Rapid Rehousing Program Assistant ( Part-time 20 Hours Per Week)

Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider created in 1992 as a long-term solution to homelessness. Avalon owns and operates apartments at sites in Washtenaw County, manages rent vouchers with private landlords, and partners with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission to provide housing alternatives for formerly homeless adults and families throughout Washtenaw County.

Job Definition:

Rapid Re-Housing provides time-limited rental assistance and light case management to individuals who are in need of more short-term assistance to get back on their feet. During their time with our Rapid Re-Housing, case management includes; assisting individuals in developing basic life skills, budgeting, and employment readiness.

Rapid Re-housing promotes choice in housing for individuals within the private rental market. Interventions are designed to reduce barriers to housing and help participants rapidly exit homelessness and maintain stable housing. Service delivery is guided by a Housing First approach, individualized, person-centered housing stability support plans.

The Rapid Rehousing Program Assistant will be embedded in the Outreach Team and is responsible for assisting with administrative objectives of the Rapid Rehousing program including; completion and maintenance of MSHDA and HUD paperwork, documentation and data upkeep in agency's electronic databases, and RRH participant file maintenance This role is responsible for communication with landlords throughout Washtenaw County, as well as community partner organizations such as HAWC and OCED. This role will also include clinical support of clients, including coordination of healthcare, and assistance with the move-in process.

Job Responsibilities:

• Maintain data and client files in Foothold and HMIS according to grant requirements.
• Create and maintain an organized process by which documents are shared with services staff, finance staff, and grant fiduciary agency
• Communicate finance related items related to client monthly rent payments, move-in cost payments, and overdue balances between finance staff and landlords.
• Educate landlords about RRH and its benefits, and address potential barriers to landlord participation such as concern about tenant qualifications and short term nature of rental assistance.
• Provide direct case management and/or coordinate with case management in the community to provide continuity of service for participants.
• Communicate effectively with local community and external agencies; successfully foster relationships which enable needed resources to be accessed.
• Collaborate with the Community Housing Prioritization committee and be an integral member of the Built for Zero work
• Outreach individuals currently experiencing homelessness at shelters, campsites, and local hospitals
• Assist participants in finding appropriate rental housing based on their needs, preferences and financial resources.
• Maintain lease and compliance files in an orderly, up-to-date manner. Provide ongoing, active outreach and creative engagement to tenants
• Work with tenants and property management to coordinate eviction prevention efforts and develop housing permanency plans.
• Assist tenants with accessing needed medical, mental health, substance use, and psychosocial supports
• Meet documentation requirements as dictated by program need
• Participate in staff meetings and training sessions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supplemental Job Duties:

• Assertively engage clients in their homes, in community centers, and in the larger community
• Attend staff meetings, retreats and professional training sessions
• Assist tenants as needed with activities of daily living such as transportation, housekeeping, meal preparation, medication, shopping, laundry, or other hands on assistance

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors or Master's degree in a social or behavioral science or relevant field or three years of relevant experience
• Experience working with similar populations, including people who are homeless, people with mental illness, chronic health, and/or addiction disorders

• Ability to effectively work with diverse populations in a non-judgmental way
• Capacity to respond to crisis situations
• Strong communication skills both verbal and written
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to recognize appropriate boundaries with clients
• Proven flexibility and creativity
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Must possess a highly positive and enthusiastic attitude and strong commitment toward helping those in need
• Strong organizational skills
• Capacity to respond to crisis situations
• Interest and experience in working with individuals who are difficult to engage and refer to traditional programs, subscribe to a philosophy of tolerance and ability to engage with individuals in their current stage of change, expressed knowledge, acceptance, and/or experience with principles of harm reduction; prior experience in engaging landlords and assisting individuals in moving from their experience of homelessness into housing
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds
• Ability to work flexible hours as required by programs and staffing needs including occasional evenings and weekends
• Avalon Housing is dedicated to eliminating racial inequities. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to work well with multicultural communities.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required sit for long periods of time, drive a vehicle with passengers, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems.

A valid driver's license and reliable transportation is required.

Job Title: Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager

Dept: Housing Support Services (Outreach Team)

Reports to: Outreach Team Leader. This position and office is based in Ann Arbor, MI.

Status: Grant-funded 12-month position. Part-time 20 hours per week

Salary: $20,000

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, people who identify as transgender or non-binary, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories unless and until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon may exclude someone based on criminal history if it determines the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position.