Housing Support Specialist

Housing Support Specialist

4-Day Work Week Option Available

$2,000 SIGNING BONUS

Location: St. Paul

Starting Pay: $22.56 Base hourly with potential increases depending on education and experience; mileage reimbursement.

Mental Health Resources, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We embrace diversity and inclusion and take a person-centered care approach to the population we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

See what employees have to say about working at MHR!

www.mhresources.org/careers

The Housing Support Specialist position is responsible for initial and ongoing Housing Support benefit administration for MHR’s Regional Metro Committee (RMC) Housing Support Program (formerly GRH). This program and position work in collaboration with the seven Twin Cities metro counties and numerous service providers to administer the Housing Support benefit on behalf of eligible recipients. The Housing Support Specialist coordinates and maintains program output consistent with agency standards and coordinates program goals and activities to ensure targeted outcomes are achieved.

A few of the benefits offered by MHR:

• Intensive two-week initial orientation program AND on-going in-house training program.
• iPhone, laptop computer, and Wi-Fi provided for all community-based staff.
• Health insurance (including family health coverage) with employee costs in the top 6% of most affordable health care options. Competitive dental insurance.
• Automatic enrollment in retirement plan after 1 year with a 3% employer contribution.
• 9 paid holidays and 18 days accrued PTO during your first year.
• Annual merit-based salary increases.
• Schedule primarily Monday-Friday day hours.
• MHR is committed to working towards racial equity and combating racism.
• MHR is a tobacco free workplace promoting health & wellness for the individuals we serve and our employees.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Process tenant referrals and applications, ensuring program application packets are complete, valid, and accurate before submission.
• Conduct program briefings with clients and program overview presentations and review meetings with partnered service providers to educate involved parties on the Housing Support benefit and program-specific policies.
• Coordinate and monitor fund administration for rent, utilities, deposits, and other eligible housing expenses.
• Coordinate and monitor submission of Housing Support applications and fund administration with county financial systems, services providers, recipients, property owners/managers, and utility providers.
• Collect and verify income documentation and other required verifications. Update recipient obligations and notify all parties of changes in housing assistance payments and tenant payments by mail and sometimes email.
• Communicate and correspond with tenants, landlords and support services regarding the status and provisions of the unit as well as the benefit status.
• Ensure that appropriate, program-eligible housing is obtained for recipients through effective communication, education, and resource provision with HSS and service providers assisting referrals in their housing search.
• Obtain all necessary leasing documentation including landlord leases, addendums and W-9s.
• Perform habitability inspections as needed.
• Help identify benefits that tenants are or could be utilizing (e.g. SNAP, SSI, waivers) and discuss housing options and the Housing Support benefit.
• Help provide resources/guidance for tenants as needed, such as for Emergency Assistance and/or other community resources.
• Conduct outreach services to assist in connecting individuals to housing, supports, services, employment, and community resources.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED required. Bachelor's degree in human services-related field preferred.
• Experience in housing administration, supportive housing, community-based services with adults recovering from mental illness, chemical dependency, and other disabilities strongly preferred.