Housing Locator

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As a YWCA employee, you'll enjoy knowing that every day you make a difference in the lives of people who seek our services. You'll be an integral part of a culture that celebrates individual contributions and values meaningful work and authentic connections.

YWCA's dedication to our mission is only equal to our dedication to our employees.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefit program including paid medical and dental
• 16 paid holidays
• Retirement plan that contributes up to 14 (%) percent
• Vision plan option
• 12 paid sick / 10 paid vacation days your first year, increasing with length of service
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• A feedback culture that is mission driven by meaningful work and authentic connections, where individuals are celebrated and appreciated.

“My experience… has exceeded my expectations ten-fold. I'm so happy to be a part of a team who values autonomy, empowerment, emotional connection, and motivation to do what is right.” Team Member

Position Summary

The Housing Locator is based at the YWCA of Sonoma County (YWCASC) administrative offices and is part of the Domestic Violence Services (DVS) team. The Housing Locator will work closely with the DVS Manager to ensure housing grant objectives are met and the program adheres to grant guidelines. This position ensures the program connects our most vulnerable community members with property owners and managers in order to help tenants rent and live in the private housing market and increase economic stability. The Housing Locator is responsible for coordination of service delivery for Moving into Safety, the Rapid Re-housing program component of the Domestic Violence Services Program.

The Housing Locator position is a direct service position and is part of a team who coordinates housing and supportive services for individuals and their children who are experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence. The Housing Locator will work extensively with community resources to identify more housing opportunities as well as expedite the process of obtaining and maintaining safe housing. The Housing Locator provides services including community outreach, prospective landlord identification & recruitment, housing searches, lease/contract negotiation, unit inspections for compliance with federal housing quality standards, coordination with local housing entities, acting as a liaison with tenants & landlords, and mediating complaints/concerns to proactively prevent returns to homelessness.

Advocacy and Community Relations

• Conducts outreach to property owners and managers, distribute program materials, and communicate the benefits of participation in the program. Builds long-lasting relationships with property managers, landlords, owners, and firms to expand the scope of participation. Negotiates leases and contracts with property owners and implements housing assistance contracts and leases between property owners and tenants.
• Performs housing unit inspections for compliance with federal housing quality standards, to include mediating owner and tenant complaints.
• Provides in-depth and ongoing training for Moving into Safety. In collaboration with DVS Manager, revises and updates procedures, tracking, and forms as needed.
• Coordinates housing searches, supports survivor advocacy including liaising with landlords, and financial management assistance (as needed) for the client to secure permanent and safe housing and to support housing retention of program participants.
• Advocates for clients through working with other community agencies, justice systems, and resource systems at all levels.

Program Reporting

• Maintains accurate records through appropriate electronic data entry and documentation in client files (aligned with YWCASC and COC HUD reporting requirements). All entries are done in a timely mannered in accordance with program requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring Moving into Safety team compliance with documentation and database entry requirements. Ensures accuracy of data entry for completion of weekly, monthly and annual reports, maintaining current client data, documenting all contact with clients, and providing accurate narrative and statistical reports in a timely manner.

Fiscal Management of Rapid Re-Housing and Supportive Service Funds

• Works closely with DVS Manager and YWCASC's CFO to ensure Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) and supportive funds are spent timely and are aligned with grant contract
• Obtains and submits all supportive documentation for program expenses, as needed
• Works with MIS team, program participants, service providers and RRH landlords to administer RRH and supportive funding as needed

Public Speaking

Provides presentations on the dynamics of domestic violence, supporting survivors, and available services. Presents materials to a variety of groups on a wide range of topics upon request around issues of the elimination of domestic violence. Updates materials prior to presentation according to established procedures.

Meetings

Attends agency DVS staff meetings. Collaborates, coordinates and attends multidisciplinary meetings with on and off-site partners as required.

Performs other duties as requested

Experience/Education:

• A combination of education, training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the functions of the job.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to relate to diverse clientele via telephone and in person.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of Sonoma County housing environment (real-estate or rental management experience strongly preferred)
• Fiscal management experience
• Basic arithmetic computation and Microsoft Office proficiency
• Knowledge of or ability to acquire knowledge of basic principles of the dynamics of domestic violence, safety, and confidentiality (strongly preferred)
• Bilingual/Spanish (strongly preferred)
• Bachelor's Degree in a related field (preferred)
• Self-starter with excellent organizational and time management skills
• Non-profit and/or social work (preferred)
• The ideal candidate for this position will have experience networking with landlords, renter associations, property management companies, and other local housing providers. They will also have experience with case management and assisting clients with housing applications and vouchers. Knowledge of tenant/landlord relations and Fair Housing laws and practices is highly desired, and experience with property management and marketing techniques are beneficial.

Other:

• Ability to pass agency and requisite law enforcement criminal background checks
• Prior to employment, obtain fingerprint clearance and pass TB testing
• Prior to employment, must pass pre-employment physical
• Valid California driver's license, current auto insurance, reliable transportation for job-related events.
• Universal Precautions and other safe work practices
• Willingness and availability to be “on-call” on weekdays, weekends, nights, and/or holidays.

Post-Hire Requirements

Successful completion of the YWCA Sonoma County Domestic Violence Training Program. Course requires 40-hours of instruction. Candidates are required to take the first available class and will be scheduled by their supervisor. Exceptions to the ‘first available class' are available upon supervisor approval, however the next available class must be attended and successfully completed to continue the employment relationship.

Physical Requirements

• Candidate must be able to lift up to 35 pounds
• Movement within office environment including up and down three flights of stairs
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to walk, run, move, squat, stoop, bend, twist, turn, push, pull and reach in interactions with children

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

License/Certification:

• CDL (Required)

Work Location: In person