Thrive’s Housing First team practices a client centered approach to meet individuals where they are. We are a community-based program that follows the Housing First model which is an evidenced-based practice. We work with individuals throughout the state who are currently or have been chronically homeless. We have a culturally diverse, interdisciplinary team offering high-quality, individualized care in an integrated clinical and housing support model.
Our Housing First team has been described as a cooperative family working with our clients to improve their quality of life. We believe that safe, affordable housing is vital to all people and we work with our clients to explore the right housing options for them. We work with individuals to recognize their own strengths and learn to use these strengths to accomplish their personal goals. We prioritize building rapport and trust with this vulnerable population who may be experiencing mental health issues, substance use issues and trauma and who have struggled with the healthcare system. We work around the usual barriers that often prevent people from seeking help.
General Summary: This position coordinates individual housing and tenancy sustaining services to Thrive Behavioral Health clients residing in or hoping to reside in affordable housing units. The Specialist must be a motivated and resourceful individual who is sensitive to tenant needs; has excellent service coordination skills, able to build team support; group facilitation skills; and thrives in a relatively independent environment. Must work well with individuals and families who are homeless, at risk for homelessness or who want to remain in affordable, permanent housing.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Coordinate and conduct assessments of tenants and prospective tenants to establish housing needs in the following areas:
- Provide early identification and intervention for behaviors that can jeopardize housing.
- Educate and train participants as to the role, rights and responsibilities of both the landlord and tenant.
- Coach participants on how to develop and maintain key relationships with landlords and property managers to foster successful tenancy
- Advocate and provide linkages with community resources to address issues that jeopardize housing.
- Assist with recertification process.
- Coordinate with tenant to review, update and modify their housing plan on a regular basis to reflect current needs and address existing or recurring barriers to housing retention.
- Teach housing self-sufficiency skills including how to find furnishings, budgeting, importance of credit, heating and utility assistance and energy conservation, criminal background checks (BCI), housekeeping, safety, as well as addressing hoarding and smoking issues.
- Assist with developing interactive skills such as how to interview landlords, and how to be a good neighbor.
- Assist with preparation for move-in and move-out inspections as well as annual Housing Quality Standards inspections.
- Assist tenants and staff with subsidized housing applications and interviews as well as informal hearing requests.
- Compile and maintain current information about housing agencies that provide housing ranging from shelters through subsidized and market rent apartments.
- Understand and be able to advocate on behalf of clients rights regarding fair housing, discrimination, and RI Tenant/Landlord law.
- Complete billing forms, logs, data collection forms, progress notes and other clinical documentation in accordance with Center standards.
- Meet program billable hour/productivity.
