Supportive Housing Program (SHP)

Schedule:                           Full-Time, Monday to Friday, with flexibility to respond to programmatic needs

FLSA Status:                      Exempt

Salary: Commensurate with abilities, knowledge, and skills

Expectations of all employees

In the performance of essential and general job responsibilities, all YWCA employees are expected to:

• Demonstrate commitment to the YW’s mission and principles of trauma-informed work.
• Represent the YW in a professional and competent manner to participants, community members, organizational partners, and other stakeholders.

• Reflect on and interrupt assumptions as well as personal and systemic biases when interacting or communicating with colleagues, clients, and external partners.
• Support policies, practices, and decisions that demonstrate our shared accountability for racial equity.
• Communicate openly and contribute to the development of others.
• Coordinate efforts across teams, programs, and partner organizations.
• Maintain professional behavior and strict confidentiality.

Position Purpose

The Property Manager ensures the daily property management functions, including all leasing operations, of a 20-unit, 24-month transitional living facility for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or human trafficking. In coordination with program leadership, the Property Manager identifies and resolves property and/or rental agreement violations. In coordination with the Finance team, the Property Manager contributes to the development of the program budget and prepares regular financial records and grantor / stakeholder reports.

Essential Responsibilities

• Ensure the daily property management functions, including all leasing operations, of a 20-unit, 24-month transitional living facility for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or human trafficking;
• Maintain certification as a Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) through the Low-Income Tax Credit Program (LIHTCP).
• Work with the Finance team to ensure the timely documentation of income and rental payments as well as property expenses including taxes, insurance premiums, and maintenance costs;
• Coordinate efforts with program leadership and Facilities to ensure the timely identification, inspection, and correction of unit features;
• Contribute to the timely identification and resolution of property and/or rental agreement violations;
• Collaborate with Wayfinders and other community partners to facilitate prospective tenants’ entry to transitional housing as well as existing tenants’ transitions to permanent housing;
• Deconstruct existing client files for the purpose of separating lease agreements and other property management documents from case management records;
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely tenant documentation as well as expense and income records;
• Prepare regular reports for various stakeholders regarding tenant outcomes, incidents, expenses, occupancy, and expiring leases among other considerations;
• Model best practices regarding the use and disposal of personally protective equipment;

• Attend supervision, staff, and other meetings; and

Qualifications 

• Associate’s degree plus demonstrated knowledge of rental / leasing agreements, property and anti-discrimination laws, and the MA Rental Voucher Program;;

• Active HCCP certification;
• Ability to ensure operational compliance with all housing programs funders;
• Proficiency with property management systems / platforms;

• Bilingual (Spanish / English) language proficiency preferred;

• Understanding of both interpersonal and structural racism and bias;
• Ability to represent agency in an active union environment;
• Excellent written and organizational skills including computer skills;
• Must have knowledge of/contacts with community agencies;
• Must be able to be covered by the agency’s insurance policy; and
• Must be able to lift 40 lbs.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD

All employment at the YWCA begins with a 120-day Introductory Period.

 

APPLY HERE

 

Current Employees Apply Here

 

Residential Programs SHP

Schedule: Full time, 37.5 hours/week Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-7pm

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Expectations of all employees

In the performance of essential and general job responsibilities, all YWCA employees are expected to:

• Demonstrate commitment to the YW’s mission and principles of trauma-informed work.
• Represent the YW in a professional and competent manner to participants, community members, organizational partners, and other stakeholders.
• Support policies, practices, and decisions that demonstrate our shared accountability for racial equity.
• Communicate openly and contribute to the development of others.
• Coordinate efforts across teams, programs, and partner organizations.
• Maintain professional behavior and strict confidentiality.

 

Position Purpose

The Support Specialist ensures the daily operations of the YWCA’s Supportive Housing Program, a 24- month residential program for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, dating violence, and/or stalking. The Support Specialist plans, provides, facilitates, and/or coordinates services to 20 residential families. Working directly with residents, the Support Specialist provides support, safety planning, crisis intervention, and options counseling.

 

Essential Responsibilities

• Deliver ongoing case management, advocacy, support, and referrals for all residents; Develop respectful, supportive, trauma-informed relationships with residents while mentoring participants on a range of topics including, but not limited to, the following: tenant law, financial education, employment, housing, and self-care.
• Utilize the All-State financial literacy curriculum.
• Empower residents to create individualized goals, which support their ultimate transition to permanent housing;
• Make referrals to project partners for needs ranging from child care, to vocational training, to substance abuse and mental health counseling;
• Build relationships with organizations outside of partner agencies that can meet other needs of SHP residents in an ongoing basis;
• Complete individualized re-housing plans within 2 weeks of program entry using various assessment tools;
• In creating re-housing plans, make a referral to the YW’s Coordinated Entry program, which acts as the gateway to housing resources for DV survivors in Hampden County.
• With client’s explicit consent, call together a multidisciplinary team of the Coordinated Entry staff and relevant project partners, pending the resident’s needs, to determine a cohesive approach to meet the holistic needs of each residents. The Support Specialist will convene these meetings and manage releases of information. The resident will be present at these multidisciplinary meetings;
• Serve in an-on call capacity, in addition to the Director of Adult Residential Services, to respond to emergencies in the THP program, responding when needed to crises as needed;
• Collaborate with DCF, community-based providers, and other organizational partners in support of a strengths-based approach to service planning;
• Propose and implement approved program enhancements;
• Enroll and exit tenants and their children in the YW’s client information management system within 24 hours of the precipitating event;
• Regularly provide transportation to tenants;
• Ensure children are enrolled in school and daycare programs;
• Evaluate, document, and report resident and program outcomes;
• Attend biweekly case review and supervision meetings;
• Maintain thorough, accurate, and timely client records and files in the YWCA’s data management system;
• Contribute, as requested, to program reports and funding applications;
• Perform other duties as requested.

