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POSITION SUMMARY:

The Housing Specialist reports to the Program Manager and works in accordance with the mission and philosophy of Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego. The Housing Specialist provides direct assistance to newly arrived immigrant individuals and families to ensure that their basic housing and/or sheltering needs are met, in addition to providing assistance with other basic needs such as food and hygiene essentials, clothing, local and long-distance transportation, health, and others.

The Housing Specialist communicates with all assigned cases proactively to ensure that basic needs are met and that problems are solved in a timely manner. Frequent and effective communication with other department staff – the Program Manager, Case Managers, Client Services Coordinator, Transportation Aide, and others – is required.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Locate and secure safe, sanitary housing for newly arrived immigrant individuals and families, including calling property management offices, realtors and potential landlords.
• Assist clients with possible transportation to/from housing locations as needed, check-in and check-out, orientation of guidelines and processes, and assist with overcoming any challenges that may arise in the course of making sheltering arrangements.
• Proactively check in with clients on a regular basis while sheltered in temporary housing, troubleshooting urgent needs, and working diligently to exit clients from temporary accommodations as quickly as possible.
• Maintain comprehensive, accurate and up to date records for all assigned cases, including but not limited to writing case notes for clients in the appropriate database and submitting required housing forms for files to the case manager.
• Immediately notify the Program Manager in the event of urgent client needs.
• Oversee with the assistance of the Program Manager, the Transitional Housing Project apartments, ensuring that all 9 CCDSD units are always occupied.
• Maintain an up to date roster of current tenants living in the Transitional Housing Project as well as ensuring tenants are being moved out at the end of their three months of temporary housing.
• Ensure units are cleaned in between tenants moving in/out and address any damages to the property with the National City Apartments staff.
• Ensure each new unit is ready for move in by conducting a walk through and addressing any urgent needs that may be a safety concern.
• Once a move in date has been confirmed with a landlord, an SDGE account should be set up under the clients name.
• Arrange client’s moves, ensuring that all furniture is ordered or donated, purchasing the required household items as needed and coordinating with the Community Engagement Specialist the volunteers that are needed to assist.
• Ensure that the food needs of newly arrived immigrant individuals and families are met upon move in, including those with unique dietary needs such as babies, expectant mothers, and individuals with serious health conditions.
• Purchase, deliver food and any personal hygiene items and clothing as needed in a timely manner upon move in.
• Provide local transportation to clients as needed when a lease needs to be signed to ensure no delays when moving into permanent housing.
• Ensure strict compliance with all established COVID-19 safety protocols
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

 

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field preferred.
• At least two years of experience working with Hispanic/Latino families, refugees, immigrants and/or other migrants to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services preferred.
• Knowledge of the resources and providers (governmental, civic, social, health, educational, economic, faith-based, etc.) that are available within the community/county to assist migrant families.
• Exemplary, professional work habits verified by previous employers.
• Commitment to the mission and values associated with the agency and the program, including social justice and respect for others.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred but not required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite – including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access – and other commonly used office software required
• Familiarity with data management software and the use of databases for tracking the delivery of services to clients preferred

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid California Driver’s License
• Safe driving record as demonstrated by a DMV report that shows no violations or restrictions
• A CPS Background check required
• Complete a DOJ Live scan and FBI fingerprint check
• Tuberculin Skin Test
• CPR/First Aid Certification (desired)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. Persons seeking employment are entitled to freedom from harassment and retaliation and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities.

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