Housing Specialist - Forensic Housing & Recovery through Peer Services - Mon-Fri 10:30AM-7PM

About the job

Frontier Behavioral Health is hiring a full-time Housing Specialist for its Forensic Housing and Recovery through Peer Services (FHARPS) program in Spokane, working Monday through Friday from 10:30AM to 7PM. FHARPS helps people whose competency to stand trial has been questioned in court find and keep housing, through housing case management, peer support and connections to community resources.

FHARPS is voluntary and low-barrier, follows a housing first model (participants don't have to abstain from substance use or take psychiatric medication to get housing) and offers choice in housing, privacy and rights of tenancy. Frontier Behavioral Health is a Spokane nonprofit providing evidence-based, trauma-informed behavioral health services, including outpatient, inpatient, community outreach and crisis services.

What you'll do

• Contact eligible people no later than one calendar day after referral, and use mobile crisis teams if HARPS isn't available
• Review each client's housing needs and link them with suitable housing service providers in the community
• Help each person set goals and build a collaborative, individualized, strengths-based housing plan with action steps that centers on their choice of housing, and update it as needs and circumstances change
• Help clients search for longer-term housing in person, by phone and through outreach, then assist with placement and the paperwork required for tenancy
• Follow up with clients on the emergency housing voucher program, and work closely with housing voucher distribution so voucher requirements are met
• Make multiple contacts each week as needed to help with housing needs and any crisis that could put someone's housing at risk
• Provide coaching, advocacy, information and referral, coordination with resources, outreach, tenant support, independent living skill building and ongoing support
• Build partnerships with landlords, property managers, local housing resources and housing programs across Region 1 (Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane and Stevens counties) to open placement opportunities and help clients keep stable housing
• Manage your caseload under agency guidelines, including care plan development, risk assessment and management, and measuring progress; write progress notes on each person's progress toward permanent supportive housing, and keep records timely and confidential
• Attend community, coalition and committee meetings such as coordinated entry, join local homeless continuum of care or planning groups, and partner with FBH programs serving clients involved in the criminal justice system

What you need

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in psychology or a related field
• Within 30 days of hire, apply for the Counselor Agency Affiliated – Registered credential through the WA State Department of Health
• A valid, unrestricted driver's license, the ability to clear a motor vehicle screening and driving test, active car insurance, and willingness to use your own vehicle for work
• Sensitivity to each person's cultural characteristics and to the challenges facing people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged
• Ability to communicate and engage effectively with people of varied backgrounds, cultures, education levels and socio-economic status
• Daily client services in community settings such as homes, group living settings, hospitals, shelters and the streets; some may not be clean or fully habitable
• Ability to drive, walk up to several city blocks over varied terrain, use stairs and get in and out of vehicles often
• Daily computer use
• May need to lift 10 to 20 pounds

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday through Friday, 10:30AM to 7PM (day shift)
• Daily travel to see clients in the community and between work sites, in FBH vehicles or your own vehicle

Benefits

• An added shift differential for this shift
• Paid time off, accruing up to 26 days in the first year, plus 9 paid federal holidays
• Extended sick leave and paid sick and safe time
• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• A 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution and an additional 3% employer match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid life insurance starting the first of the month after 6 months of employment
• A signing bonus
• Free supervision for staff working toward clinical licensure
• Federal and state loan forgiveness for qualifying programs
• Reimbursement of the license or certification application fee the position requires
• A free Employee Assistance Program and staff discounts at FBH partners around Spokane
• Some benefits vary based on FTE