Housing Support Specialist

YWCA Seattle King SnohomishRenton, WA

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Job Description

Why work with YWCA Seattle King Snohomish?

YWCA SKS is the region’s largest non-profit organization with a 120+ year legacy, focused on the needs of women, with programs serving 7,000 people each year. When you work with YWCA, you make a difference.

We’re women and BIPOC-led, family-centered, and supportive of employees. As a full-time YWCA employee (30+ hours), you’ll enjoy a benefits package including medical insurance, generous vacation, holiday, sick leave plans, and an outstanding retirement plan. Put your passion for racial equity and social justice to work – apply today!

What You'll Do

The Housing Specialist will identify permanent housing units in the private rental market for voucher holders, work closely with case managers to ensure clients connect to services, and provide crisis intervention to clients at risk of losing their housing, which includes some home visits and regular weekly office hours at the KCHA Section 8 office.

This position has a social justice component allowing for critical thinking around how the external systems impact the work that we are doing through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.

The Housing Specialist will support clients of the Housing Access and Services Program (HASP). HASP consists of a consortium of agencies to include King County’s major human service and behavioral health systems and the King County Housing Authority (KCHA). KCHA provides Section 8 vouchers for low-income households living with disabilities (about half of whom are also homeless), and the service agencies provide supportive services.

The YWCA coordinates with the consortium and provides support to clients as they access and maintain their housing. HASP is part of the Specialized and Integrated Services Division of the YWCA. These programs have a reputation in the community for providing culturally competent services with particular emphasis on serving homeless and low-income families and individuals. Valuing diversity, championing anti-racism policy, and program delivery are core values.

Expectations of your role:

Provides a wide range of housing navigation and lease-up supports to participants including, but not limited to housing search, introductions and negotiations with landlords, rental application assistance, assistance with requesting reasonable accommodations, voucher extension requests, and financial assistance.
Knowledge of the Section 8 program and housing resources in King County, Landlord/Tenant Laws and Fair Housing Regulations in Seattle and King County.
Establish and develop relationships with property owners and property managers that will rent to HASP Section 8 participants including housing for people with disabilities.
Establish working relationships with case managers and program managers from each of the HASP consortium systems.
Supports housing stability and crisis intervention services for those recently housed through coaching, resource referrals, and connection back to consortium system agencies. These services may include visits with participant(s) or landlord(s) at the property.
Assist Section 8 in meetings with clients who are at risk of losing their housing. This includes regular office hours at KCHA Section 8 office.
Provide client centered housing guidance for HASP participants with an emphasis on housing barrier reduction and long-term stability.
Maintain statistical, financial, and narrative reports on a monthly basis.

Must have's to be successful:

Associates or BA degree in social services desired
Case Management experience desired
Good oral, public speaking, and written communication skills. Experience working with persons with disabilities.
Knowledge of how to help find housing for homeless people facing housing barriers.
Comfortable with computers and Microsoft suite.
Demonstrated proficiency in organizational and record keeping skills.
Must be able to travel independently between multiple work sites within a day.
Ability and willingness to work as part of team and independently with little on-site supervision.

Hours, Rate, and Benefits

Hourly Rate: $26.50
Hours: 40 Hours per week
Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans
At the time of hire, employees may enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan
After two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In performing this position, the employee:
Continuously exchanges information through listening and talking with clients, agency staff, employers, representatives of community organizations and other individuals in the community
Frequently stands, walks, sits and climbs in performing duties in the workspace and in the community
Frequently reaches and grasps in using telephones, computers, fax machines and other office equipment and supplies
Frequently lifts and carries up to 5 lbs. of paperwork, files and training materials
Occasionally climbs stairs of multi-level buildings
Able to travel to clients homes

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YWCA encourages applicants with a variety of experiences to apply!

At YWCA, we recognize that lived expertise is a powerful asset. This refers to the insights, knowledge, and skills developed by those who have navigated systems and experienced inequity.

Valuing lived expertise helps build trust with program participants, develop culturally responsive programs, and break down barriers to equity. It enriches our collective understanding and enhances our ability to serve communities that are furthest from opportunity.

Mental Health Considerations

All employees of the YWCA interact with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, including but not limited to, racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial hardship. As a result, employees are at risk of secondary trauma. We encourage employees to seek support inside and outside the workplace and maintain self-care routines.

Equal Opportunity Employment

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law Poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

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