Job Type

Description

Days Off: Saturday, Sunday

Shift: Day

Insurance Benefits: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)

Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan

Union Representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

About DESC

DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) is a nonprofit organization working to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing. Our vision is a community where no person is abandoned, ignored, or experiencing homelessness.

As the region's leading provider of services to multiply disabled adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, DESC serves almost 3,000 people each day. Our integrated service model is designed to help people secure and maintain appropriate, safe and affordable housing. DESC is recognized nationally and regionally as an innovator in developing solutions to homelessness.

Job Description

The Navigation Center is a low-barrier, one-stop service center for individuals without shelter to receive the customized support they need to move into permanent homes. This innovative program is designed serve a portion of the homeless population that has been staying away from existing shelters, particularly folks living in encampments, because they don't want to be separated from a partner, friends, or even their dog.

At the Navigation Center, people are referred and welcomed as singles or in pairs, with pets, and with access to secure storage for large quantities of belongings. The dormitory-style living facility has no curfew and provides shower, bathroom, laundry and dining facilities, as well as comprehensive case management, mental and behavioral health services, and connections to benefit programs and housing, all in one location. By creating a safe indoor space that people living outdoors will accept, staff will be able to build relationships to help folks stabilize in more permanent housing settings and care as needed.

Part of a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week team of professionals providing emergency shelter and service navigation for unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness. Navigation Center Case Managers work with clients one-on-one to create comprehensive plans to secure housing and services that will end their homelessness.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Engage clients and maintain therapeutic working relationships through creative strategies which build trust and confidence. Provide strong harm reduction-oriented education and resources.
• Complete housing assessments with clients, including the VAT, VI-SPDAT, and Housing Needs Form.
• Create and implement client-centered, detailed service plans focused on housing acquisition. Maintain up-to-date service notes and client files.
• Outreach clients who have been housed with a voucher from the Navigation Center for ongoing support.
• Provide intensive case management to facilitate client access to housing, physical and behavioral health care, benefits, and vocational training or employment.
• Coordinate with other DESC programs and community providers to assure continuity of client care and successful transition of clients to long-term providers as appropriate.
• Research and identify affordable and suitable housing options for single adults and recruit local landlords to participate in Shelter Plus Care and other voucher programs.
• Act as agency information and support resource for direct service staff regarding the range of housing opportunities for DESC clients in the community.
• Establish access channels to community housing resources, helping to ensure clients' needs are met and rights maintained and to create an accepting atmosphere with landlords.
• Coordinate the housing application process for Shelter Plus Care, Section 8, and other voucher programs.   
• Participate in monthly Shelter Plus Care coordinating committee meetings.
• Coordinate communication and act as a liaison between DESC and relevant administering agencies and landlords.
• Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with local housing programs, providers and landlords.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Washington Department of Health minimum credential as an Agency Affiliated Counselor or ability to obtain the credential upon hire.
• Experience working with homeless, mentally ill, or substance using adults.
• Interest or experience in working with individuals who are difficult to engage through traditional programs.
• Firm commitment to being part of innovative work in harm reduction and low barrier shelter provision.
• Ability to communicate and work collaboratively with team members from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with a high degree of professionalism.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Relevant Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science, OR  
2. A combination of 1 year* of relevant paid work experience and demonstration of the ability to perform required job duties  

*Internal applicants in direct, client facing positions can substitute 6 months of experience in lieu of 1 year 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Knowledge of harm reduction strategies, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation skills.
• Ability to drive agency vehicles, valid Washington State Driver's license and insurable driving record.
• Strong applicants are able to demonstrate the ability to be positive in their empathetic responses to all persons, and value a non-judgmental response to sensitive issues. Candidates should be able to accept feedback and work in a highly collaborative and potentially stressful environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit, stand, walk and go up and down stairs. The employee will be required to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach as well as lifting and/or carrying items weighing up to 40 pounds. The ability to operate computer hardware systems is also required. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Considerable stress may occur.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace, and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Salary Description