Housing Support Worker - FT Days w/Benefits

Primarily remote position, Monday-Friday. Position provides housing advocacy, resource navigation and referrals, application assistance and support for those in housing crisis. Attend initial eviction hearings in court (via Zoom), case management, provide resources and follow-up documentation. Bi-lingual in Spanish or Somali is preferred. Employee benefits include health insurance options, dental, vision, paid vacation, sick and safe time, flexible holiday hours, employer matching retirement account.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Demonstrate commitment to the agency’s mission statement and core values at all times. The mission statement is “360 Communities delivers safety and stability that improves lives.”
2. Attend initial eviction hearings in Dakota County Housing Court (held virtually on Zoom) to provide community resource support to residential tenants. These support services are offered as part of the Dakota County Housing Clinic (DCHC), a collaboration of government and nonprofit agency partners whose goal is to prevent evictions and increase the housing stability of Dakota County renters. Agency partners include Dakota County Social Services, local legal aid providers and 360 Communities.
3. Work cooperatively, build, and maintain relationships with partner agencies, Dakota County and other organizations to strengthen client experiences with community resources supporting housing stability.
4. Complete a thorough intake process with each client to determine appropriate services and referrals.
5. Provide screening and referral services to 360 Communities internal rent assistance programs and to other outside, community rent assistance programs; and provide application assistance for individuals and families facing eviction.
6. Provide short-term case management services to clients after their eviction hearing to assist them to meet the terms of their settlement agreement or redeem their tenancy; identify other housing options if they must vacate their current housing; connect them to appropriate resources, such as, public assistance programs, mental health, food access and transportation; provide emotional support; and identify goals related to their financial and housing stability (e.g., budgeting, employment, education, debt management, etc.).
7. Provide appropriate service coordination in response to intake, crisis management, and goals, either through connecting clients to services within 360 Communities or through a referral basis to outside programs and agencies.
8. Follow all funding requirements and guidelines to ensure stewardship of funds made available to 360 Communities clients.
9. Connect clients to other internal agency programs (food shelves, Violence Prevention services, Partners for Success®, etc.) to ensure holistic services are provided to children, families and individuals.
10. Identify service barriers and work to remove them through engagement of the community and linking to formal and informal supports.
11. Follow mandated reporting laws for child abuse and neglect.
12. Maintain safety and security by following all safety and security procedures and communicate appropriately.
13. Perform other duties and assume other responsibilities as the need is apparent or as requested or delegated.

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience:

• A minimum of two years related experience and/or training. Lived experience is valued and considered. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred but relevant experience is considered.
• Strong computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software, and use of database systems.
• Applicants must have experience with socially, economically or culturally diverse populations.
• Secondary language, specifically Spanish or Somali, is preferred but not required.

Professional Abilities and Skills

• Interpersonal: Work with integrity. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Understand and comply with professional ethics and standards of practice. Contribute to building positive team spirit and put success of team above own interests. Recognize accomplishments of other team members. Seek increased responsibilities. Look for and takes advantage of opportunities. Ask for and offers help when needed.
• Work: Thrive in fast pace environment and able to work independently off site. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited direction may exist. Ability to work effectively with a team. Demonstrate attention to detail. Strive to continuously build knowledge and skills. Display original thinking and creativity. Include appropriate people in decision-making process. Adapt to changes, delays, or unexpected events in the work environment. Ability to keep accurate and complete work records. Support cost saving measures. Set and achieve challenging goals.
• Time Management: Prioritize and plan work activities. Use time efficiently. Arrive punctually each workday; complete assigned tasks within required time frame.
• Communication: Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills. Speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listen and get clarification. Present and interpret data and written information effectively.
• Leadership: Exhibit confidence in self and others. Inspire respect, trust and motivate others to perform well and fulfill vision. Effectively influence actions and opinions of others. Accept feedback from others. Give appropriate recognition to others. Display passion and optimism.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Minnesota driver’s license.
• Must possess Personal Auto Insurance limits of $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 or a combined single limit of $300,000.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Typical office environment, exposure to fax machines and copiers, computers, scanners and printers.
• Personal transportation is required. This position will work off site and will require travel to Dakota County Service Center/Courts, 360 Communities, and other community locations.
• This position is a remote, work from home position and does not have dedicated office space at 360 Communities sites. It requires access to a high-speed internet connection. Employee must have access to a quiet, confidential space to do their work effectively.
• Employee is subject to minimal noise level.
• Work requires a high level of emotional capacity.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, climb stairs, bend, kneel, sit on the floor, use hands to write, type, use computers and lift up to 20 lbs.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

FT Day Shift Monday-Friday remote work
40 hours per week 1.0 FTE