Supportive Services Specialist

About Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Founded in Austin, Texas, the organization serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs: Truck Ministry, Community First! Village, and Community Works. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. We are now embarking on a new phase of community expansion, adding more than 1400 new neighbors over the next 5-10 years.

About the Role

At Community First! Village (CFV), the Neighbor Care Team has the privilege of walking alongside our neighbors formerly chronically homeless individuals-helping them settle, cultivate, and care for themselves and others in this unique community.

The Supportive Services Specialist will play a vital role on the Neighbor Care Team, focusing on building relationships with new neighbors, providing support, and connecting them to resources that enhance their well-being and longevity at the Village. Data shows the significance of a neighbor's first year in determining long-term stability, and we are committed to providing enhanced support during this critical period. As a newly created role, the Supportive Services Specialist will be essential in helping new neighbors integrate into the community and connect with onsite partners for additional support.

This is a full-time, non-exempt position reporting to the Supportive Services Manager. Due to the nature and requirements of the position, hours are flexible to fit needs but typically include 9 am - 5 pm Monday-Friday. Some nights and weekends will be required. The Supportive Services Specialist will office at Community First! Village located at 9301 Hog Eye Road, Austin, TX 78724.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Build and deepen personal relationships with our formerly homeless neighbors, consistently using a person-centered approach
• Regularly check in with new neighbors for their first 6 months after move-in, giving additional attention to our neighbors who are on a rent voucher, have jobs outside of the village, or Dignified Income contracts.
• Quickly connect neighbors to Neighbor Care Navigator when the need for a referral is discovered
• Facilitate relationships between neighbors and other individuals (staff, missional neighbors, volunteers, service providers, etc.)
• Follow up with neighbors who need additional care and refer to services and resources.
• Assist and support with responding to neighbor concerns reported by staff, other neighbors, and/or volunteers and address concerns with appropriate care
• Attend New Neighbor 101 Classes and assist with class facilitation
• Assist with program management needs alongside the Supportive Services Manager for resources such as food security programs, pet resources, workforce programs,
• Manage tracking data, coordinating with volunteers and partners, and evaluating program effectiveness.
• Encourage a culture of care amongst our neighbors, partners and the outside community
• Attend regularly scheduled staff and Neighbor Care team meetings
• Assist MLF and Neighbor Care team in achieving our goals
• Other Duties & Responsibilities as needed 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Principles

• MLF is a faith-based organization whose ideals and philosophy come directly from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As an organization, we strive to reflect this precept in our communications, both internally and externally
• Commitment to serving those who have experienced homelessness and personal alignment with MLF's vision, mission, core values, and goals
• Bachelor's degree preferred; 2-3 years of related experience required
• Understanding of the nonprofit/social sector, particularly MLF's vision, mission, core values, and goals
• Experience with evaluating the needs of vulnerable populations and helping to connect them with the appropriate providers and resources
• Experience helping individuals secure sustainable income and familiarity with housing programs (PSH, RRH, Sober Living Homes preferred)
• Experience serving and advocating for disenfranchised populations, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with disabilities, and individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or substance use disorders
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to assess situations and develop effective, outcome-driven solutions
• Strong ability to connect with diverse populations, communicate clearly, and maintain discretion and confidentiality
• Collaborative spirit with the ability to work independently and as part of a team, maintaining a positive attitude, enthusiasm, and flexibility
• Detail-oriented with the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Canva 
• Strong people skills with a welcoming, professional demeanor
• Must have patience, compassion, and professionalism in all interactions
• Must have a valid driver's license

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Ability to move about Community First! Villages phases  
• Ability to work in an office setting
• Ability to walk throughout the village to complete home visits in all weather conditions

Benefits

• Day one 100% Employer paid, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD & LTD Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Matching 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Corporate Discount Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Partnership Benefits

MLF VISION

We empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

MLF MISSION

We provide food and clothing, cultivate community, and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.

GOALS

• Transform the way people view the stereotype of those who find themselves homeless
• Reconnect the homeless to self, family and community
• Help the chronically homeless rediscover and utilize their God-given talents to do purposeful work
• Connect human to human, heart to heart through the fellowship of food and hospitality
• Inspire people into a lifestyle of abundance by giving their best first

BELIEF STATEMENTS

The vision is supported by belief statements centered on our belief that homelessness is the result of a profound, catastrophic loss of family:

• God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life
• By virtue of being created by God in His image, we are all called to live in community and relationship with Him through each other
• The family is the original cell of social life
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself
• All members of the human family are equal in dignity
• The Lord God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it. Gen 2:15

CORE VALUES

MLF is committed to fostering a culture that prioritizes relational connection. We believe there is opportunity in every aspect of our work to be relational in a highly transactional world. In this culture, transactions are means to relational ends, not the other way around. This begins with the countercultural love poured out by Jesus Christ and grows as imperfect individuals strive to show this love to each other human-to-human, heart-to-heart. Each individual's openness to the journey of their own personal growth is essential in building our relational culture, and we believe this culture flourishes as we each continuously strive to more fully embody these four core values:

• Faith: We define Faith as the foundational belief that our world and all our work belong to God. This allows us to engage our work with joy and lightheartedness, knowing that we are not ultimately in control.
• Humility: We define Humility as rightly viewing oneself as a single piece of a grander story. This humility leads to a view of oneself that is neither too high nor too low.
• Generous Spirit: We define a Generous Spirit as a readiness to give more grace, mercy, and hospitality than is necessary or expected. This posture allows us to see others for who they are, not what they do.
• Integrity: We define Integrity as a wholehearted commitment to doing right by God, ourselves, and others. This wholeheartedness shows itself in consistently choosing honesty, responsibility and ownership in all actions and decisions.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MLF is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in accordance with federal and state law.