Mission of Austin Street Center: Founded in 1983, Austin Street Center provides emergency shelter and meets the basic need of the most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness in Dallas.
Core Values: Kindness, Trustworthiness, Empowerment, Determination
Position Purpose
Facilitate rapid and effective exits from homelessness to housing for Rapid Re-Housing program clients and assist teammates to secure permanent housing opportunities for clients in spite of their personal barriers.
In this and any position at Austin Street Center it is impossible to predict the many requests and assignments that can and will be made on an employee. Flexibility and a cooperative spirit are crucial characteristics of the person who holds this important position and for the successful operation of Austin Street Center services.
Departmental Expectations
- Attend regular one-on-one supervision with their direct supervisor.
- Participate actively in team, department, and all-staff meetings as scheduled.
- Assist in training new team members on the expectations and best practices their daily work activities.
- Assist other teams and departments (Operations, Advancement, etc.) as appropriate by request.
- Participate in the operation of inclement weather shelter operations and activities as appropriate by request.
- Provide coverage as requested on at least one agency holiday per year to ensure consistent 24/7 operation of critical services.
- Operate with a trauma-informed, housing first, harm reduction mindset to assist people they serve through the stages of change and achieve recovery from homelessness.
- Operate with a motivational interviewing perspective toward the client, rather than a directive or demanding posture.
Team Member Expectations
Facilitate Rapid Move-Ins to Rapid Rehousing
- Assist Rapid Rehousing team in contacting new referrals and complete the necessary intake and eligibility screening to fully enroll new clients entering the Rapid Rehousing program.
- Locate housing properties willing to assist program clients despite client barriers of poor criminal, rental, and/or credit history.
- Assist clients to complete applications and necessary property paperwork to qualify for housing units.
- Facilitate smooth move-in experiences for the client, inclusive of securing furniture and household supplies to deliver after move-in.
- Assist client to understand their leasing rights and responsibilities.
- Assist case managers as they work with clients to relocate to new properties during their program participation.
- Resource case management team efforts to house or relocate their clients.
- Maintain compliance with timelines and documentation requirements established by funders, following all documentation standards provided in Housing Location guidance.
- Assist clients to apply for permanent housing subsidies as backup plans for housing stability.
- Provide group-based resource cultivation or skills training to assist in clients’ movement out of homelessness into permanent housing.
- Recruit rental properties to facilitate split-lease arrangements with program applicants setting up shared housing arrangements.
Develop and Maintain Housing-Focused Community Relationships
- Maintain housing resource list to be accessible by the team to see our active partnerships at a glance.
- Log contacts with property managers to demonstrate activity toward cultivating relationships.
- Search for new rental properties and recruit property managers to participate with the Rapid Rehousing program.
- Act as a primary point of contact for rental properties to report issues and concerns with client behavior or programmatic issues.
- Train staff in housing resources available in the community and how to effectively converse with rental properties.
- Appropriately assess the safety, affordability, and habitability of potential housing locations.
- Research, log, and communicate appropriate permanent housing options which can be applied to a variety of Rapid Rehousing clientele, assisting team members to exit clients from RRH subsidy to permanent housing.
- Work with clients preparing to exit the Rapid Rehousing program assistance by providing resources related to signing new leases, linking alternative exit destinations, and ensuring clients can best mitigate a return to homelessness permanently and effectively.
- Network with community partners to develop professional relationships and cultivate new housing options for Rapid Rehousing clients moving in or moving out.
Documentation of Services
- Maintain accurate case management engagement data in all documentation.
- Document services provided in our electronic recordkeeping system within one business day.
- Contribute to reports on specialized grants specific to the position and program and complete specialized documentation according to training provided.
- Complete documentation with rigorous and thorough attention to quality.
Key Performance Indicators
Team-Level Performance Indicators
- Maintain performance toward goal of length of time from enrollment to move-in
- Achieve annual goal of permanent housing exits from subsidy portion of the program
- Maintain housing retention after 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post-subsidy according to goals
Individual-Level Performance Indicators
- Lower average time to move into RRH program units to expected number of days, exceeding community standards
- Complete and document quantity of client sessions according to expectations
- Engage all clients assigned to navigation services according to expectations
- Document contacts, resources, and client progress in the appropriate locations
- Maintain expected level of quality in all case note and services documentation
- Provide resource information sufficient to increase permanent housing exits from RRH subsidy
- Complete effective and thorough procedural tasks like housing inspections for safety and security hazards, conducting research-based reports on the affordability of program-assisted units to ensure reasonable and relatively similar rental rates, and other administrative duties
Fundamental Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
- Education or experience in real estate, sales, or property management preferred
- Past professional or volunteer experience in working with people experiencing deep poverty or homelessness
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in written communication
- Demonstrates experience with and sensitivity to varying cultural, ethnic, and social backgrounds, values, and attitudes
- Intermediate to advanced familiarity with digital communication, including cloud-based software, e-mail, and Microsoft Office applications
- Must be able to lift 25 pounds on a regular basis
- Able to work outside in adverse weather conditions when needed
- Able to work in a noisy environment with a large group of people
Strong applications will include a cover letter which details how the applicant demonstrates the character qualities required for excellent performance in this position.
Please ensure to include in the application your most recent three professional positions and at least three references.
