PSH; Supportive Retention Specialist II

Overview

Description The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more o.org.

Location and Job Type Full-time position based at Hazel Ying Lee, 3000 SE Powell Blvd. Portland, OR 97202 with a hybrid schedule.

• POSITION: PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing) Retention Specialist II
• JOB CLASS/GRADE: Coordinator 1 / Specialist 2;
  Grade 7
• WAGE: Starting at $52,488 per year based on experience
• FLSA; EEO; WC: Non-Exempt;
  Professional; 8864
• LOCATIONS: Hazel Ying Lee, 3000 SE Powell Blvd. Portland, OR 97202, Hybrid schedule
• FTE; FT/PT; STATUS
  : 1.0 FTE;
  Full-Time with Benefits;
  Regular
• NUMBER OF POSITIONS: (1)
• PROGRAM(S): Community Safety & Wellbeing/Housing Stability / Refugee & Immigrant Family Strengthening (RIFS) PSH Program
• SECTOR: Housing Stabilization Services

English fluency required; bilingual fluency in Spanish preferred but not required

Familiarity with supportive housing is valuable. Must be able to pass an extensive background check.

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

The Hazel Ying Lee Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program provides wrap-around, comprehensive support to families with children who are identified as being currently at risk or experiencing homelessness. Support services for Hazel Ying Lee Apartments consist of retention services and housing placement services that are flexible, tenant-driven, voluntary, and individualized. IRCO staff is responsible for providing onsite services for 30 permanent supportive housing (PSH) units, as well as referral and linkage to outside resources, timely documentation, and program reporting.

PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing) Retention Specialist II assists individuals and/or families who are at risk of, or fully, experiencing homelessness to obtain or retain long term permanent housing. This role utilizes a housing first, strengths-based, empowerment model to cultivate trust, establish and promote trauma-informed communication, provide advocacy, direct services and support, and case management that facilitates, encourages, and assists clients to reach their goals.

The PSH Retention Specialist II utilizes their experience in homeless services and/or affordable housing as well as housing stabilization programs to enhance and improve programming, facilitates working groups, and sometimes is called upon to mentor less experienced staff members (Specialist I). This position is based onsite to work directly with participants and provide housing first, community responsive, and participant-centered services that focus on housing placement, retention, and wellbeing.

• Adhere to program, agency, and federal legal policies on client confidentiality
• Implement client-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed empowerment model in assisting clients to heal and attain stability as driven by their priorities and goals
• Collaborate with internal and external service providers to identify participants who meet criteria for PSH
• Assess potential participants for eligibility, conduct intake sessions utilizing assessment and evaluation procedures and the best practices, and conduct eligibility screening for other services
• Develop a case management plan for each participant, provide short-term crisis intervention for participants who wish to access services including but not limited to emergency shelters and motels; supports for long term housing stability; peer supports; mental health services; securing employment; and referrals for other relevant services
• Assist participants in navigating and accessing appropriate services
• Maintain confidential case management files including records of intake, case management plans, and all contacts and referrals
• Complete data entry, case notes, client file updates, reports, and all other program and IRCO administrative tasks within given timelines
• Perform outreach and educational activities within immigrant and refugee communities and local service providers
• Actively participate in relevant network meetings, regular IRCO internal meetings, and community engagement events and presentations
• Mentor less experienced colleagues, provide job shadowing opportunities for new staff, contribute to resource library, and facilitate departmental working groups
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Ability to meet multiple, including conflicting deadlines
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet the availability of clients

• Ability to deal with distressed and demanding clients and…