Job Details
Job Location
Beaverton, OR
Position Type
Full Time
Education Level
QMHA
Salary Range
$22.00 – $24.76 Hourly
Job Shift
Day
Job Category
Nonprofit – Social Services
Description
Purpose:
The Housing Liaison (HL) will respond to referrals from Washington County Behavioral Health Intensive Case Management (ICM) Program to support homeless individuals with extremely low incomes (0-30% AMI), one or more disabling conditions, and who are experiencing or at imminent risk of long-term or frequent episodes of literal homelessness. The HL will carry a caseload of 15 individuals at a given time will assist on participants’ behalf for no more than three (3) months and will add new individuals to their caseload as slots become available. Behavioral Health staff will work closely with the HL to address the housing needs of participants receiving services through their programs. HLs will serve as a “Subject Matter Experts” to these programs/divisions to answer questions, offer information, and assist with navigating housing resources as well as provide direct assistance to referred participants when necessary. This position may also engage in homeless outreach as needed in order to address the needs of program participants. The position is largely based in the community and will work closely with Community Action (CAO), Washington County Department of Housing Services (DHS), the Washington County Shelter network, COC Housing providers and other community partners.
Accountabilities:
Housing Support Services:
• Complete Washington County Coordinated Access Phased Assessments for participants as needed
• Facilitate weekly meetings between the HL and ICM staff for the purposes of case conferencing or discussing the needs of current participants receiving ICM services.
• Maintain thorough working knowledge of housing services and resources within Washington County to best advise ICM staff and assist participants in getting connected to appropriate services.
• Build a thorough working knowledge of the resources and services offered through the HHS program or division where they are embedded to better connect housing services recipients into services when appropriate.
• Establish an active caseload from referrals provided by ICM and provide housing case Support Services which includes, but is not limited to, the following authorized activities:
o Outreach and engagement;
o Intake and assessment;
o Service planning;
o Connection to housing navigation services;
o Connections to health, mental health, behavior health, substance use disorder services;
o Connection to wraparound support services as needed and requested by the participant;
o Assistance with benefits establishment,
o Transportation to and from pre-scheduled health, housing, benefit and legal appointments, and legal issues;
o Crisis management;
o Participant education (life skills, budgeting, tenancy requirements) to support housing retention and self-reliance
• Coordinate with Washington County Behavioral Health ICM team, local law enforcement staff/programs, the ASSIST Team, Rent Well Providers, DHS and other agencies or partners as needed to address needs of participants on their caseload
• Complete an income assessment and preliminary household budget
• Work with ICM staff to obtain all appropriate housing search related documentation and Releases of Information (ROI) for the participant to facilitate effective communication with system partners and other service providers/agencies to assist participants with linkages to resources, services and benefits, coordination of services, participant advocacy
Outreach
• Participate in regular outreach and in-reach activities to connect with active and potential program participants
• Conduct pre-engagement and engagement meetings as needed
• Identify barriers to service and support, such as transportation problems, or need for emergency assistance (clothing, blankets, etc.), design short-term solutions for meeting individual’s basic and self- identified needs
• Assess for eligibility for resources and assist individual to apply
• Assist participants in accessing appropriate temporary housing as desired through referrals, and linkage to supports. Temporary housing may include but not be limited to, non-congregate shelter, congregate shelter, transitional housing, privately funded shelters, and other temporary housing opportunities.
• Follow individual through the first steps of engagement and referral to permanent caseworkers or service and support resources, as needed, and ensure coordinated transition to those resources before terminating with households who do not meet program eligibility
Administrative
• Document all activities, engagement, and services provided in HMIS, EHR, and participant files
• Enrollment and intake for eligible households in HMIS
• Attend all agency and community meetings as assigned; collaborate with other providers to ensure seamless services to this population
• Coordinate with ICM staff to reduce service gaps
Other General Expectations:
• Attend and positively participate in required meetings
• Regular and reliable attendance
• Pursue ongoing development of skills and competencies
• Follow all corporate policies, procedures, and protocols
• Maintain current Oregon Driver’s License and insurance
• Follow through on all directives and instructions
• Maintain security of all corporate interests
• This position may require working in a variety of locations and settings including working outdoors in all weather conditions, inside other agencies and with outside organizations. Some nights and weekends may be required.
Positions Reporting:
None
Education/Certificates/Licenses/Registration:
• Qualified Mental Health Associate required
• Peer Support Specialist, Peer Wellness Specialist, or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor preferred.
• Experience working with adults diagnosed with severe mental illness, preferred
• Computer literacy is required.
• Valid driver’s license and insurance is required.
Experience/Qualifications: 1w
• Must have experience providing outreach and/or supportive housing services to homeless households and be familiar with the needs of homeless households.
• Strong Motivational Interviewing and Assertive Engagement desired. Experience addressing Substance Use Disorders issues desired.
• Familiarity with mental health service delivery system required.
• Experience with case management and/or housing services preferred.
• BA in Psychology or related field and/or Qualified Mental Health Associate certification required.
• Certificate in peer-services (Traditional Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist, Recovery Mentor, etc.) preferred.
• Bilingual and able to read, write and speak both Spanish and English proficiently preferred.
Must possess the ability to interface with crisis response, clinical teams, and other agencies, actively work in partnership with community stakeholders in a collaborative manner, and represent the agency in a professional manner. Must be able to work independently. Ability to develop and follow policies and procedures for fieldwork in an unstructured setting desired.