Housing Specialist - Church World Service
Lancaster, PA
About the Job
Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.
Purpose:The primary purpose of the Housing Specialist role is to support the housing team at CWS Lancaster by providing in-house assistance with financial requests, case noting, liaising with landlords and tenants, coordinating movers, and housing information tracking, among others. Reporting to the Housing Supervisor, the Housing Specialist also manages CWS Lancaster’s donation hub, by coordinating for the delivery and pick-up of donations, keeping inventory of donated and purchased items, and ensuring availability of stockpiles to complete client housing set ups in a timely manner, among others.
Responsibilities:
Donation Hub Management
- Receive, store, and track inventory of donated goods.
- Coordinate with other CWS teams and programs the needs and distribution of donated goods to their respective clients.
- Coordinate the community outreach requesting needed donated goods with CWS Communications team.
- Manage the CWS Amazon wish list account, based on the clients’ needs of CWS programs.
- Organize the volunteer(s) work and schedule in the donation hub.
Housing Navigation
- Provide housing navigation to eligible clients to promote sustained learning among our newest neighbors, as well as improve their chances of self-sufficiency.
- Provide learning support and extended orientation reviews to families who are at risk of coming into conflict with their landlord over cleanliness, lease infractions, etc.
- Tracks referrals and documents all housing support services in clients’ case notes and databases. Assist with compiling this information for reporting purposes as necessary.
- Refers clients to existing community resources, information, and social services based on immediate or continued housing needs, as appropriate.
- Provides program updates and highlights to fellow team members during check-ins and staff meetings.
- Assists the Housing Specialist in providing direct learning support to refugee clients requesting assistance in extended housing and bill payment reviews, including lease agreements, housing maintenance, and work order repairs.
- Assists the Housing Specialist in conducting outreach and trainings to Tenfold, City of Lancaster, HDC, and other public housing providers and stakeholders on housing needs and challenges in the refugee population.
Housing Procurement and Set Up
- Assists the Housing Specialist in securing initial housing for all refugees by visiting properties, performing safety inspections, placing housing applications, and booking AirBnB or other temporary housing, if needed.
- Assist in organizing donations and purchased household items in CWS donation hub.
- Connects with movers to schedule furniture moving assistance and ensures that all household furniture and supplies are placed in clients’ housing prior to clients’ arrivals.
- Identifies and coordinates volunteer support for housing set-ups.
- Completes and submits for approval all check requests related to housing including but not limited to rent, security deposit, application fees, lease transfer fees, telephone, beds and other furniture, household goods, etc.
- Records all financial transactions in clients’ financial tracking logs. Prepares and includes housing documentation in clients’ files, including but not limited to Home Safety Evaluation forms, lease contracts, and financial paperwork.
- As necessary, assists USRP case managers in ensuring timely delivery of services and fulfillment of requirements outlined in the Cooperative Agreement with Department of State/Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, including providing transportation support to appointments for new refugee clients.
- Available for possible evening airport pickups for newly arriving refugees, as necessary.
- Assists the Housing Supervisor in any duties he/she deems necessary.
Education: Associate's degree or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree.
Experience: Two years' work experience in refugee resettlement or other direct social services is preferred. Ability to provide culturally sensitive services and a willingness to work with a diverse, non-English speaking clientele is required. A background in housing resources, case management or human service delivery is desirable.
Other Skills:
- Superior English written and verbal communication skills are required. Fluency in a refugee language preferred.
- Computer literate, with proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word and Access) and internet application.
- Strong organizational and time management skills are required.
- Able to lift furniture and other household items, up to 50 lbs.
- Must be able to travel frequently and independently throughout relevant region.
Special Requirements:
- Must be able to pass an FBI background check and a Child Abuse/Neglect check.
- Must have access to reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license with insurable record. Must be able to keep a clean driving record.
- This is an in-person position, with possibility of hybrid schedule.