Position Purpose:
The Housing / Employment Specialist will assist clients in meeting housing and career goals necessary to gain financial independence and self-sufficiency. The Housing / Employment Specialist provides services to clients, which includes vocational assessments, assistance for clients with locating and maintaining employment and long-term housing, Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Reviews past housing history and identify possible barriers to obtaining and retaining housing. Assess tenancy problems such as late payments, damage or lease violations, income, and financial assistance needs. Develops and implements a housing plan with the household members. Provide information and referrals to individuals regarding additional community resources to ensure successful implementation of the housing plan. Negotiates with landlords to "sell" program and convince landlords to accept tenants they would normally screen out. Provides ongoing oversight of landlord relationships, networking with landlords, and providing landlord mediation services to connect client to program; Assist with referrals for credit counseling and financial literacy; Provides assistance with finding linkage to appropriate related community resources; Assists participants with identifying and overcoming any barriers to access services Assists clients with job searches, employment preparation/readiness, budget, and resume building needs. Conducts mock-interviews with clients. Helps clients locate work-appropriate clothing through donations center. Facilitates employment and credit counseling workshops Collaborates with case manager to locate academic preparation and development resources for clients. Assesses client's education, work experience, skills, abilities, qualifications, and job interest; readiness for job referral, classroom training, on-the-job training, and/or support services; attempts to match clients with available employment, training, or other opportunities/services. Identifies problems/barriers that hinder employability; assists clients in resolving and mitigating barriers to employment by identifying the need for other services and benefits; counsels clients regarding recommended solutions and suggested supportive services. Analyzes information obtained from interviews, tests, and other sources to develop short- and long-term client goals; develops and implements individual employment plans; ensures client conformance with program rules and regulations, department policies, and employment plans. Contacts public and private employers in order to develop on-the-job training and/or direct job placement sites for clients; maintains cooperative relationships with employers, academic and vocational training institutions, and support service and community resource agencies; identifies appropriate job placement/training opportunities for clients; maintains an awareness of local job market and opportunities to assist in providing guidance to clients; may arrange for employment interviews, attend job fairs, conduct special workshops, presentations, group orientations, or perform other training and outreach activities. Inputs necessary information into automated system(s); organizes cases; maintains and updates records on client housing, employment, training, and follow-up activities. Non-Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Acts as liaison with outside agencies including schools, social service systems, judicial systems, and other organizations as necessary. Advocates for the needs of residents. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree preferred Two years of relevant residential experience. A valid driver's license, auto insurance and a clean driving record. Exceptional teamwork orientation with good written and oral communication skills. Demonstration of cross cultural competencies. Must possess an attitude compatible with the goals and purposes of NCCF. Physical Demands/Work Environment:
While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job require close vision while working with a computer monitor. While performing the duties of this job, employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. These work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the employee will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
