Housing Specialist, Project Action for Veterans

About Primavera Foundation

The Primavera Foundation is a non-profit community development organization that has been providing pathways out of poverty and strengthening the Tucson community since 1983, through a variety of programs and services. Through individualized service planning, Project Action for Veterans (PAV) offers housing assistance to veterans and their families who are recently homeless or about to become homeless who “but for” this financial and resource coordination assistance would continue to be or become homeless. The program serves Veterans living in Pima, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz counties, and follows the policies and regulations of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. PAV is accredited by CARF for Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention Programs.

About the role

The Housing Resource Specialist focuses mainly on assisting with the successful transition to housing for these veterans and their families including the identification of community housing options and maintaining positive relationships with landlords. The successful candidate will be a culturally sensitive social services professional who has a positive influence on others, thrives on successfully facilitating processes, works at a faster-than-average pace, is extremely disciplined, detail-oriented, and results-oriented, sets high standards for self and others, and demonstrates top-notch planning and coaching skills.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s needs and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by leadership):

• Housing Responsibilities
• • Conducts meetings assessing barriers to housing with veterans referred by other PAV Resource Specialists/staff.
  • In conjunction with referring Resource Specialist develops a detailed housing search plan with veterans, identifying housing options, providing referrals, and connecting them with property managers in the community.
  • In conjunction with the assigned Resource Specialist provides referrals and makes contact on behalf of participants to overcome housing barriers.
  • Accompanies veterans to view housing options and to sign leases as assistance is needed.
  • Assists veterans with housing applications as needed.
  • Markets PAV programs to property managers in the community, developing and maintaining strong relationships with landlords.
  • Provides guidance to other PAV Resource Specialists/staff regarding Fair Housing and Arizona Landlord Tenant Act.
  • Participates in community landlord events, assisting with the organization of such events when beneficial to PAV participants.
  • Organizes recognition events to recognize outstanding property managers.
  • Works with PAV Contract Specialist to verify determination of services and communicates approvals and all follow-up with the participant.
  • Continues to follow up with participants as needed, and continues to conduct ongoing assessment on a periodic basis as per program guidelines.
  • Ensures that 80% of households served exit with permanent housing.
  • Completes monthly reports on the status of participants.
  • Participates in VA and, HMIS training, and other agency trainings as requested.
  • Participates in monitoring and evaluation activities including record reviews.
• Other Responsibilities
• • Ensures confidentiality of participant information.
  • Maintains statistical data as required by grant funding sources.
  • Adheres to all contractual agreements related to resource and case management services.
  • Implements public health and safety guidelines related to COVID-19 in all practices.
  • Participates in SSVF webinars, VA, and HMIS training, and other agency trainings as requested.
  • Attends meetings with partnering agencies as scheduled.
  • Attends agency meetings as required such as All Staff, PAV team meetings, and quarterly resource specialist meetings.
  • Performs other related duties as requested/assigned by leadership.
  • Demonstrates adherence to Primavera’s guiding principles of integrity, respect, accountability, compassion, and leadership.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge o