Housing Community Support Coordinator

TITLE: Housing Community Supports Coordinator

OUR MISSION:

Abrazar (to Embrace in Spanish) is a non-profit, direct-service organization providing services to residents in Orange County. Abrazar is dedicated to embracing the diversity of families in our community, educating them on the resources we provide through our community collaborations, and empowering them to improve the quality of their lives through programs addressing health equity. Abrazar has been addressing inequities in the social drivers of health since 1975.

Abrazar serves the community by delivering programs that address the social drivers of health and improve health equity. Our goals are to Embrace, Educate and Empower children, families, and individuals with the necessary tools to achieve better health outcomes. We believe that diversity and the delivery of collaborative services are critical to the success of our programs and measure the impact of our programs by evaluating their ability to enhance our clients' social drivers of health.

Position Summary:

California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) is a multi-year initiative by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that aims to revolutionize healthcare for all Californians. You will play a pivotal role in this historic change by helping Medi-Cal members navigate the healthcare system and access comprehensive care. You will be at the forefront of creating a more coordinated, person-centered, and equitable health system that goes beyond traditional clinical settings and addresses all physical and mental health needs.

This position is non-clinical. Interested candidates who meet the qualifications outlined above are encouraged to apply. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and any relevant certifications or documentation that demonstrates your experience and suitability for this role.

Position Responsibilities:

As the housing care coordinator (housing lead), you will be responsible for leading efforts to assist individuals, families, and children/youth experiencing homelessness in securing affordable and permanent housing. You will establish our agency as a housing access point within Orange County and develop a comprehensive housing program under the CalAIM initiative. This role requires strong leadership, supervision, and training experience to ensure the effective delivery of services and program success. As part of your role within Abrazar’s CalAIM Program, you will assist Medi-Cal members, particularly individuals, families, and children/youth who are experiencing homelessness and have complex healthcare needs, in navigating the healthcare system. This will include resolving access challenges, establishing relationships with service providers, coordinating comprehensive care, and tracking health interventions and outcomes.

• Housing Program Development:
  • Lead the establishment of our agency as a recognized housing access point within the Orange County Coordinated Entry System (CES).
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive housing program in alignment with CalAIM Community Supports policies and procedures.
  • Design and execute strategies for housing transition navigation services, housing tenancy and sustaining services, and housing deposits.
• Team Leadership and Training
  • Provide assistive leadership and direction to a team of housing navigators and lead care managers, ensuring that all team members are aligned with program goals and objectives.
  • Train and support staff involved in housing navigation, ensuring high performance and adherence to best practices.
  • Enhance team understanding of housing services, tenant rights, and the Coordinated Entry System (CES).
  • Stay informed of industry trends and best practices, incorporating them into staff training and program development.
  • Facilitate workshops and educational sessions for members on topics such as housing search strategies, tenancy skills, and housing stability.

• Member Support And Services
  • Conduct thorough assessments to determine member eligibility for the housing program and identify specific housing needs.
  • Provide personalized assistance to members in locating, securing, and maintaining affordable and permanent housing.
  • Engage in direct outreach to promote the housing program and recruit eligible participants.
  • Facilitate negotiations with property owners and landlords on behalf of members to secure favorable housing arrangements.
  • Mediate and resolve issues between members and landlords to ensure housing stability.
  • Offer ongoing support, resources, and referrals to ensure members’ long-term housing sustainability.
• Collaboration and Advocacy:
  • Partner with government agencies, community organizations, housing authorities, and property owners to expand housing opportunities for members.
  • Advocate for members’ tenant rights and educate them on their responsibilities to ensure compliance with housing agreements.
• Documentation and Compliance:
  • Maintain accurate, detailed, and up-to-date records of member interactions, referrals, and services provided.
  • Stay informed on current community resources, housing regulations, and service offerings to provide the most relevant support to members.
  • Uphold program standards during both in-person and virtual interactions, ensuring consistent member engagement and service quality.

