Position Purpose
​
The Housing Specialist position provides intensive assistance and navigation to clients who are unhoused or struggling with housing instability, especially those whose HIV health outcomes are impacted by their housing status. Through achievement of safe, affordable and stable housing, health outcomes will be improved, and viral suppression can be attained.

Who We Are​

Vivent Health is one of the nation’s largest providers of HIV prevention, care and treatment services with a budget approaching $260 million and employing over 550 professionals.

The unique, nationally recognized Vivent Health HIV Medical home model of care assures that everyone with HIV has access to medical, dental, mental health and social services and provides the best opportunity for patients to achieve high quality health outcomes. Vivent Health also provides aggressive HIV prevention services to gay men, injection drug users and others at the highest risk for HIV infection.

Vivent Health currently operates in multiple states nationwide. It embraces a Market Culture to increase access to care, enhance quality outcomes, achieve and surpass financial performance expectations and has an aggressive plan to expand into additional states.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, health care or a human service discipline from an accredited college or university.
• 2+ years of experience with housing programs.
• Individuals with lived experience in dealing with housing barriers/homelessness encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge of housing laws and regulations.
• Familiarity with existing housing agencies and community-based organizations.
• Experience offering direct client contact in a community based social service or health service agency.
• Extensive knowledge of medical, dental, mental health and social work delivery systems.
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related issues and/or experience working with people with a life-threatening illness.
• Valid Colorado Driver’s License, insurable Driving Record and access to a reliable insured vehicle.
• Willingness to travel within the designated territory and willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective communication with culturally diverse populations from a wide range of life circumstances and backgrounds.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including counseling and assessment skills.
• Ability to effectively organize work products and files, keep clear records, and manage time well so as to optimize efficiency and productivity.
• Computer skills that include at minimum a working knowledge of word processing, Windows or similar operating system, and Internet.
• Working knowledge of Spanish language (bilingual) is a plus.

Essential Functions​

• In collaboration with Vivent Health Medical Case Management (MCM) and the Denver office, clients/patients with housing instability may be referred to meet with a housing specialist. The client/patients may be connected to other agency and community services, education to improve housing literacy, and be provided assistance with housing searches.
• In collaboration with MCM, identify clients/patients that are eligible for HOPWA, Ryan White Housing programs and facilitate assistance, as needed.
• Assist in locating affordable housing for unhoused clients or those applying to or on HOPWA or Ryan White housing programs. Evaluate credit and criminal background checks for clients to gain full understanding of eligibility factors and barriers to housing. Verify property ownership and conduct Housing Quality Inspections if needed for potential units. Coordinate lease-signing with clients and landlords. Advocate for the clients and mediate disputes or conflicts between landlords and tenants. Refer to and coordinate with Legal Service Programs for cases with unresolved landlord / tenant problems.
• Work with HOPWA and Ryan White Housing clients to transition clients to long-term, stable and independent living. This will be accomplished through identifying new or increased income sources, either through employment or disability income, with referrals given to employment services as needed.Exploration of permanent, subsidized housing programs, such as Section 8 and VA Housing, will also be performed.
• Provide individualized, intensive housing education appropriate to the client’s current and future living situation, including on rent affordability, appropriate income to rent ratios, components of tenant leases, and good tenant and neighbor behavior. Apply knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate clients of their rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Assist with development of and encourage adherence to a personal budget through proactive housing and budget counseling sessions that review income, expenses, and past due debt.
• Identify unmet client needs and provide appropriate referrals and resources, both those within Vivent Health and those in the community. Collaborate with MCM on the creation of multidisciplinary service plans.
• Identify new and innovative housing strategies that Denver is using to address the complex and tenuous housing situations– example: Shared housing apps and programs; the Tiny Home Community; etc.
• Maintain current documentation of all client activity and assistance in Provide Enterprise and document required activities.
• Contribute as an active member of the Social Services Department by participating in staff meetings, client staffings, in-service trainings and workshops, department or agency planning activities, assisting in special projects, and providing support, peer mentoring and training to co-workers.
• Gain and maintain knowledge of areas regarding HIV disease, HIV and STI risk reduction, mental health issues, case management activities, housing resources, Fair Housing, HOPWA and Ryan White programs, and other related issues through self-study and participation in trainings, workshops and in-services in consultation with supervisor.
• Partnering with the VI-SPDAT/One Home system for our agency. This would include building relationships with OneHome to best understand the referral process for the different levels of scoring.
• Identify and work with clients who may have transportation barriers to housing appointments.
• Other duties as assigned.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions*

**Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer* *

Vivent Health is an equal opportunity employer and will recruit, hire, promote and transfer qualified persons into all job classifications regardless of race, gender, religion, skin color, national origin or ancestry, physical disability (including pregnancy) or mental disability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, legally protected medical condition, family care status, marital status, veteran status, genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. Vivent Health complies with other expanded protected classifications that may be mandated by specific county or municipal regulations. As a recipient of federal funding, Vivent Health will not hire nor enter into a contractual relationship with any party that is debarred, suspended, or excluded from federal assistance programs.

*Public Student Loan Forgiveness*

Employment at our organization may qualify you for federal student loan forgiveness programs. We do not directly pay for – nor forgive – federal student loans; however our status as a not-for-profit organization under Section 501 (c) (3), makes us an eligible employer. There may be other determining factors for one to qualify.

Please follow this URL to review one such program and their requirements:
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

Job Type: Full-time

Job Type: Full-time

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $49,980.00 - $57,477.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: One location

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