State Refugee Housing Coordinator - Kentucky Office for Refugees

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND TASKS:

• Program Specific Responsibilities
• Provides oversight of state-wide housing services that aligns with the strategic plan developed by the department.
• Develop and implement a statewide strategy to support refugee resettlement agencies with their short and long-term housing needs for Refugees, including recent parole arrivals and other ORR eligible populations.
• Work in partnership with the resettlement agencies to understand their housing needs and share resources.
• Engage with fair housing consultancies, state and local housing agencies, public housing authorities, and other stakeholders that will lead to increased housing supply over time.
• Participate in national and local-level workgroups to identify solutions to emergency housing needs.
• Develop connections to new property owners, realtors, and property managers that are willing to rent to ORR eligible clients and provide referrals to the resettlement agencies.
• Identify emergency housing assistance through federal, state or locally funded programs to supplement gaps in cash assistance and housing costs.
• Identify innovative models to secure affordable housing, such as working with developers with available units and other partners that focus on housing solutions.
• Work in collaboration with the Policy and Procedure Specialist in the development of policies and procedures related to funded programs.
• Represent KOR in housing related working groups.
• Manage the KOR Housing Assistance and housing case management that ensure continued oversight of housing for refugee populations.
• General Program Management Responsibilities
• Develop Request for Proposals (RFP) to include the scope work, performance outcomes, funding availability and timelines or determine formula allocations in coordination with the KOR Program Manager.
• Develop and review of subrecipient work plans and budgets, performance indicators and contract deliverables.
• Review program reports submitted by sub-recipients and provide technical assistance to ensure that grant activities are consistent with overall goals and original project proposals.
• Maintain regular communication with sub-recipients, including ongoing training and peer learning opportunities.
• Identify areas for coordination and collaboration between sub-recipients and other direct service providers to ensure non-duplication of services and efficient and effective use of funding.
• Adhere to KOR’s annual monitoring and evaluation plan as established by the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager.
• Collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation teams to develop and continually modify monitoring and evaluation tools for assigned programs.
• Regularly use ClientTrack, KOR’s statewide database, to monitor sub-recipient activities and performance.
• Consistently collaborate with other KOR program staff to ensure consistency in program design and implementation.
• Provide support to private sponsorship groups as needed.

Administration Responsibilities

• Responsible for semi-annual program reports, monitoring reports and fulfilling all other administrative requirements of grants.
• Consistent data monitoring and follow-up with subrecipients in coordination with other KOR staff.
• Maintain constant communication with the KOR Programs Director with regards to program strategy, M& E plans, issues and concerns, program successes and challenges, technical assistance needs, etc.
• Communicate consistently with the finance team in regards to housing assistance and case management service expenditures of subrecipients.
• Will be required to keep time and activity logs and charge time to appropriate grants.
• Other duties as assigned.

The State Refugee Housing Coordinator is a staff member of the Kentucky Office for Refugees (KOR), a department of Catholic Charities of Louisville. Catholic Charities of Louisville is the Replacement Designee designated by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to administer the Kentucky State Refugee resettlement program and serve as the State Refugee Coordinator’s office. The Kentucky State Refugee Coordinator oversees the design, implementation, and coordination of refugee services throughout the state.

KOR is responsible for the management and operation of Federal funding that supports post-resettlement programs including short-term cash and medical assistance, employment services, case management, English Language Training, and a variety of other social services for Refugees and other eligible populations who arrive in Kentucky. KOR coordinates programs and services in each resettlement site and participates in community meetings to ensure general awareness and coordination between stakeholders.

The State Refugee Housing Coordinator will be primarily responsible for identifying statewide affordable and ideal housing options, navigating different housing assistance programs, coming up with innovative housing solutions and working on short and long term housing strategies for Refugees. The State Refugee Housing Coordinator will work with resettlement staff in Kentucky to effectively support ongoing and collaborative communication to ensure clients can move forward with housing options. The State Refugee Housing Coordinator will also manage KOR funded housing assistance provided to the resettlement agencies. This position requires maintaining external relationships and representing the agency to the public.

A hybrid work schedule is available. KOR staff are required to be in the office two days a week to encourage collaboration and team building. Additional-in office days made be required on an as needed basis.

EFFORT:

• Must have strong writing skills.

• Ability to accurately examine and analyze information and to develop programmatic recommendations.

• Strong oral communication skills. Must have the ability to effectively engage diverse audiences and articulate the needs, strengths and issues of refugees and their families. This position will be engaged with refugee communities, housing groups, realtors, state and local governmental agencies, refugee resettlement staff, religious leaders, etc.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Must be results-oriented with a strong ability to make decisions from a “big picture” perspective.

• Ability to travel to different areas of Kentucky where refugees are resettled when necessary, and participate in periodic out-of-state conferences, training and/or meetings.
• Must have a valid driver’s license. Mileage reimbursement is available for POV, or rental cars are provided.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, Community Development, Public Administration, Public Policy, or related field. Minimum of 2 years’ previous experience working in housing assistance. Professional work experience preferably with refugees, immigrants, or other underserved populations.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to those who are able to perform the essential duties of the job.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Expertise in local housing markets, fair housing consultancies and state and local housing agencies.
• Analytical - the individual synthesizes complex or diverse information.
  • Continuous Process Improvement – the individual looks for ways to improve, promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Problem Solving - the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Oral Communication - the individual speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills, and conducts meetings.
• Written Communication – will need to communicate clearly and persuasively for the purposes of program reporting, advocacy, and effective email communications.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office
• Must be able to maintain the confidentiality of any information s/he encounters.