Position Title: Housing Advocate
Reports To: Manager of Community Services
Status & Category: Nonexempt, Part time 20
Area served: Stearns, Benton, Sherburn and Wright County
Work Schedule: Flexible hours Monday – Friday what hours This position’s responsibilities sometimes require work outside of business hours, including early mornings, and evenings.
Summary/Objective
Anna Marie’s Alliance strives to be a strength-based organization committed to creating a safe nonjudgement and supportive community through trust, empowerment, and collaboration. The housing advocate promotes the mission and models the values of Anna Marie’s Alliance by providing direct services to women and children residing at Burl Oaks, Jill Eckhoff Transitional House, and Rapid Re-housing.
Minimum Education & Experience Requirements
• Two-year degree in human service field
• Or two years’ work experience in the field.
Other Requirements
• Fully operational vehicle, valid driver’s license and current car insurance.
• Experience with socially, economically or culturally diverse populations.
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and use of database systems.
Essential Functions
Provide support to women for their right to adequate, responsive treatment and services from agencies and individuals.
• Identify shelter residents and work with managers and staff on selection and readiness for transitional housing
• Engage one-on-one with the residents to develop individual action plans with clear defined housing goals.
• Train residents on use of alarm system, safety rules regarding visitors etc., monitor house security, and expectations with housekeeping responsibilities.
• Assist residents in locating community resources and provide education on renter’s rights and responsibilities and refer them to appropriate trainings.
• Help with apartment searches, touring potential sights, leasing signing, securing rental subsidies, and assisting in the application process.
• Maintain an ongoing understanding of program eligibility criteria, verification processes, and documentation standards.
• Schedule weekly check in’s with residents to discuss progress, problems, and plans.
• Facilitate monthly group house meetings with residents.
• Accurately and thoroughly document contact with clients in a timely manner in the agency’s database system.
• Collect monthly rent and track it with the manager.
• Assist in household chores and other duties as needed.
• Follow agency protocol for maintaining timekeeping records in required formats. Submit timesheets according to agency standards and deadlines.
• Participate in check-in meetings with manager, and attend area community meetings as requested.
• Attend appropriate training to enhance professional skills.
• Report needed repairs of house and property improvements to the maintenance department.
• Carry out other duties as necessary to ensure organizational success. Housing Advocates are encouraged to be flexible and responsive to changes in the scope of duties.
Required Competencies
Leadership
• Exhibits confidence in self and others, and inspires trust and respect.
• Positively influence actions and is open to opinions of others.
• Accepts feedback from others.
• Displays passion and optimism.
• Creates a warm and welcoming environment with staff, residents, and donors.
Knowledge
• Understands how to utilize Trauma Informed Care when working with victims.
• Understands the unique problems encountered by domestic violence victims needing advocacy services.
• Responds to victims and their children in crisis with appropriate interpersonal communication and intervention skills.
Accountability
• Establish and maintain clear boundaries with clients regarding your personal life.
• Demonstrated ability to do independent work with minimum supervision and work as a team.
• Demonstrates support and encourage women to develop confidence in their ability to help themselves.
Communication
• Demonstrates a willingness to share ideas and perspectives and encourages others to do the same.
• Displays knowledge of chemical dependency and mental health issues.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Responds to women and their children with appropriate interpersonal communication and interventional skills.
Valuing and Leveraging Diversity
• Treat all people with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrates the ability to work with people from diverse racial, cultural, social and economic backgrounds.
• Values diversity and leverages the benefits of different perspective.
Emotional Intelligence
• Demonstrates the ability to tolerate ambiguity/stress.
• Balances feelings with reason, logic, and reality.
Work Environment
• Majority of time spent will be within the community.
• Work requires a high level of emotional capacity.
• Requires hearing traumatic and personal life stories.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to drive, walk, stand, climb stairs, bend, kneel, ability to write, type, and use computers. May occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.
Questions? Email Mary at MaryR@annamaries.org or call 320-251-7203 x253.