Housing Intake Specialist

Hamilton Families 

Our mission is to end family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1985, Hamilton Families is San Francisco's leading service provider to homeless families, with carefully designed programs to prevent homelessness, provide shelter and stability, return families to permanent housing and support the well-being of children experiencing homelessness. We currently operate these programs across six sites in San Francisco and Oakland. For more information, visit www.hamiltonfamilies.org. 

Program and Position Overview  

The Housing Services Program helps prevent families from becoming homeless and helps those experiencing homelessness move as quickly as possible into permanent housing. The program assists families to secure permanent housing through housing search assistance, move-in financial assistance, homelessness prevention, rent subsidies, and home-based case management.  

The Housing Intake Specialist is the first point of contact for families engaging with our program. The Housing Intake Specialist conducts eligibility interviews and participant assessments. In collaboration with the Associate Director of Intake, the Housing Intake Specialist will determine participants’ acceptance into the program and will set rental limits. The Intake Specialist will create a case plan to be used across the participants’ journey that recommends how our internal teams can best serve and empower our participants. Finally, The Housing Intake Specialist will ensure that files are set-up accurately with all required documentation.    

Primary Duties and Responsibilities   

Provide intake and assessment services to a caseload of approximately 3 to 6 families per week.  

Work with participants to understand their housing needs, including preferences for location and size of housing and any housing rental barriers (e.g. employment, credit history, behavioral health, rental history).   

Work with participants on overall budgeting and credit score; collaborate with participant to establish a rental limit in accordance with Hamilton Families guidelines.  

Provide recommendations to internal teams, including Housing Navigation and Real Estate teams, on barriers and supports to participant housing.  

Participate in various program meetings, including case conference meetings, in collaboration with other service providers.  

Reinforce and follow appropriate boundaries with participants.  

Maintain participant confidentiality and HIPAA requirements. Maintain precise and accurate documentation of case management services, including participant files and entries into various participant databases. Prepare reports and presentations as required.    

Ensure operational excellence of department, including preparation for database and participant hard file audits.   

Other duties as assigned.  

This role and its scope, duties, and responsibilities may change to adapt to organizational needs. 

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities   

A minimum of 2 years of experience in a relevant profession OR Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (social work, psychology, or related field preferred). Knowledge of community resources for families with very low incomes in the Bay Area. Knowledge and experience with housing law is a plus.  

Commitment to Hamilton Families’ mission of ending family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ideal candidates are familiar and committed to the principles and practices of housing first, participant-centered care, harm reduction, and participant confidentiality.  

Excitement about working on diverse teams and collaborating with colleagues and participants from many different backgrounds.  

Ability to navigate sensitive conversations and communications in a judgement-free, honest, and kind manner. 

Strong work ethic and ability to work independently. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, organized, and clear communicators who are comfortable following program policies and processes while delivering high quality outcomes within urgent timeframes.    

Flexible and creative; open to creating and joining a culture of feedback and learning; ability to meet multiple deadlines and priorities with a positive attitude and problem-solving approach.  

Comfort with change and ambiguity is a must.  

Detail-oriented and demonstrated experience keeping thorough notes and records  

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, etc.). Experience using Salesforce.com databases a plus.  

Essential functions of the position may require use of a telephone, working at a standard computer terminal, and the ability to follow reasonable ergonomic recommendations, sit for long periods, stand, reach, bend, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds, and driving.  

Criminal background check, fingerprint imaging, and tuberculosis (TB) clearance required post-offer.   

Bilingual positions require verbal and written proficiency in English as well as the second language for which the bilingual premium applies, as demonstrated through agency-administered proficiency testing. 

Compensation and Benefits
Great benefits: We offer excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus tax-advantaged Flexible Spending Arrangements for Health Care and Dependent Care. Employees also have the chance to earn up to $180 per calendar year for participating in various wellness activities and can participate in partnership discounts with various YMCA locations. Additionally, HF offers tax deductible commuter benefits that can be applied to public transit, parking, bicycle maintenance, and ride sharing services like Uber pool. 

Growth and leadership opportunities: The work at HF is designed for individuals to follow their passions and commitment to community. HF takes professional development seriously and offers coaching and training opportunities at every level. A role with the HF is great for an individual who is interested in exploring community based nonprofit work, social work, or strategic partnership. We also offer a $1,000 educational stipend to employees each year after one year of service and offer dozens of internal and external trainings for staff at every level annually. 

Time off: HF employees take advantage of generous benefits including 11 paid holidays, 3 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick time per year. 

Long term benefits: HF offers an employer-matched 403(b) retirement plan, education reimbursement, and other great long term benefits! 

Application Procedure

Please go here: https://www.hamiltonfamilies.org/careers/roles.

Please attach your resume and cover letter (applications without both documents will not be considered).

No faxes or phone calls.

Hamilton Families is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Select the position and follow the instructions carefully.