 

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree preferred, with 3 years of experience in human services;
• Spanish language proficiency required;
• Understanding of Low Income Housing Tax Credit compliance;
• Familiarity with property management systems / platforms;
• Knowledge of landlord-side compliance rules with respect to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program;
• Ability to enforce tenant compliance with all housing programs funders;
• Experience with and knowledge of accessing resources within the community;
• Experience addressing the impacts of decisions and actions on multiple communities;
• Understanding of both interpersonal and structural racism and bias;
• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills, including strong computer skills;
• Access to reliable transportation and valid driver’s license;
• Must be able to be covered by the agency’s transportation insurance policy;
• Must be able to lift 40 lbs.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD

All employment at the YWCA begins with a 120-day Introductory Period.

 

APPLY HERE Current Employees Apply Here

The YWCA is looking for a Housing Navigation and Data Specialist!! The Housing Navigation and Data Specialist is a dual role with two specialized functions that each contribute significantly to the YWCA’s Transitional Housing/Rapid Re-Housing Program (TH-RRH). The Housing Navigation component of the role will have an integral role in connecting homeless survivors of IPV who are in crisis to housing and social services supports in the community. The HMIS Data Coordination component will lead data management workflows for the TH-RRH project. This position is Full Time position with a pay rate of $50,000 per year.

As the Housing Navigation and Data Specialist, you will support the TH-RRH Program with the following:

• Demonstrate support for Coordinated Entry System (CES) guiding principles, including fair and equal access, safety planning, referral protocols, and consultation.
• Collaborate with a network of CES community partners including outreach workers, shelter case managers, housing and other service providers, and understand all roles and responsibilities within the CES.
• Provide support on the YWCA’s DV Homelessness Helpline.
• Determine program eligibility and make appropriate referrals for callers who do not meet eligibility criteria.
• Administer the DV Housing Prioritization to prospective RRH clients, presenting information at case conferencing meetings with project partners.
• Assist TH-RRH clients in finding an apartment, accessing the subsidy, and creating an individualized plan for supportive services.
• Assist clients who do not qualify for TH-RRH or for whom there is no space in determining next steps in housing stability/housing permanency by making appropriate referrals, using diversion, and safety planning.
• Provide oversight in the management and tracking of the YWCA’s TH-RRH HMIS data.
• Train YWCA staff that work in the TH-RRH funded projects on how to enter data into AWARDS, emphasizing how to use HMIS-specific forms, such as the HMIS income entry, exit and updates. These trainings will be conducted in an ongoing way as needs and challenges arise. These trainings will also be conducted for all new staff hired at the YWCA.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the integrity of HMIS-data being input into the AWARDS data systems that could affect analytical results.
• Run HMIS-comparable reports in the YWCA’s data management system and submit to funders, quarterly and annually.
• Maintain a data manual for YWCA TH-RRH staff that outlines how to use the system to enter data in an ongoing way for clients.

What are we looking for in a Housing Navigation and Data Specialist?

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Sociology, Public Health, Public Policy, Psychology or related disciplines or a minimum of 3+ years’ experience in data management/analysis OR two years of work experience in housing services, placement, and/or case management. (Required)

• Demonstrated proficiency in professional office software, including Microsoft applications Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. (Required)

• Ability to quickly adapt to new computer systems and software. (Required)

• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, work independently as well as engage in collaborative work.
• High levels of accuracy and organization, and the necessity to meet deadlines working in a fast-paced environment.

Reasons to work at the YWCA:

• Excellent benefits package, including paid vacation, paid sick time and paid personal days, health, vision and dental insurance, retirement and matching, among others
• Rewarding work
• Opportunity for growth within the agency

Who are we?

The YWCA of Western MA is dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering survivors. The YW provides a safe place for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Our programs and services include crisis shelter and transitional housing for survivors and their families, counseling, SAFEPLAN court advocacy, community education, and supervised visitation. The YWCA provides services at several sites, including Holyoke, Northampton, Westfield, and our primary Springfield campus.

EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy of YWCA of Western Massachusetts to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the YWCA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

APPLY HERE Current Employees Apply Here