Housing Retention Specialist

Gay Men's Health Crisis [GMHC] is the world's first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy. Building on decades of dedication and expertise, we understand the reality of HIV/AIDS and empower a healthy life for all. GMHC fights to end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected.

The Housing Retention Specialist (HRS) supports GMHC in achieving its mission assisting the Health Home Team in matters that relate to an individual's housing needs.The HRS identifies issues related to current housing status, researches and gathers information, strategically plans to resolve issues, and performs direct contact and negotiation with relevant providers, agencies and organizations to achieve and maintain stable housing. This position will conduct Health and Independent Living Skills Development sessions to improve the individual's capacity to secure and comply with medical treatment and live independently in permanent housing.

Duties & Responsibilities of the Officer include, but are not limited to:

• Initiate and complete the process to secure decent, affordable permanent housing.
• Assist with completing paperwork associated with securing recertification for housing related benefits, income maintenance, and essential housing needs. Insure client obtains and maintains all government benefits and services for which they are eligible.
• Assist clients to secure services that maximize their tenure in housing; increase their ability to maintain their household and finances, independently perform activities of daily living, uphold the terms of their lease; prevent lease violations; intervene and mitigate crisis situations; maximize tenant safety and security; and prevent avoidable evictions. Conduct apartment inspections.
• Assist with one time tasks associated with securing or maintaining a residence and household furnishings (ensure moving assistance, identify and complete process for discount travel, telephone or home utilities assistance programs).
• Keep an up-to-date task checklist and review monthly to insure all instrumental tasks associated with securing and retaining housing are complete and regularly update Housing Needs Assessment.
• Communicate, engage, advocate on behalf of tenants and mediate conflicts with landlords.
• Engage and maintain contact with clients in order to recognize circumstances when a client is/may decompensate, relapse or otherwise show signs of behavior that could put their health and/or housing at risk, and connect to Health Home personnel.
• Invest time needed to engage clients, maintain contact and advise clients when case management provider should be alerted to service needs. Maintain an ongoing awareness of clients' medical/social conditions (home visits, regular communication, Health Home updates and reassessments).
• Assess and promote ongoing linkage to medical and community supports. Collaborate with patient navigation program staff to ensure connections are maintained. Document and report on clients' connection to HIV primary medical care on a quarterly basis.
• Educate the client about property safety measures and assist/advocate for their installation with landlord (i.e., window guards in homes with children, smoke detectors).
• Serve as a conduit for wellness presentations to be completed by Health Home or medical provider (i.e., smoking cessation, benefits of exercise, living with diabetes, etc.).
• Educate about and facilitate appropriate use of services.
• Refer and follow through with Health Homes to secure longer or intensive case management when indicated

Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field.

Experience: Proven experience working with individuals with HIV/AIDS or other disabilities or chronic illnesses and healthcare delivery and/or benefits & entitlements.

Related Skills/Knowledge: Excellent interpersonal skills, superior oral and written communication skills and data entry skills are required. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.