Lead Housing Specialist, Housing Assistance

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being, and stability of those it serves.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless seeks a Lead Housing Specialist to be responsible for addressing the housing needs of various populations who meet the criteria for housing subsidies they have been assigned. This role will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the housing component for the project, including program compliance with housing files. This position is located at 2135 Stout St., Denver, Colorado 80205 and reports to the Program Manager.

Coalition Benefits

In addition to the unique challenges and extraordinary rewards of our work, eligible Coalition employees enjoy a rich benefits package, including:

• Choice of HMO or PPO health insurance coverage options: full-time employees contribute only 1% of their earnings for their own HMO health coverage and no more than 4% of their earnings for coverage of eligible dependents. We're proud to offer same-and opposite-sex domestic partner coverage.
• Choice of dental insurance or discount plan.
• Vision insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for health care / dependent care / parking expenses.
• Free basic life and AD&D insurance coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program, a problem-solving resource available to you and your household members.
• Dollar-for-dollar retirement plan matching contributions up to 5% of earnings with 3-year vesting.
• Extensive paid time-off, including 9 holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and three weeks of vacation for new full-time employees in their first year.

The effective date for your benefits will be the first of the month following your date of hire.

Essential Job Functions

1. In collaboration with Program Manager, recruits new landlords to work with housing subsidies.
2. Trains and assists staff as needed regarding job duties, including but not limited to preparation of housing files, data entry, proper documentation of charts, appropriate correspondence to clients/case managers/funders/ landlords, housing orientations, inspections, lease ups, landlord-tenant relations, completing reports, and inter departmental work flow.
3. In collaboration with the Program Manager, recruits, interviews, hires, and trains staff.
4. Assists and collaborates with Program Manager to complete assigned staff performance reviews as necessary with all Housing Counseling team staff.
5. In collaboration with the Program Manager, responsible for ongoing audits of program housing files for all CCH Housing programs.
6. Reads, understands and interprets HUD Housing regulations for various programs, specifically PSH, MDCHC, HCV PBV, HCV, RRH, HSP, and TBRA-HOME tenant based vouchers.
7. Conducts and/or assists with housing searches, housing orientations, HQS inspections/lease ups, re-certifications, and move-out inspections (as appropriate) for the program.
8. Helps resolve problems between clients, landlords, and/or property managers.
9. Identify affordable housing units, develop and maintain positive relationships with local property owners and landlords who have rental units in the area.
10. Serves as liaison between various parties including AuMH, MHP, DOH, Family Tree, Urban Peak, CCH Rental Assistance, Housing First staff, landlords and clients.
11. Provides housing consultation to staff regarding clients.
12. Outreaches and engages program participants who are chronically homeless and disabled.
13. Demonstrates competency in all data base systems including Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), Elite, and Filemaker Pro.
14. Provides advocacy from a client's perspective in program decision making and planning as it relates to housing.
15. Actively engages in meetings with case management and clinical teams.
16. Ensures staff is signed up for and completes for mandatory trainings.
17. Participates in regular supervision with the Housing Placement Manager.
18. Submits monthly accounting report accurately and on-time.
19. Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness and builds workforce diversity; and that fosters cooperation and teamwork.
20. Ensures annual recertifications are submitted on time by Housing Counselors.
21. Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Employee must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications Summary

1. Bachelor's degree in a related field required. Experience may be substituted.
2. Experience interacting with individuals who have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders preferred.
3. Familiarity with Federal and local housing programs strongly preferred.
4. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

WHERE A CANDIDATE IS PLACED IN THE COMPENSATION RANGE DEPENDS ON TOTAL RELEVENT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is committed to delivering services, making employment-related decisions, selecting volunteers, and selecting vendors without regard to age over 40, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, military status, or any other applicable status protected by law.

• Denver, CO, USA