It is the policy of Pathways Vermont that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disability. Pathways Vermont is committed to a diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve, and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people including people with military experience, individuals with disabilities, and people of color.
The Company: Pathways Vermont is a dynamic nonprofit agency that believes in transforming the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and other life challenges and permanently ending homelessness. Pathways offers a great benefits package including dental, health and vision insurance, generous paid time off and 9 paid holidays.
The Role: The housing coordinator is a member of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) team. The SSVF team promotes the housing stability of Veteran families with very low-incomes who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. This role collaborates with SSVF team members as well as the Veteran’s Administration to support veteran headed households in receipt of HUD-VASH subsidies to locate and lease up in permanent housing.
Full Time, One Year Employment Contract
Location: Statewide and Clinton County, New York
Responsibilities:
- Engage in rapport building with participants and provide service from a “choice” perspective as well as participant-centered, harm reduction, and strengths based approaches.
- Coordinate with partner agencies and grant subcontractors (SSVF at University of Vermont, Easter Seals Vermont, and the Veterans Administration)
- Support households in understanding and utilizing federal housing subsidies in conjunction with the veteran’s administration and housing authority
- Collect and maintain information related to participant’s housing history including: income and income history, rental history, criminal history and credit history (as these relate to obtaining/maintaining housing)
- Locate vacant apartments and support clients in applying.
- Negotiate with landlords/property managers to obtain vacant apartments; Provide ongoing support and education to community landlords regarding Pathways’ services and contract expectations
- Develop networks of landlords to expand the supply of well maintained and affordable rental units
- Meet with clients and service team to discuss housing needs and expectations
- Provide housing counseling assistance; act as a liaison between client and landlord
- Oversees lease ups, move ins and housing inspections pursuant to Housing quality standards between tenant, landlord and housing authority inspector.
- Accompany participants to apartment showings and assist in answering landlord queries and/or completing housing applications.
- Assist participants with moving into new apartments including: budgeting for rental expense, setting up utilities, acquiring necessary furnishings and household supplies.
- Record all contacts with program participants within 24-hours in ServicePoint Housing Information Management System (HMIS)
- Collect, maintain, store, and dispose of all participant information according to applicable requirements for confidentiality, security, and privacy.
- Participate in agency and program specific trainings.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons in difficult circumstances.
- Excellent understanding of the issues facing persons with very-low income and other challenges.
- Familiarity with community resources, particularly as related to meeting basic needs of food, clothing, health care, housing, employment and financial assistance.
- Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of the team.
- Strong communication, writing, and computer skills.
- Ability to structure time, develop work priorities independently, and meet program expectations with regard to documenting work.
- Excellent problem solving skills and ability to intuitively approach challenging situations.
- Valid driver’s license, a reliable personal vehicle available for work purposes and current automobile insurance.
- Bachelors or comparable work experience required.
- Veteran preferred.
- Lived experience of homelessness, mental health or other life challenges considered an asset.
Working Conditions/Physical Demands:
- Occasional exposure to outside environmental conditions for community-based meetings.
- Often meeting with persons in the community and/or visiting different businesses
- Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction at times when collecting paperwork, assisting with applications, etc.
- Extensive reading responsibilities
- Ability to ascend and descend stairs occasionally required (in instances when businesses and/or meeting places do not have an elevator)
- Regular operation of a computer and other office machinery including frequent typing.
- Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm such as stapling, completing hand-written forms, etc.
- Frequent talking and listening in participation of exchanging ideas through spoken word and occasional receipt and giving of detailed information through oral communication at normal speaking levels.
- Occasionally lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, occasionally exerting up to 20 pounds of force and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently (opening doors at meeting places/businesses, etc.)
- The worker is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles
Benefits:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- Long Term Disability/Life Insurance
- Paid Time Off (accrual of 210 hours per year to start)
- All-Staff days off
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Longevity Recognition Rewards
Compensation:
- Full Time 35-40 hours per week
- One Year Contract
- $19.78 – $21.43 per hour
To apply, please email cover letter and resume to [email protected].
