Housing Counselor

Strive is looking for a highly organized and detail-oriented Housing Counselor to represent our nonprofit partner, SWB Delivers Outreach Program, with its daily operations in counties, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco. This is a great opportunity to assist our Board of Directors and supporters by providing housing counseling and support services to households enrolled in our program.

We’re a small company with fewer than 15 employees, which means there’s lots of room for growth and learning opportunities. Here at Strive, we’re committed to creating an inclusive culture where all employees feel welcomed and valued.

Housing Counselors provide intake; coordinate and monitor the assessment, healing/treatment planning process and follow-up for each client; serve as an advocate and liaison for and on behalf of client.

The Housing Counselor will help in building client self-sufficiency around family systems, housing, budgeting, employment, educational training, health, and other human services, with an emphasis on long-term economic and housing stability in keeping with SWB Delivers goals.

Essential Job Duties:

• Conduct comprehensive initial screening process to determine eligibility for program services, providing assessment, intake, and enrollment where appropriate.
• Manage a caseload of specific clients including developing Service Goal Plan, budgeting, and monitoring client’s compliance with program rules.
• Conduct and document client meetings to monitor progress.
• Conduct phone follow-up after completion of the program.
• Conduct outreach site visits and establish a network of community resources and services suitable for clients.
• Facilitate support-educational groups to educate clients on various issues including basics of renting, fair housing, self-esteem, safety, parenting, childcare, nutrition, money management, credit counseling, home maintenance, and good housekeeping/hygiene management.
• Make referrals to other services as needed and work with other community providers to provide collaborative services to clients.
• Facilitate and coordinate 2 housing clinics per year, along with the Board of Directors.
• Provide support to grant writers and fundraising teams to engage supporters, clients and community groups.
• Conduct client unit inspections to ensure compliance with safety and federal/funder regulations.
• Monitor direct assistance that can be used for financial support, rent, utility, and security deposit payments.
• Participate in regular supervision with Program Manager by providing regular updates and preparing case presentations.
• Maintains client files in accordance with program requirements and SWB Delivers guidelines.
• Maintain current level of knowledge on program software and other information on housing assistance programs.
• Comply with the Standards and Ethics for Housing Counseling
• Responsible for maintaining certification CEUs if certified and attend company trainings as assigned.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: supervising interns or volunteers as needed.

Skills and Qualifications:

Decision-making: Ability to make independent decisions daily, addressing the best way to handle specific tasks.

Communications and collaboration: Collaborate with other administrators, support personnel, Board of Directors, property management, and clients on a regular basis.

Organizational skills: Organization and prioritization are the core elements of the Housing Counselor responsibilities. You must know how to keep yourself and others organized and how to determine which tasks are the most important to prioritize.

Writing: Spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and writing are essential.

Computer Knowledge: Basic understanding of the internet, social media, word documents, excel, google suite, and other software programs.

Requirements:

Fluent in English, (Spanish, Cantonese/Mandarin speaking is a plus)

High School Diploma/GED

Housing counselor/leasing agent experience is a plus, administrative experience is preferred or equivalent

Pay: $20/hr – Part-Time, 16 hours per week. Non-exempt

Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2:00pm.