Diversion Counseling Jobs (NOW HIRING)

JOB SUMMARY:

The Homeless Prevention & Diversion Specialist will provide homeless prevention (HP) and Diversion services as part of Coordinated Entry in Suburban Cook County. Coordinated Entry (CE) is a community-wide system to standardize and expedite the process by which people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness access housing and homeless resources. Through CE, people experiencing homelessness are matched to services and housing based on their preferences and level of need.    

Diversion assistance serves as the “front door” to the agency’s homeless crisis response. This position performs phone and in-person assessments to determine a person’s immediate housing and stabilization needs as they seek entry into the Suburban Cook County Homelessness System. The assessment helps determine Housing Forward’s response to the client crisis, including offering case management services, referrals, financial assistance, employment assistance and crisis intervention.  

The Homeless Prevention & Diversion Specialist is responsible for evaluating referrals for homeless prevention and diversion assistance to determine eligibility for financial assistance, helping eligible participants complete their applications and to help establish payment plans with management companies and landlords and direct participants toward resources to assist with securing affordable housing when needed. The Specialist will provide financial literacy/budget counseling and case management referrals for supportive services to help participants develop ongoing stability plans.    

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 Prevention Activities:  

• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of rules and guidelines for providing homeless prevention and diversion financial assistance.
• Conduct assessments and determine eligibility for financial assistance for referrals received via the Suburban Cook Call Center, Triage & Intake Specialist, and Homeless Program Staff.
• Accurately apply rules and guidelines from multiple funding sources in order to determine eligibility for financial assistance. 
• Conduct in-person case management appointments to complete application for financial assistance and provide financial counseling and case management referrals for supportive services to help participants develop ongoing stability plans. 
• Accurately and efficiently, process paperwork for eligible participants in accordance with the parameters of the funding source for households determined eligible. 
• Submit appropriate funding requests, as required by each funding source, on a timely basis. 
• Communicate with landlord, if appropriate, on status of participant’s application. 
• Complete all HMIS data entry, including client profile, entry/exit screen and service transactions. 
• Attend Coordinated Entry and Alliance meetings and training as required. 
• Attend community events and activities to outreach to target populations 

Diversion Clinical and Case Management Responsibilities:

• Conduct assessments and determine eligibility for financial and non-financial assistance for referrals received via the Suburban Cook Call Center, Triage & Intake Specialist, and Homeless Program Staff. 
• Perform appropriate screenings and assessments upon first contact with client to determine appropriate response to their imminent housing displacement or unsheltered situation. 
• Determine underlying issues and offer solutions to quickly to resolve their financial and housing crisis, including but not limited to landlord mediation, interpersonal conflict resolution, financial assistance, referrals and short-term case management. 
• Provide information, resources and referrals to all incoming callers, even those outside of Housing Forward service area. 
• Follow up, within 48 hours during the business week, with all referrals made through the Call Center and after-hour answering service. 
• Determine if other Housing Forward Services are appropriate and coordinate interventions with those programs. 
• Provide diversion services for individuals and families seeking overnight emergency shelter. Diversion counseling services explore safe and viable alternatives to entering the shelter system. 
• Assist clients who may have alternatives to entering the shelter system, navigate their alternatives. 
• Determine if appropriate to add clients to Housing Forward shelter waitlist. 
• Facilitate connecting clients to Street Outreach via Triage & Intake Specialist. 
• Inform and coordinate services with area townships, targeting schools and other potential referring agencies. 
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of referrals resources, including housing placement options, community resources, and budget and employment programs. 
• Ensure resources are adequate and up to date in the Salesforce Solutions database 
• Ensure a compassionate, confidential, and safe environment that maintains client dignity. 
• Complete all required Coordinated Entry training.
• Enter all assessments into the agency’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) 
• Provide regular reports to supervisor on calls received and recommendations for shelter and housing options. 
• Complete all progress notes within 48 hours of contact with clients. 
• Ensure that all physical records (hard copies) are transferred to appropriate departments when Diversion services are completed. 
• Maintain HP & Diversion Pipelines 
• Attend Alliance Diversion Committee meetings on a regular basis and provide informational updates to Program Director. 

Other Case Management Activities:

• Maintain a working knowledge of referral sources for housing, vocational and other relevant sources. 
• Identify special needs and make appropriate referrals.   
• Assist clients, as needed, in developing and implementing individual goals and objectives to attain and maintain housing stability.   
• Document services and demographics in HMIS.   
• Assist Stability Services Program Manager with monitoring data quality and any required reporting.  

General:  

• Sensitivity to addiction and recovery, cultural heritage, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, medical and psychiatric conditions.  
• Attend staff meetings as required and other community meetings as assigned.   
• Interact effectively with persons of diverse backgrounds and treat everyone with respect and dignity.   
• Demonstrate team behavior and promote a team-oriented environment.   
• Always represent the organization professionally.   
• Maintain positive relations with clients, volunteers, co-workers, staff from other agencies, agency funders, and the general public.  
• Demonstrate effective communication skills by conveying necessary information accurately, listening effectively and asking questions when clarification is needed.   
• Participate in ongoing development and improvement of all program processes and relationships.   
• Other duties as assigned.  

Professional and Program Development:  

• If requested, participate in relevant industry seminars, workshops and networking events.   
• Be Knowledgeable of industry best practices to help ensure programming is in line with industry standards   

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, related field or at least one year of prior related services.     
• Bilingual is preferred 
• Must possess knowledge of issues related to homelessness and poverty.  
• Must be able to interpret and apply rules and guidelines.  
• Ability to problem-solve and make decisions in stressful situations.  
• Must be able to multi-task and possess strong oral and written communication, time management and organizational skills.  
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating good listening and empathic skills.  
• Proficient in Excel and Word. Must be willing to learn to use HMIS, Salesforce, and other client tracking databases. Prior experience with these databases is a plus.  
• Must have smartphone to utilize Agency communication and collaboration tools. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use stairs, reach with hands and arms balance, stoop, kneel or crouch. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. 

Housing Forward does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or disability. 

Job descriptions are not intended and should not be construed to be all-inclusive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with a job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties, as necessary. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.