HSWH Housing Advocate

Who We Are

Solid Ground (SG) is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose proven, holistic approach helps families build the strong foundations they need to emerge from homelessness into a brighter future. Through safe, affordable housing and innovative supportive programming, Solid Ground helps families transition to a higher-level of self-sufficiency and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for the next generation.

Why You'll Love Working Here

At the heart of Solid Ground is the belief that housing stability is fundamental to the healthy development of children and to a family's ability to be contributing members of the community. Solid Ground currently runs eight programs in suburban Ramsey and Washington Counties and housing over 660 individuals annually. Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in the communities we serve through housing, resources, and opportunity.

Wages and Benefits

$23.00 - $25.00 per hour; Paid vacation time, sick time, plus ten paid holidays and two floating holidays; competitive health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings account (HSA), and options for flexible spending accounts (FSA). There is employer paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee. The employer pays for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and short and long-term disability insurance. SG sponsors a retirement plan with automatic enrollment at 3% and a 3% employer match after one year of service, plus immediate vesting.

Schedule

This is a hybrid position with at least 2 full days per week in the office required. This position works during normal business hours and may include evening and/or weekend hours.

A Typical Day in the Life...

A typical day as Solid Ground's Homework Starts With Home (HSWH) Housing Advocate provides an opportunity to assist homeless families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in regaining stability and self-reliance through affordable housing, increased income, community resources and supportive services. This position will work with our HSWH program in Washington and Ramsey County. Responsibilities will include the following:

• Locating housing and providing supportive services to give families necessary resources and skills to achieve affordable housing.
• Expanding the base of landlord participation by developing new and creative methods of landlord recruitment, explaining the program to rental property owners, and emphasizing benefits they will receive from participating in the program.
• Actively seeking appropriate housing with families and providing the necessary resources for barrier resolution.
• Meeting with families to discuss housing preferences, housing history, and assisting families with resolving barriers/issues that have prevented them from obtaining housing.
• Scheduling Housing Qualification Standards (HQS) inspections and following up to ensure all required repairs are completed.
• Serving as the primary liaison to participating landlords/property owners.
• Establishing regular home visits once applicants are housed to set goals for housing stabilization.
• Assisting participants with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recertification process.
• Coordinating financial assistance to eligible participants for application fees, damage deposits, and rent assistance.
• Preparing relevant correspondence (i.e. deposit guarantee letters) and completing necessary request forms (i.e. request for funds, Divvy).
• Coordinating and documenting all work done on behalf of participants to maintain accurate progress and recordkeeping for participants, agency, and funders.
• Providing supportive services to assist families in developing and achieving goals in the areas of budgeting/finances, education, employment, physical, mental and chemical health, transportation, housing, parenting, and children's goals, and providing ongoing support through resources and encouragement to achieve self-reliance.
• Attending meetings and working collaboratively with area provider networks and service providers.
• Providing transportation to assist with stabilization and goal completion as needed.
• Facilitating community engagement activities.
• Scheduling and completing intakes and all necessary documentation in a timely and effective manner.
• Completing all forms required for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) within 14 days of participants' entries into the program and updating thereafter as needed.

Who You Are

• You have a bachelor's degree in human services, social work, or a relevant field, plus at least one year of experience in a human services position, or you have a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge.
• It is preferable if you have an LSW or MSW but not required.
• You have previous experience working with diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds in homeless or housing settings or have related experience.
• You have previous experience working with underserved communities and families experiencing behavioral and/or mental health issues, chemical dependency/substance abuse, homelessness, and/or other barriers that affect participants.
• You understand and commit to the 'Housing First' philosophy and Trauma Informed practices.
• You demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• You have the ability to manage multiple priorities to ensure work is completed in a timely and productive manner.
• You are skilled in motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care.
• You communicate effectively and persuasively in both oral and written communication at interpersonal and group levels.
• You understand laws governing rental housing and are able to locate affordable housing for program participants.
• You demonstrate an understanding of boundaries, ethics, and confidentiality.
• You are able to transport participants as needed and travel to various locations for day and evening meetings and events.
• You have a valid driver's license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet Solid Ground's driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit (not applicable for new hires living out of state).

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of Solid Ground. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We value the contributions of a diverse workforce, and we welcome and encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

Solid Ground participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify's official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf. See E-Verify's Right to Work poster at https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf.