Bilingual (Spanish/English) Housing Problem Solving Specialist

Position:  Bilingual (Spanish/English) Housing Problem Solving Specialist

Organization:   Compass Family Services helps homeless and at-risk families achieve housing stability, family well-being and self-sufficiency. We help at-risk families to stabilize and work to rapidly re-house families that have become homeless. Our continuum of services includes problem solving, intake and referral to shelter, family shelter, transitional housing, rental assistance, and childcare, as well as counseling and therapy, parenting education, prevention, and support services.

Program:  The Central City Access Point at Compass Connecting Point is a direct entry point for any San Francisco family experiencing homelessness. Serving as an entryway for San Francisco’s Homelessness Response System, the Access Point team provides families with housing problem solving support, and connection to available homelessness prevention, shelter and housing programs through San Francisco’s Coordinated Entry System.  The Central City Access Point is housed within Compass Connecting Point: A Family Resource Center which provides families with on-site services, information and referral in the areas of childcare, family well-being, self-sufficiency, and housing stability. 

Reports to:  Program Director of Central City Access Point

Classification:  Non-Exempt

Hours:  37.5 hours per week

Organizational Core Competencies:

• Accountable
• Adaptable
• Client-centered
• Collaborative
• Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Resourceful

Responsibilities:

The Housing Problem Solving Specialist (HPSS) is responsible for problem-solving with families who enter the Access Point due to a housing crisis. If problem-solving is successful, families will be diverted from the Homelessness Responses System at this time, and will be referred to relevant services. If problem-solving is unsuccessful, HPSS’s will offer eligibility screening and assessment to connect families to relevant shelter and housing programs within the Homelessness Response System. HPSS’s will also offer referral and placement to families with highest acuity of need to the appropriate housing solutions based on availability.

General duties include:

• Providing initial contact for any family accessing services at the Access Point.
• Offer problem-solving support to families so they can retain any current housing or quickly securing safe places to shelter-in-place. Problem-solving approaches are trauma-informed, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. Strategies include mapping of personal networks and resources, motivational interviewing, conflict resolution and mediation.
• Perform eligibility screenings and assessments, entering all information in the ONE system.
• Create safety plans with families for whom problem-solving is ineffective, and refer to emergency shelter as needed.
• Provide enhanced referrals to families in the community to ensure additional basic needs are met.
• Refer clients who do not meet eligibility requirements to appropriate agencies or resources.
• Explain the scope of services at the Access Point to new clients so they understand what services they are eligible for, and how the system operates.
• Once a housing match is made by the ONE system, offer referral and placements to families, and facilitate the connection.
• Assess and de-escalate potentially volatile situations.
• Assess family relationships for child abuse and neglect and report incidents to Child Protective Services as mandated by law.
• Serve as an advocate for clients.
• Attend individual and group clinical meetings to implement a trauma informed approach.
• Provide back-up staffing for all services as necessary.
• Participate in community events and outreach efforts.
• Other duties determined with Director or Assistant Program Director.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish required
• Relevant experience in social work or a related field
• Experience working with families in crisis
• Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills
• Outstanding work habits:  punctual, reliable, cooperative, team-oriented
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent writing and organizational skills
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Suite of Programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.)
• Ability to assess and de-escalate potentially volatile situations
• Ability to work effectively with culturally-diverse staff, families and communities
• Must be able to lift at least 20 lbs.

Compensation and Benefits: 

Compass Family Services offers a competitive wage and benefits package that includes employer-paid major medical, dental and vision coverage, long-term disability insurance, an employer-contributed retirement plan, and generous paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave.

To Apply:

Please send a detailed cover letter and resume to HR@compass-sf.org. Resumes sent without cover letters will not be considered. No phone calls please.

We are an equal opportunity employer and actively seek to recruit a diverse workforce.