Salary Range: $40,000 to $45,000
Job Type: Full time, exempt
Coburn Place is Indiana’s largest provider of transitional housing and services for survivors of domestic violence. The Housing Advocate represents the core values and mission of the organization and is responsible for providing appropriate housing assessments, referrals and resources to survivors of domestic abuse; facilitating housing workshops; and developing relationships with housing providers in the greater Indianapolis area.
Responsibilities
• Ensures all program services are delivered according to the voluntary services model, are in compliance with all funding source guidelines, empower all clients to achieve goals to assist them in improving well-being according to the adopted Full Frame Initiative’s Five Domains of Wellbeing, and are provided in the spirit of Coburn Place’s guiding mission, vision and values.
• Provides housing advocacy to survivors of domestic abuse that includes barrier and stabilization support to any program participant (including those in transitional housing, community-based housing and housing waitlists):
• Assesses program participants’ barriers to housing; provides ongoing direct advocacy, education and referrals to adult program participants to aid in their successful transition to safe, affordable permanent housing. Develops a housing plan with each adult program participant. Provides appropriate referrals to ineligible housing applicants.
• Maintains and presents a relevant housing curriculum (such as Rent Smart, Building a Future, etc.) and ensures adequate and appropriate individual and group sessions are provided to empower survivors to achieve housing goals. Researches, identifies, recommends and recruits housing activities and resources.
• Engages with local housing service providers, landlords and property managers as part of a robust curriculum and referral system.
• Works in conjunction with the Mission Impact team to provide transitional housing tenants who fail inspections, or who are issued lease violations, resources, training and referrals to address needs and increase knowledge of successful tenant behaviors for future housing situations.
• In conjunction with, or as directed by the Housing Coordinator, offers workshops/educational sessions on obtaining and sustaining housing, tenant and/or Rent Smart and relevant information as needed to decrease housing barriers for survivors of domestic abuse.
• Provides mobile advocacy within Coburn’s DV Housing First approach. During working hours keeps location finder activated on company-provided cell phone for safety purposes.
• Communicates with Operations/Property and Mission Impact teams when a transitional housing tenant has secured a housing voucher or permanent housing so that move-out process can be planned.
• Promotes an open and supportive flow of communication among departments to ensure the provision of seamless and holistic supportive services to all program participants.
• Conducts outreach to potential Coburn Place program participants and represents Coburn Place in the community by establishing partnerships and relationships with other domestic violence service and housing providers.
• Completes all reporting requirements within the designated timelines. Assist other staff with reporting requirements by providing information, statistics, and operating summaries.
• Enters program participant documentation into ClientTrack in an accurate and timely manner.
• Works with the Evaluation & Outcomes Manager to maintain efficient data collection and entry.
• Identifies opportunities for volunteer, financial, and in-kind resources and communicates these prospects to the Advancement Department. Actively engages program volunteers by providing adequate supervision and job-related training. Maintains knowledge and awareness of volunteer policies and procedures.
• Promotes breaking the cycle of violence and shares Coburn Place’s story in the community. Engages in meetings and workshops that enhance the mission of the organization. Completes and submits Engagement Reports for data tracking needs.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty according to the requirements of Coburn Place. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.
Candidates for this job must have an understanding of and experience working with individuals in crisis situations. The ability to maintain proper boundaries with program participants while having empathy for their domestic violence situation is critical. The ability to maintain rapport with a diverse group of program participants, employees and service providers is essential. Candidates must also possess group facilitation skills and crisis and/or self-help counseling skills. This job may require both local and out-of-state travel. Bilingual candidates are desired.
Experience
Bachelor’s degree in business or other related field; and two plus years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Previous operations or leasing experience in a non-for-profit environment working with domestic violence survivors is required.
• A valid Indiana driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record is required for this position.
• A clear DCS history, and clear criminal and sex offender background checks is required.
Benefits
- Health/Dental/Vision insurance
- Paid Holidays
- Flex Time Off (PTO)
- 401K
Apply here.
Coburn Place offers employees a supportive environment, competitive salaries and benefits. We are proud to be known as an employer of choice in Indianapolis as a certified member of the Good Wages Initiative.