REQUIREMENTS

We're looking for candidates who have:

• Housing navigation experience and Housing CES experience in Orange County
• Knowledge of chronic medical conditions, mental illness, substance use, and homelessness, as well as a basic understanding of public benefits and entitlements.  
• Excellent case management and documentation skills, including the ability to conduct needs assessments, prioritize member needs, develop action plans, and monitor progress.
• Manage and handle confidential information in accordance with HIPAA standards.
• Thrive in dynamic environments and readily adapt to change.
• A strong commitment to and understanding of Abrazar’s goals and objectives.
• The flexibility to work some evenings and weekends as needed.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, guide, and mentor a team.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• The ability to collaborate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including government agencies, nonprofits, and property owners.
• Strong organizational skills with a keen attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Proficiency in documentation and record-keeping, with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and accuracy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-5 years of experience in housing navigation, homelessness services, or related fields as a housing specialist, housing navigator, case manager, or an equivalent role, preferably in Orange County.
• Have extensive housing navigation experience working as a housing specialist or an equivalent role in Orange County. 
• Have experience assisting clients with applying for benefits (such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs) and/or navigating the healthcare system and health insurance.  
• Training in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, Harm Reduction, Crisis Intervention, De-Escalation, Domestic Violence, Substance Use, Suicide Prevention, or other related training.
• Experience and expertise in community outreach and engagement 
• Proven leadership experience with at least 2 years of supervisory or leadership responsibility, managing teams or projects within a nonprofit, government, or social service setting.
• At least 1 year of experience in case management working with vulnerable populations, particularly those with health, mental health, and substance use issues or one (1) year of experience in healthcare, case management, and/or homeless services.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)—knowledge of and experience with Efforts to Outcomes software a bonus. 
• Intermediate to advanced level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Capacity to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Some knowledge of available programs and services in Orange County.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in social work, urban planning, public administration, public health, human services, or a related field. Equivalent experience in housing services may be considered.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in housing navigation, homelessness services, or related fields as a housing specialist, housing navigator, case manager, or an equivalent role, preferably in Orange County.
• Proven leadership experience with at least 1 year of supervisory or leadership responsibility, managing teams or projects within a nonprofit, government, or social service setting.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing housing programs, preferably within a nonprofit, government, or social setting.
• Experience with staff training and development, including creating and delivering training.
• Familiarity with the Orange County Coordinated Entry System (CES).
• Demonstrated proficiency with computers and technology used for work outputs, particularly with Microsoft Office Suite and data management systems
• Spanish bilingual (Spanish & English) or Vietnamese bilingual (Vietnamese & English).
• Availability to work on occasional Saturdays.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

Regardless of qualifications, candidates must:

• Have employment eligibility verification
• Have or be able and willing to obtain CPR/First Aid training
• Successfully complete the following as a condition of hire:
  1. Tuberculosis Test
  2. Background Screening
  3. Drug Test

DRIVING
Driving is an essential function of this position. To meet the employment requirements for this role, all candidates must:

• Have reliable transportation
• A valid driver's license
• Proof of insurance and ownership for personal vehicles used during work duties
• The ability to qualify for Abrazar’s insurance coverage

  PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS AND CONDITIONS:

• Must possess body mobility to stand and/or sit frequently or for an extended period of time at meetings, trainings, conferences or community events in office or offsite community locations
• Must be able to function effectively in a standard office environment and have the ability to move about to perform daily office tasks such as access files cabinets and office machinery
• Must be able to communicate information accurately, clearly and concisely in normal vocal tone
• Must be able to transport laptop, files and/or other materials to and from meetings
• Must be able to drive to meet with members at various locations
• Must possess manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms and shoulders to operate a keyboard, take notes, utilize office equipment, complete and file reports, and file and copy documents
• Must possess sufficient vision to read standard text
• Must possess the ability to independently reason logically to analyze data, reach conclusions and make recommendations as required in the accomplishment of job duties
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually required to stand
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually required to walk
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually required to sit
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually required to talk or hear
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually exposure to outside weather conditions 
• Occasionally/Frequently/Continually exposure to extreme heat or cold (non-weather)
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and /or move more than 50 pounds 

 Benefits:

• Minimum start $26-30
• Paid Time Off - Vacation (12 days per year), after 3 months, accrued monthly.
• Paid Time Off – Health (56 maximum hours per fiscal year), after 3 months. 
• Holiday Pay (10 days per year), eligible after 3 months.
• Health Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance

This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. This job description is subject to change at any time. This description is intended to indicate the kinds of work duties that will be required in this position. It is not intended to limit, or in any way modify, the rights of any supervisor to assign, direct, and contract work of staff under his/her supervision. The use of a particular illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties, not mentioned, that are of a similar level or difficulty. Diversity in organizational practices is a core value of ABRAZAR resulting in culturally competent services, materials, resources, and programs. Our hiring and business practices appreciate the strengths offered through different backgrounds.

About Abrazar (to Embrace)