Housing Specialist

The Housing Specialist aids newly arrived refugees to ensure the best possible initial resettlement experience and the achievement of client self-sufficiency. In coordination with the Resettlement team the Housing specialist oversees the provision, procurement, and quality control of pre-arrival and post-arrival resettlement goods and services for newly arrived refugees according to established federal guidelines. The Housing Specialist will be responsible for locating housing for new arrivals and ensuring that IRC clients receive appropriate furnishings. The Housing specialist also participates, as required, in program planning and service developments through teams, committees and work groups. The Housing Specialist operates under moderate supervision with latitude for the use of independent judgment and initiative.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Property Management and Vendor Relations:

- Conduct ongoing outreach to current and potential landlords and property managers, building strong working relationships with the goal of increasing access to housing for refugee families and to coordinate client home repair requests as needed. Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations to support a positive resettlement experience. - Regularly visit apartment complexes to ensure housing meets the minimum standards as laid out in federal regulations. - Update the current housing resource tracking sheet on regular bases.

Client Services:

- Research and secure safe, appropriate, and affordable housing for refugees prior to their arrival in the US. - Prepare and plan temporary housing such as hotel or Airbnb in case of delayed permanent housing upon arrival. - Coordinate with US Ties, complete assistance agreement, and maintain ongoing communication regarding arrivals. - Coordinate all aspects of new arrival’s airport pick-ups including communicating arrival information to Case Workers, informing staff of changes, and assisting volunteers when they participate in the new arrival process. - Organize and oversee the setup of housing for refugees, including coordinating the signing of leases. - Ensure accuracy and completion of leases maintained in client case files are following IRC policies. - Ensure client fully understands the lease term and conditions (provide interpretation if needed), and client attains a copy of the signed lease - Ensure compliance with case files management and reporting requirements. - Arrange the logistics of new arrival home set-ups, including furniture orders and delivery, planning and placing purchase orders, and establishment of utility connections and home safety inspections. - Prepare to provide Hot and ready to eat meals for all case members upon arrival, also purchase food necessities for first week of arrival and continue as needed.

Compliance Documentation:

- Prepare and complete pre-arrival documentation for client case files. - Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date case-note services log containing detailed information about service provision. - Ensure compliance with case file management and reporting requirements, including timely data entry in hard-copy files and electronic databases.

Team/Office Participation:

- Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and other duties as assigned by the Resettlement Mangar. - Supervise and train a team of volunteers and interns working either directly with clients in the office on a variety of organizational and administrative tasks. - Work as part of a team to provide comprehensive strength-based services to IRC clients through coordination of cases and effective communication between team members and departments. - Comply with all policies, procedures and protocols of the agency.

Job Requirements:

- Minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience required. - Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferred. - Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment. - Self- starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively. - Fluent in English, both spoken and written; bilingual ability in another language is desired. - Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook). - Use personal, insured vehicle, and/or ability to operate a 12- passenger van to travel and transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area. - Ability to operate box trucks as needed.

Working Environment:

A combination of standard office environment and ‘field’ time in and around the service delivery area.

Position requires occasional weekend, early morning, and/or late evening work.

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity****: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer****: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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