Leasing and Housing Specialist

Leasing and Housing Specialist

As a Housing Specialist for Aspiranet, you will have the opportunity to work from a place of deep meaning and impact. You'll be a part of a vibrant team with like-minded professionals who are the bridge between foster care and independence for some of our community's most vulnerable young adults.

Although your primary responsibility is to be a Leasing and Housing Specialist for young adults transitioning from foster care into a Transitional Housing Program, the work you'll remember is showing young adults what it feels like to have their community rally around them. And in return, you'll understand what it means to change the direction of another person's life.

This flexible opportunity will allow you to do something you're passionate about while gaining real-world experience working in social services. This is the ideal position for someone looking for an enriching experience or to launch their career, a social services or property management professional who enjoys working with young adults, or someone working on their Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

As a Housing Specialist with Aspiranet in Visalia, California, you'll work collaboratively with young adult clients, property managers, community leaders, retail establishments, and your Aspiranet team. Your goal is to research and then secure resources such as housing, furnishings, and household supplies for foster youth. You'll assist in setting up your clients' first household and check in periodically to assist with needs related to their apartment care. While there is a fair amount of purchasing and financial reconciliation, the bulk of your time will be spent in the field working directly with your clients and property managers. The Housing Specialist conducts regular apartment inspections which help ensure housing standards and in the process teach youth life skills related to housing.

Your creative problem-solving skills will be challenged to develop ways to secure community support, donations, and volunteers to help furnish and decorate new apartments. You'll use your rapport and collaborative communication skills to maintain relationships with property managers so that you can advocate for the program clients. Your success as a Housing Specialist will depend on your tenacity, flexibility, and organizational skills to manage urgent issues while maintaining a consistent focus on clients long term housing goals.

As a trauma-informed care provider, you will play a supportive role for people overcoming unfortunate circumstances, which may require a mixture of empathy and assertiveness, while also activating our youths' resilient protective factors that allow them to thrive despite adversity. You are a positive professional and mentor, responsible for maintaining a sense of calm and order with young adults who often have not had either in their lives. You understand the developmental needs of young adults testing out their newfound independence, and that there's growth potential in making mistakes.

In our team-based setting, you'll work with a group of professionals who share your dedication to making a difference in our community. In our family-like environment, you'll be supported as well as provide support to others. You'll be prepared to utilize this support system as well as maintain a self-care plan.

YOUR GROWTH

Aspiranet supports your success at each step. You'll gain valuable in-house and external training to support your success in your role. This is a great opportunity to begin your career with the ability to advance throughout the organization once you've developed additional skills. There is plenty of room for advancement, both through the county and state-wide.

YOUR REWARDS

Aspiranet offers a competitive salary, an exceptional team-based environment, and a great benefits package that includes employer-paid healthcare, dental, vision and wellness care. Aspiranet rewards you for the work you do - engaging with your clients and helping them meet their goals.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

AA degree or two years of experience working in a professional office. You are proficient in invoicing, banking, and money handling and have strong written and oral communication skills. Must have the ability to prioritize tasks, work independently, and meet deadlines. Other qualifications include proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and have a strong desire to assist others. Must meet all required conditions of employment including background clearances, a valid driver's license, and reliable transportation. Experience with apartment rental market preferred.

OUR MISSION

Aspiranet is a one-of-a-kind social service agency dedicated to building a world where all children and youth are loved and cared for, and all families have the resources to thrive. Founded in 1975, our core mission is to help California kids and families. Aspiranet's services include foster care and adoption family support, residential care, support for youth making the transition from foster care to adulthood, mental and behavioral health services, intensive home-based care, and community-based family resources. We provide services throughout California.

Aspira means hope. We are a network of people bringing hope forward. We look forward to learning what makes you passionate.

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