Community Health Team - Housing Support Specialist

Thundermist's Mission - To improve the health of our patients and communities by delivering exceptional health care, removing barriers to that care, and advancing healthy lifestyles.


Please note, effective September 1,2021, all Thundermist employees are required to have an initial dose of vaccine to prevent Covid-19. Effective October 1, 2021, all employees of RI licensed health care facilities must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Employees may be deemed exempt from this requirement based on documentation from their health care provider.


General Responsibilities:
The Housing support specialist is a part of the integrated care management department at Thundermist Health Center and will provide community based services under The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) under the Home Stabilization Initiative The Housing Support Specialist is responsible for providing collaborative intensive coordination for Medicaid patients who meet the Medicaid eligibility criteria based on a mental health and/or a complex physical health need which puts a patient at risk for or has caused homelessness and has associated risk factors necessitating complex housing stabilization such as history of eviction, frequent turn-over of in-home caregivers, history of institutionalization in either a medical, group home, correctional facility, or past or present substance use that interferes with the ability to pay rent or created interpersonal issues jeopardizing housing.
Support services in the program are intended to be broad, flexible, and promote community integration and independence in housing. The housing support specialist will work with the patient who will be an active participant in the development of a Home Stabilization Service Plan (Plan). Plan will be based on the needs and choices of the individual and be updated per Medicaid standards of program and documentation of services.
The Home Stabilization program will provide an array of time-limited services, including home tenancy, life skills and other modeling and teaching services for individuals who require support in obtaining and maintaining a home, or home find services to individuals who require support in finding and transitioning to housing. Services are intended to be flexible and support recipients in becoming self-sufficient in their housing needs. Through collaboration with home stabilization providers and other delivery systems serving Medicaid beneficiaries, a system will be established that meets the needs of individuals facing home stabilization concerns.

Required Qualifications:
1. Education-Bachelor’s degree in a human/social services field; may also be an Associate’s degree in a relevant field, with field experience.
2. Must have completed training or complete training program upon hire from EOHHS for Home Stabilization services.
3. Experience- One (1) year case management experience, or Bachelor’s degree in a related field and field experience.
4. Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures of services included under Home Stabilization Services meant to support the beneficiary’s ability to obtain and maintain residence in independent community settings
5. Job knowledge - broad knowledge base of relevant professional, technical and clinical information across assigned departments
6. Experience in community health setting, public health setting, population health management, chronic disease management, community case management
7. Proven success in handling difficult conversations with all levels of staff
8. Ability to effectively communicate, work collaboratively with patients , care team and external community agencies
9. Professionalism, self starter, autonomous, leader, training skills, customer service oriented, problem solver

Physical Effort/Environment:
• Meet with patients in the community, at their home, in the hospital, or other community settings.
• Flexibility to travel within Rhode Island to meet the needs of the patient.
• May require climbing several flights of stairs.
• General office environment: manual dexterity needed for keyboard work, writing and phone calls.
Work Schedule Demands:
Full time
Communication Skills:

1. Interpreting technical medical terminology daily. Use all methods of communication with patients such as interpreting, counseling, group discussion, written materials and visual aids.
2. Identify and communicate cultural, social, and economical characteristics of the population served.
3. Document clearly and concisely in the medical record in accordance with Thundermist policies and established Medicaid guidelines for Housing Stabilization Program.
5. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and communicate in a professional manner with patients, families, other staff, and outside c