Prevention Service Coordinator
The HUD Prevention Service Coordinator is a full-time professional, direct service position responsible for providing short-term supportive services to individuals and families who are at imminent risk of homelessness. The Prevention Service Coordinator assists to screen applicants for eligibility in the 8 Northern Kentucky County Region by providing information, referrals and problem-solving services to applicants. Services are provided via direct referrals, phone screenings and during scheduled walk-in times. This position also provides on-going assessment and support to participants and helps them utilize community resources to meet their individual needs. This position performs duties in accordance with Welcome House Core Values, including: Compassion, Advocacy, Integrity, Quality, Leadership and Community.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Service Coordination
• Maintain a rotating caseload of up to 45.
• Regularly meets with program participants that are receiving multiple months of assistance, at a minimum on a monthly basis, in the office or off-site to review their budget and bill payment.
• Regularly meets with participants to discuss and review issues that impact income and housing, review case plans for stability and self-determination.
• Coordinates access to government services and other non-profit services.
• Advocates for participants when necessary, and empowers them to advocate for themselves, when appropriate.
• Conduct inspection of existing and potential housing units for compliance with requirements for habitability, lead-based paint, and rent reasonableness.
• Program staff work directly with the participant and landlord to resolve tenancy issues without threatening the participant’s tenancy. The issue might be failure to pay rent, not properly maintaining the unit, or disturbing the quiet enjoyment of others. It also may include a landlord not meeting his/her obligations. Program works quickly to identify a corrective course of action without breaking a participant’s confidentiality while keeping the landlord and participant informed about the programs active to mitigate the situation.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation of case plans, case notes, change of status documents and other reporting and tracking forms.
• Provides transportation for participants and their families, as needed.
• Enters participant data into VESTA and the Kentucky ERA Partnership Portal database systems within 3 business days.
2. Housing Search
• Assist with housing search mainly by contacting landlords and scheduling showings, but also by providing leads to participants and coaching them on how to speak with potential landlords.
• Educate and recruit landlords to participate in the Welcome House housing programs.
3. Internal/External Collaboration
• Attend Local Prioritization Committee (LPC) meetings in Region 3 & 4 to discuss any potential referrals.
• Works as a part of the Housing and Supportive Services team within Welcome House and collaborates with Region 3 for referrals.
• Provides respectful and collaborative support to service team members and shares responsibility with all team members for participant outcomes.
• Represents the agency, Housing & Supportive Services team, Supervisor and/or Director of Housing & Supportive Services at outside agency meetings on an as needed basis.
• Maintains positive public relations and serves as a liaison with other related community services.
4. Administration
• Maintains up to date participant list.
• Keeps accurate data on all participants and assists the Supervisor and/or Director of Housing & Supportive Services with data gathering and reporting, as needed.
• Provides information to the Supervisor and/or Director of Housing & Supportive Services for quarterly and annual reporting purposes.
• Provides analysis of data and outcomes to the Supervisor and /or of Housing & Supportive Services, when requested.
5. Other duties as specified by the Supervisor and/or Director of Housing & Supportive Services.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent required
Experience:
• A minimum of 1-3 years’ experience in the social service field
Skills/Specialized Knowledge/Abilities
• Knowledge of problem solving techniques and have a high capacity to think critically
• Be efficient and thorough in documentation skills
• Advanced ability to communicate both verbally and in writing
• Advanced ability in conflict management
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Ability to develop community resources and networking ability
• Ability to collaborate both internally and externally
• Ability to keep track of financial obligations for participants and request funds in a timely manner.
Key Performance Indicators:
• Understands agency vision/mission and how to achieve agency goals
• Understands culture of poverty and works effectively with program participants
• Be proficient in client engagement
• Increased knowledge of and involvement in community resources/partnerships
• Increased knowledge of Mental Health/Substance Abuse resources
• Provides training & mentoring of case managers
• Advanced knowledge of job readiness
• Advanced knowledge of assessment
• Participating in leadership responsibilities within case management team
• Involvement in and understanding of quarterly and annual reports
• Meets departmental compliance requirements with very limited supervision
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Working Hours/Environment
• Work typically performed in an indoor, 3-floor office building with stairs only.
Tools and Equipment Used
• Personal computer, copier, fax/scanner, phone, and other typical office equipment.
Travel
• Up to 50% of the time.
Physical and Mental Demands
• Frequently required to sit at a desk/workstation for long period of time
• Ability to work at a computer terminal for extended periods of time
• Digital dexterity and hand/eye coordination in operation of office equipment
• Ability to speak to and hear employees/clients via phone or in person
• Body motor skills sufficient to enable incumbent to move between 3 floors
• Additional Mental Requirements: compare, decide, direct, problem solve, analyze, instruct, interpret
• Minimum lifting up to and above 50 pounds
Interested parties should submit a cover letter and resume via e-mail to: humanresources@welcomehouseky.org
Welcome House is an equal opportunity employer. Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to gender, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected class.