Brief Job Description (essential functions of the job):

Under the direct supervision of Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, the ORC Housing Specialist is responsible for: housing locator services for ORC clients that are selected for one of the Office’s new housing programs (e.g. BHA vouchers) as well as other clients on a case by case basis, creating and sustaining relationships with CORI-friendly landlords in Boston, and for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the housing projects/pilots funded by the ORC.

The Housing Specialist will work closely with the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Policy to identify programmatic successes and challenges as well as key areas of policy or services intervention to improve returning citizens’ access to housing in the City of Boston. Further, this position will work on cross collaborative relationships with non profits and other governmental agencies.

• Provides housing locator services to all clients housed through ORC programs, as well as other clients depending on time availability and workload.
• Assists the Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives with the preparation and execution of housing-related Requests for Proposals (“RFPs”), service orders, contracts, invoices, and payments.
• Establishes and sustains partnerships with CORI-friendly landlords across the City and community housing partners.
• In collaboration with the ORC Executive Director and Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives, provide strategic direction to the ORC for performance improvement and support large-scale system change to reach ambitious goals including developing an equitable housing response system for Boston’s returning citizens.
• Conducts research and prepares reports and presentations, as requested.
• Provides administrative support to staff related to housing programs, contracts, and/or projects.
• Provides appropriate information to clients and others via phone, in-person, by email, at workshops, and through one-on-one counseling and any other housing program marketing or outreach efforts with the highest level of customer service possible.
• Performs data entry and maintenance of electronic and hard files of housing applicants and housed clients.
• Organizes and prepares bulk mailings, advertisements, email blasts and assists with other outreach efforts to spread the word on the ORC’s housing opportunities.
• Tracks and reports on housing program budgets, production and performance metrics.
• Performs other related duties as required.

• At least (5) five years’ experience in housing related case management, housing navigator or locator services, or other relevant field.
• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. Social Work, Psychology, Business Management), OR 3 years of additional experience can be substituted.
• Familiarity with principles of a Housing First approach.
• Experience with running data analytics to determine the effectiveness of a program.
• Prior experience in working with federal and state housing programs, resources, and funding opportunities, including and especially Federal and State subsidized housing such as Section 8
• Familiarity with Boston neighborhoods and history, housing and community development issues, public housing subsidy programs, and city government.
• Familiarity with spreadsheet programs and basic data analysis.
• Excellent organizational, writing, negotiation, speaking, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on details as required by the job.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications, and Google Suite.
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese and Vietnamese).

Boston Residency Required

Terms: 

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/MO-07

Hours per week: 35