Disaster Relief Counseling Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mission Statement

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Position Summary

The Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) grants, outlining the eligible activities, requirements, and modifications for communities to provide housing assistance to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who have been residing in a “declared disaster area” and have needs that are not otherwise served or fully met by existing federal disaster relief programs.

Essential Functions

• Create individualized housing stabilization plans and meet regularly with clients to promote self0sufficiency, employment, and wellness.
• Distribute funds directly to landlords or property managers, process rental packets, and track disbursement documentation.
• Create individualized housing stabilization plans and work with clients on monthly budgeting to promote long-term self-sufficiency.
• Evaluate client eligibility for funds and collect required income, lease and hardship documentation.
• Respond to crisis phone calls from owners and tenants to directly link clients to external service providers for immediate intervention.
• “Light-touch” case management to assist households with budgeting, workforce skills, enrollment in benefits, job search assistance.
• Advocate on behalf of tenants, negotiate lease terms, and intervene early to resolve issues that could result in eviction.
• Provide ‘warm handoffs’ and referrals to additional social services, such as public benefits, vocational training, and medical care.
• Administer and track short-term rental subsidies and move-in financial assistance to prevent a return to homelessness.
• Maintain a caseload of 20 participants.
• Coordinate and conduct habitability and lead-based plant inspections in accordance with program requirement.
• Provide engagement and connection to community services, linkages to education and career development opportunities and life skills, crisis intervention as needed, and on-going assessment in accordance with program.
• Provide appropriate level of case management to assist participants to achieve strengths-based/solutions focused goals and case management plans to reduce barriers and promote permanent housing and self-sufficiency.
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings, community meetings, and other meetings as assigned. Conduct all functions in accordance with Agency guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Assess housing barriers of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to determine housing and service needs.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with participants through regular contact and consistent engagement.
• Demonstrate commitment to developing and delivering trauma-informed services that incorporate current best-practice needs.
• Maintain strict, HIPAA-compliant program participant files to satisfy local, state, and federal contractual guidelines.
• Assist in development of, and encourage adherence to , a personal budget through pro0active housing and budget counseling sessions; provide budget counseling and education to assist clients in establishing payments plans for bill and past debts and to assist clients in obtaining and maintaining their housing.
• Prepare reports and perform other duties as assigned.
• Tracking client outcomes and housing status into the local resources, physical/mental health care, and transportation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions

Most of the direct service work is performed in the community (e.g., clients’ homes) and NOT at the assigned site. Thus, the VSW must have the ability to walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis, the ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead; ability to operate computer, fax, and telephone; and the ability to lift to 25 lbs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field or 2 years of Homeless Services experience
• Excellent communication skills
• Must obtain First Aid/CPR certification in first 90 days of employment.
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• Microsoft Excel: Create formulas, charts, and pivot tables, and use conditional formatting.
• Minimum of 2 years working directly with vulnerable, unsheltered, or homeless populations.
• Strong in Microsoft Office, in particularly with Excel, word, and Outlook.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Able to represent the Salvation Army with community organizations.
• Commitment to working with disabled veterans.
• Veteran status a plus
• Ability to work well with others and committed to the vision that Community Integrated Services be a program of excellence.
• Ability to build a NETWORK of community providers that can help with the transition of homelessness to Permanent Housing.
• Ability to write clear progress reports.
• Proficiency in HMIS software, database management, and financial auditing tools.
• Strong crisis management, empathetic communication, and cross functional project leadership.