, stakeholders or clients.
• Ability to meet/work with staff, stakeholders or clients in a variety of settings.
• Attends staff, team and department meetings; often in Denver, CO.
• Attends in-services, staffing and other meetings with supervisor’s approval. May be appointed to committees.
• Participates in agency and community planning and education.
• Develops and maintains records, plans and reports.
• Lift and/or carry 20 lbs.
• Sit, stand and walk for reasonable periods of time.
• Maintains prompt and regular attendance.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Ability to drive personal and company vehicle

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, public relations, marketing, social sciences, or related field or equivalent specialized work experience. - Minimum of 4 years’ experience with direct service to vulnerable populations.
• Ability to work independently while meeting work deadlines and program standards.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior Military Service
• Prior experience providing supportive services for clients who are either homeless or in danger of homelessness.
• Experience working with military and/or Veteran populations
• Prior experience working with private housing providers/landlords/housing management.

Driving Requirements

• Valid driver’s license
• Proof of motor vehicle insurance
• Personal vehicle in good operating condition for use during work
• No major violations in the past three years.

Rocky Mountain Human Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to racial, ethnic and cultural diversity and the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.