Problem Solving Specialist - Housing

Since 1976, St. Joseph Center has been meeting the needs of low-income and homeless individuals and families in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, and surrounding communities.  The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that assists people without regard for religious affiliation or lack thereof through comprehensive case management and integrated social service programs.  The Center enjoys broad-based community support as well as a sponsored relationship with its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.  St. Joseph Center serves approximately 6,000 individuals annually.

Our Values

Dignity | Community | Integrity | Partnership | Social Justice | Radical Care

Job Summary

St. Joseph Center is seeking a Problem-Solving Specialist for the Family Solution Center who will work with colleagues to provide services to homeless families. This role will support short-term housing intervention and assist participants in maintaining their current housing and identifying immediate and safe housing alternatives within their own network (family, friends, and social support). 

What You'll Do

• Act as the first point of contact for families from the homeless family solutions system.
• Make contact with at-risk homeless families referred through LA County 211 and SPA 5 homeless providers utilizing thoughtful and explanatory questions to uncover family strengths and resources.
• Engage in deliberate and thoughtful individualized conversations that seeks to solve immediate or near-term housing crisis.
• Connect families by referrals to mainstream resources, housing search assistance, housing stabilization planning, and family reunification.
• Connect families to onsite support services as needed including health, mental health, public entitlements, education, and vocational training.
• Serve as an advocate/liaison for families with community organizations. 
• Utilize active listening, coaching, motivational interviewing, mediation, and conflict resolution with families, friends and/or landlords.

*Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in social and human services. 
• 1+ year(s) working within homeless services is preferred.
• Must possess the ability to relate to a diverse group of people including clients, community, and other SJC staff.
• Familiarity with issues surrounding mental illness and substance abuse is strongly preferred. 
• Bi-lingula Spanish/English is highly desirable. 
• Knowledge of case management principles and intervention techniques specific to homeless populations or other under-served groups. 

Travel Requirements:

• Access to reliable transportation. 
• Travel to various SJC sites, as needed. 

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, talk, hear, reach above and below shoulders; use hand and finger dexterity, keyboarding and making and receiving telephone calls. The employee may be required on occasion to lift and or carry up to 20 lbs.

EEO:

SJC (St. Joseph Center) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics or status as a veteran. In addition to federal law requirements, SJC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Benefits:

Excellent benefits package available.