Housing Resource Advocate

The Housing Resource Advocate assists and advocates for program participants to locate, secure, and retain affordable permanent housing. In addition to providing direct services to survivors of sexual violence, the Housing Resource Advocate plans and coordinates services identifies appropriate housing options and interacts with landlords and other organizations on behalf of participants. This is not a remote position.

Coordinate and maintain survivor access to housing resources (50%)

• Perform a trauma-informed and survivor-centered assessment to understand the participant’s housing goals and the barriers they have encountered in their housing search.
• Assist the participant in activities towards meeting housing goals, including but not limited to identifying units that are safe and accessible, accompanying participants to view units, filling out, submitting, and tracking the progress of rental applications, reviewing leases, acting as a liaison between the participant and the landlord, and educating participants on tenants’ rights and responsibilities.
• Attend housing meetings and participate in work groups to establish a close and collaborative relationship with stakeholders as well as to stay current on housing-related updates and opportunities.
• Create and update outreach materials to be used while interfacing with landlords, property management companies, realtors, nonprofit organizations, and other organizations that provide housing support to advocate on behalf of domestic violence survivors.
• Maintain up-to-date, accurate, and complete records of participant interactions and services by documenting service notes, communication logs regarding referrals, housing applications, and communication with stakeholders.

Participate in the delivery of SVC's direct services (50%)

• Provides individual counseling, advocacy, and general support services.
• Carry a caseload of 5-8 participants.
• Answer crisis calls on the crisis hotline.
• Coordinates, plans, and co-facilitates youth support groups.
• Designs and evaluates recruitment strategies to increase community participation in youth programs as needed.
• Maintain up to two crisis unit shifts per week.
• State-mandated 40-hour Sexual Assault Advocacy Training will be provided.
• Support Outreach Team as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge and understanding of the interconnection between poverty, homelessness and sexual violence.
• Knowledgeable about housing resources, housing regulations, tenant rights, current housing market information, housing trends and resources, subsidy programs, rapid rehousing, the Coordinated Entry System, the Continuum of Care for homeless persons, HUD and LAHSA guidelines as they relate to client housing resource eligibility.
• Candidates who are bilingual in English and one of the prevalent languages in our service delivery area (i.e. Spanish, Somali, Hmong) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Direct service advocacy experience in sexual violence or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to work and build respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• A team-oriented person who will foster a positive working environment.
• Flexible and adaptable to a fluid work environment.
• Excellent customer service skills: the ability to work with victims/survivors and community partners in a friendly, cooperative, and professional manner.

All persons of every race, ethnic background, spiritual belief, economic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or personal ability, are equally affirmed into community, leadership, and employment at the Sexual Violence Center.

Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 am-8 pm, and Friday, 8 am-4 pm. This position will have at least 1 opening and closing shift. Some evenings and weekends, as needed.

LOCATION:

The Sexual Violence Center is housed at 2600 East 25th Street, Suite C, Minneapolis, but SVC provides services in various locations across Carver, Hennepin, and Scott counties. ONSITE ONLY

BENEFITS:

Medical, dental, life, long-term disability (Paid 100% by employer), Retirement (3%) contribution after one year of service

Vacation time (120 hours), sick leave (40 hours), and holidays (88 hours)

The Sexual Violence Center (SVC) is a dedicated rape crisis center serving Carver, Hennepin, and Scott counties. We support people who have experienced sexual violence through our 24-hour telephone crisis line, individual counseling, support groups, hospital and legal advocacy. All of these services are provided at no cost to the individual.

For more information about our work, visit www.sexualviolencecenter.org.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents within this job. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job. Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job to designate other functions as essential at any time. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.