COORDINATED ENTRY HOUSING REFERRAL COORDINATOR

COORDINATED ENTRY HOUSING REFERRAL COORDINATOR

Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE:

The Alliance is a passionate, hard-working team dedicated to making homelessness in suburban Cook County (IL) rare, brief, and a one-time occurrence. Our role is to lead the Cook County Continuum of Care in realizing this vision by: 

• Creating and implementing a community-wide plan to prevent and end homelessness.

• Strategic use and equitable distribution of federal funding and leveraging new resources to end homelessness across the region. 

• Measuring results, monitoring performance, and tracking progress toward our goals. 

Job Title: Housing Referral Coordinator

Reports To: Coordinated Entry Director

Direct Reports:  None

Program: Coordinated Entry

Classification: Exempt, Full-time, Salaried

Date Revised: 04-17-2024

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Housing Referral Coordinator will coordinate the matching process as part of Coordinated Entry (CE) in Suburban Cook County.  The Housing Referral Coordinator is responsible for maintaining a high quality By Name List (BNL) and listing of available housing units and vacancies. The Housing Referral Coordinator will coordinate and assign housing referrals to housing opportunities available within our CoC and will troubleshoot any issues that arise in the housing placement process. The Housing Referral Coordinator will provide support to Sending and Receiving Agency staff as needed until placement is complete.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Housing Referral Coordination: (80% of the time) 

• Maintain and manage high quality prioritization lists in HMIS and troubleshoot and resolve any data entry errors issues that impact prioritization.

• Review and approve all Coordinated Entry phased assessment and eligibility documents, as applicable.

• Provide technical assistance related to the entry and assessment processes to Sending and Receiving Agency staff, as needed and in collaboration with other members of the Coordinated Entry team.

• Regularly review and maintain a list of reported housing opportunities with eligibility criteria for use in matching individuals from the BNL with housing interventions that most closely align available resources with client need. 

• Coordinate housing referrals to housing opportunities and to ensure providers are following CE protocols and that housing vacancies are filled from BNL. 

• Collaborate with Coordinated Entry team members overseeing the Domestic Violence and Youth and Young Adult Coordinated Entry Systems to ensure practices are aligned and to discuss clients that may enter through multiple CE systems.

• Lead case conferencing and meetings/phone calls to ensure that active referrals are quickly connected to housing vacancies; follow-up with Sending and Receiving agencies until placement is complete.  

Ongoing: (10% of the time) 

• Work with CE Director and Alliance Staff to determine measures to evaluate effectiveness of assessment, prioritization, and housing matching processes.

• Provide reports as requested to evaluate the performance of the CE System, to ensure continuous quality improvement for data measurement and to achieve the highest level of service quality.

• Other duties as assigned.

Professional and program development: (10% of the time)

• Participate in ongoing development and improvement of all program processes and relationships.

• Participate in relevant industry seminars, workshops, conferences, and networking events.

• Read about industry best practices to help ensure programming is in line with industry standards.

• Participate, as needed, in community outreach to engage people with the lived experience of homelessness as well as other community stakeholders.

• Attend all ongoing trainings as required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

While we have a set of preferred qualifications listed, if you have other experience that you think is related, please apply.

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent work experience required; 3-5 years of experience in a related position preferred.

• Excellent verbal, analytic, and written communication skills.

• Computer literacy, including knowledge of computer assessment tools, database systems and Windows environment. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Familiarity with HUD requirements for verifying and documenting literal and chronic homelessness.

• Previous case management experience for highly vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness.

• Ability to conduct self-directed work and/or function as a part of a team. 

QUALITIES:

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, a growth mindset, and dedication to the values and the mission of the Alliance. 

• Ability to work with and collaborate effectively with a diverse team of staff and stakeholders. 

• Awareness of personal power and privilege, dedication to cultural humility, and demonstrated high value for diversity in work team.

• Ability to work independently, both on site at the office located in Hillside, IL as well as telecommute and in the community. 

• Possess a commitment to being anti-racist and anti-oppressive in your work.

• Prior lived experience of homelessness is highly valued. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

• This is a full-time position that is mostly remote (approximately 85% time); on-site in the community as well as at the office located in Hillside, IL is occasionally required. An accessible office space in a typical office environment is provided and meetings with the Board and other stakeholders will be required. There are occasionally meetings off-site at locations that are not accessible.

• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets; while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to utilize a computer frequently to communicate with stakeholders.

• The workplace is a smoke and drug-free environment.

COMPENSATION: 

Estimated starting salary range: $49,262 - $61,577. A competitive compensation and benefits package will be offered, commensurate with experience and qualifications. 

While employed in this position, the employee may be required to perform other assignments not listed in this job description. The employee is an employee at will, meaning that either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time by written notice to the other. Nothing in this job description is to be deemed to create a contract of employment for a specific period.

HOW TO APPLY:

We strongly encourage those with the following identities to apply: Black and indigenous people, Latinx people, other people of color, LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and others with lived experience of homelessness and/or as being part of marginalized communities. 

The Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship status, age, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, military status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, order of protection status, or any other legally protected status. 

To apply, send resume with cover letter describing your interest in and relevant skills for the position to hiring@suburbancook.org with “Coordinated Entry Housing Referral Coordinator” in the subject line. You may address your letter to: 

Carrie George, Coordinated Entry Director

Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County

4415 Harrison Street, Suite 228

Hillside, IL 60162

Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We will contact only those individuals who we feel are most qualified for the position.

THE ALLIANCE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

The Alliance to End Homelessness offers the following benefits to full-time regular employees:

• 100% HMO, PPO premium coverage for employee

• Dependent children and spouse HMO and PPO coverage at flat discounted rates

• 100% Dental insurance premium coverage for employee

• 100% Vision insurance premium coverage for employee

• 100% STD, LTD, and Life insurance premium coverage for employee

• Workers’ Compensation

• Extended Leave of Absence

• Employee Assistance Program – confidential professional support and guidance

• 27 PTO days per year accrued at 9 hours per pay period in the first five years of employment

• 15 Paid Holidays 

• Retirement Plan - employee funded 401k and ROTH IRA plans via Charles Schwab with an employer contribution of 3%

• Flex time, remote work, hybrid schedule

• Cell phone and mileage reimbursement 

• Home internet use monthly stipend

HOW TO APPLY:

We strongly encourage those with the following identities to apply: Black and indigenous people, Latinx people, other people of color, LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and others with lived experience of homelessness and/or as being part of marginalized communities. 

The Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship status, age, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, military status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, order of protection status, or any other legally protected status. 

To apply, send resume with cover letter describing your interest in and relevant skills for the position to hiring@suburbancook.org with “Coordinated Entry Housing Referral Coordinator” in the subject line. You may address your letter to: 

Carrie George, Coordinated Entry Director

Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County

4415 Harrison Street, Suite 228

Hillside, IL 60162

Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We will contact only those individuals who we feel are most qualified for the position.