Problem Solving Specialist - temporary​/part time

About the organization: Compass Family Services is a 100+ year old nonprofit working on the front lines of San Francisco’s homeless crisis. We provide families experiencing or at risk of homelessness with comprehensive support to address immediate needs and ensure long-term success.

About the team: Central City Access Point is a direct entry point for any San Francisco family experiencing homelessness. We provide families with housing problem‑solving support and with connection to homelessness prevention, shelter and housing programs through San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry System.

Compensation: $27–31 per hour (non‑benefitted role)

Schedule: Temporary part‑time position until June 30, 2026. Three days per week:
Tues, Thurs, Fri, 7.5 hours per day

Location: 37 Grove St, San Francisco

Organizational

Core Competencies:

Accountable, Adaptable, Client‑centered, Collaborative, Committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Resourceful

The Housing Problem Solving Specialist works directly with families experiencing a housing crisis. This includes assessing families’ needs and resources, explaining how the homeless response system works, exploring available housing and shelter options, and providing resources and referrals.

• Offer problem‑solving support to families so they can maintain their current housing or quickly secure a safe place to stay. Problem‑solving approaches are trauma‑informed and strengths‑based, including mapping of personal networks and resources, motivational interviewing, conflict resolution, and/or mediation.
• Assess families’ eligibility for San Francisco’s Homelessness Response System, which includes shelter, rental subsidies, and permanent supportive housing. Help families understand how the system works and whether and how they can access it.
• Provide families with referrals for emergency overnight shelters, food and other basic needs, and all other relevant resources.
• Maintain up‑to‑date information about families in Compass’ Salesforce database and the city‑wide ONE System.
• Once a family is matched with a housing opportunity, offer support to facilitate the connection and ensure they are able to take advantage of it.
• Assess and de‑escalate potentially volatile situations.
• Advocate for clients in their search for stable, long‑term housing.
• Participate in community events and mobile and community outreach efforts.

• Relevant experience in social work or a related field
• Experience working with families in crisis
• Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point
• Ability to assess and de‑escalate potentially volatile situations
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work
• Bilingual Spanish, Cantonese or Mandarin preferred but not required

• Salary range: $27–31 per hour based on experience, languages spoken and education.
• This is a non‑benefitted position except as required by law.

Please apply through our online application. No phone calls, please.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We are an equal opportunity employer and actively seek to recruit a diverse workforce. Employees must embrace the idea that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging contribute to the success of our underserved communities, and therefore to shared prosperity in our city and region.

Compass Family Services is committed to the continuous work of implementing specific actions that will disrupt systemic prejudice and improve equity across programs and departments, to become an example to partners who also believe in a culture of inclusion that leverages diversity.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and California civil rights law, Compass Family Services will provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for the agency. Requests for reasonable accommodation apply to all aspects of the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please use the answer box for the final question of the job application to let us know.