Assistant Deputy Director - Service Coordination

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The mission of the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. OHS works collaboratively with a broad-based network of public and private providers focused on utilizing practices that are informed by data, honor the different perspectives of all stakeholders, and are trauma-informed. OHS works to maximize resources while monitoring emerging trends, tracking progress, and shifting priorities as needed. 

Job Description

OHS is seeking an experienced professional for a leadership position in the Housing Services Division at OHS.  The successful candidate will support the continued evolution of the Coordinated Entry System, known in Philadelphia as CEA-BHRS (Coordinated Entry and Assessment Based Housing Referral System), assess and enhance service delivery and connections throughout housing types, and support a system-wide housing problem-solving approach. 

Housing Services includes implementation and oversight of the following: Homelessness Prevention, Diversion and Intake; Emergency and Transitional Housing (more than 50 programs and 3000 beds); Rapid Re-housing (more than 750 units) ; Supportive Housing (more than 500 units for families and 2500 for households without children); Facilities; and Landlord Affairs.  Housing Services also includes the Supportive Housing Clearinghouse, as well as the PEACE Program (Partners Establishing Accessible & Affordable Housing: Caring for Frail Older Adults Empathetically), which helps frail and/or older adults navigate to affordable and accessible care.   Housing Services operationalizes HUD’s required Coordinated Entry System. 

The Assistant Deputy will oversee non housing units in the Housing Services Division, with 3 direct reports and a total of 20 staff, and service-only contracts held by OHS. 

Essential Functions

• Assess the extent to which participants in the various housing types are connected to supportive services, and the effectiveness of those services.  Formulate recommendations to improve the process of service connection and quality.  With relevant internal and external stakeholders, implement recommendations.   
• Enhance cross system collaboration, including with health care, child welfare, and corrections systems.  Work to create and implement messaging, policies, procedures, and strategies to reduce inflow into homelessness and to enhance service coordination.
• Support contracted providers to utilize strengths base housing focused case management to assist households in rapid exits from homelessness; provide guidance around the use of effective light tough and progressive engagement
• Actively work to identify and dismantle discriminatory policies and programs that create unnecessary barriers. Ensure that standardized assessment, screening, and eligibility determination is an unbiased as possible.
• Establish housing problem-solving techniques across the entire homeless service system.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to maximize housing opportunities for individuals and families most vulnerable and with the longest histories of homelessness.
• Focus on enhancing service delivery (primarily case management) through support of providers, service models and talking points, partnerships
• Leverage partnerships to supplement case management and housing stabilization staff
• Develop strategies to assess and analyze internal processes (EH, TH, RRH, PSH)
• Monitor trends in government activity in areas of programming

• Lead pilot programs based on nationwide evidenced-based housing mod