Housing Benefit Program Specialist - Two Opportunities

The Department of Housing Services is actively recruiting for two Housing Benefit Program Specialists to join the Housing Medicaid Team. This highly skilled housing service coordination work is foundational in supporting Washington County's equity efforts to create pathways out of homelessness, promote housing stability, and invest in affordable communities. Our vision is that everyone has an affordable home with the support and opportunities needed to thrive. A primary focus will be to support members eligible for the Medicaid 1115 Waiver Housing Benefit and other housing programs. This role is essential in the service provision of the waiver’s Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) Housing Supports. 

Under the supervision of the Housing Medicaid Team Lead, the Housing Benefit Program Specialists perform case finding, participant needs assessment, evaluation of supports, and connecting participants to resources through a referral system. Areas of responsibility include case management, developing and preparing housing service plans, and supporting outreach and engagement activities. These positions will also collaborate with internal departments, community-based partners, and other local agencies. In addition to housing service coordination, the Program Specialists will perform administrative work such as maintaining records, reporting, and providing training and technical assistance to partners.

The ideal candidates:

• value and apply a holistic, person-centered approach in delivering coordinated services.
• are experienced in homeless services and supportive housing services and coordinated entry.  
• collaborate with partners to accomplish Medicaid Waiver goals at the local, state, and federal level.
• champion our work values and contributes to a safe and collaborative space, while promoting an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.  
• confidently handle a wide range of service coordination responsibilities, including participant engagement and follow-up, connecting participants to a suite of housing and supportive service options that promote housing stabilization.
• are change agents who can quickly pivot and handle complex cases, policies and procedures, and effectively communicate and train staff on eligibility requirements.
• have an in depth understanding of existing community housing resources and funding streams for the purpose of braiding and sequencing funding to meet the needs of the household. It also involves being familiar with long term services and supports and connecting to other housing, health and human services programs.

The Department of Housing (including the Housing Authority of Washington County) is an innovative organization responsible for rent assistance, affordable housing development, and homeless services programming across our community. We are a dynamic team that highly values a culture of equity, diverse perspectives and life experiences. We embrace collaboration, work-life balance and a supportive workplace environment, and are passionate about the work we do to serve and support our diverse community. For more information, please click here.

Why Washington County?
Are you interested in challenging, meaningful, and rewarding work? Join Washington County in our commitment to advancing racial equity. Our Board of Commissioners worked closely with various community stakeholders and subject matter experts to develop an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Resolution. Adopted in February 2020, this resolution commits to the equitable delivery of Washington County’s services, resources, and opportunities for growth and development to every county resident.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

The Department of Housing Services is integrating systems of care that improve access and coordination for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This role will be pivotal in cross-system service coordination activities, under the Medicaid 1115 Waiver, and will work closely with community members, community-based organizations, and health system partners.

Housing Benefit Program Specialists in Housing Services will:
1.    Coordinate and assist in the planning, evaluation, and monitoring of housing plans for prospective and existing program participants and ensures program goals of service coordination, housing navigation, housing stability, and retention.
2.    Assist in developing and updating housing support plans including financial assistant and tenancy supports, in collaboration and coordination with community partners, government agencies, and other departments or divisions, after a review of service authorizations and participant needs assessment. May manage schedules to ensure timely accomplishment of referrals, program assignments, participant goals, and follow up.
3.    Monitor program data and information and coordinates activities with other programs. Activities include referrals, coordinated entry enrollment, resource allocation, and connection to resources such as housing supports, social services, and long-term services and supports.
4.    Analyze available resources and program needs, based on service authorizations, and recommends solutions including sequencing of services, to ensure service delivery in compliance with the program.
5.    Document, compile, and analyze information in systems such as HMIS and closed-loop referral platforms, contributing to housing plans, service coordination, and other reports that supports program tracking, billing, and compliance monitoring. Maintain records and may assist with billing activities.  
6.    Assist in outreach activities, contributing to outreach and engagement efforts by community partners, and may participate in community engagement events and other related activities that ensures program goals of service coordination.
7.    Act as subject matter expert to assist staff and provide consultation, as needed, to community partners and other departments or divisions, on program and service coordination needs and evaluation. This may also include collaborating with community partners on knowledge and resource sharing.

Housing Benefit Program Specialist is a working title. This position is classified as a Program Specialist. Classification descriptions are typically written broadly. To review this classification, please click the link here. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• An Associate Degree in a social service, business administration, or related field; AND
• One (1) year of work experience in program administration, development, evaluation, or coordination, and /or contract administration; OR
• Three (3) years of work experience in program administration, development, evaluation, and/or contract administration.

Additional Department And Program Specific Requirements: 

• Must pass a background check post-offer.