Housing Specialist

ABOUT LIFEMOVES

LifeMoves is the largest and most effective provider of housing and services for neighbors experiencing homelessness in Silicon Valley since 1987. Our Mission is to end homelessness by providing interim housing, supportive services, and building collaborative partnerships. With 40 programs , LifeMoves gives our neighbors experiencing homelessness a temporary place to call home while providing intensive, customized case management through site-based programs and community outreach.

POSITION PURPOSE

LifeMoves Palo Alto is a new program and once implemented will provide interim supportive housing in Palo Alto 24 family units and 64 individual units. During their stay, clients participate in holistic services tailored to each household's unique needs and goals. Clients receive support to build self-sufficiency and return to housing stability, including but not limited to accommodations, meals, laundry, case management, and therapy. The team supports clients with housing, employment, benefits, physical and behavioral health through case management, workshops, and connection to specialized resources.

The Palo Alto Housing Specialist reports to the Program Director and receives support from the Education and Specialized Services Team. This role supports clients and Case Managers by offering expert guidance on benefits, employment, and/or housing resources. The Specialist may work 1:1 with clients to check eligibility for programs and train Case Managers to stay current on new opportunities. They also monitor policy changes to make sure clients and staff get the most up-to-date information and resources. Specialists are experts in their field and ensure clients and staff are well prepared on the complexities of benefits, employment, and housing. Additionally this role also assists with daily site operations, maintains a safe and welcoming environment, monitors the site, responds to client needs, and supports client check-ins, group activities, and overall site coordination.

The position plays a key role in supporting people moving toward safe, stable housing and greater self-sufficiency. They provides case management services, life skills support, and resource connections and work in partnership with clients to set goals, celebrate progress, and overcome challenges. Using a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach, this position builds trust and respect, making sure clients feel heard, valued, and supported throughout their journey.

Key responsibilities include supporting clients by connecting them to services, building support networks, facilitating groups and activities, advocating for equitable access, and providing crisis intervention when needed. Beyond working directly with clients, this role may help to improve the overall program by sharing ideas, identifying service gaps, and helping strengthen community relationships. This role maintains clear documentation, contributes to program planning and reporting, and models professional, ethical behavior and works closely with their teammates to provide high-quality, coordinated care. Through their efforts, staff empower clients to grow their strengths, reach their goals, and build a better future.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain individualized case plans focused on housing, employment, benefits, and client well-being.
• Support clients with housing searches, employment readiness, benefits enrollment, and skill-building activities.
• Connect clients to healthcare providers and community resources, assisting with coordination and transportation.
• Maintain accurate client documentation and track outcomes in HMIS and agency systems.
• Advocate for clients with landlords, employers, and service agencies; provide mediation and conflict resolution.
• Deliver trauma-informed crisis response and ensure services align with ethical standards.
• Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations, public agencies, and system partners.
• Serve as a liaison with stakeholders, coordinating services and promoting trauma-informed care.
• Participate in case conferences, training, and supervision to strengthen professional skills.
• Attend continuing education and training opportunities, applying learning to daily work.
• Be available for occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
• Develop and track individualized housing, employment, and benefits plans for clients.
• Facilitate workshops on job readiness, financial literacy, and housing stability; train staff on benefits programs.
• Maintain professional development to stay current in housing, employment, and benefits expertise.

Shift Details: Tuesday - Saturday 8a-4:30p.

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational Requirements:

• Associate's Degree in related field preferred; or High School Diploma/GED with 2-5 years of equivalent experience in related field. Related fields may include direct involvement in peer advocacy, community outreach, housing services or roles within the homelessness services field.
• Technology: Comfortable using basic technology, including phone and messaging systems, email, Microsoft and Google Suites, and databases to complete administrative tasks and case management, reporting, and tracking outcomes.

Service Level Qualifications:

• Care, Respect, Empathy: Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and respect for all individuals. Emotional Regulation: Stays calm and supportive in stressful situations and uses de-escalation skills. Documentation: Maintains clear documentation and organization. Organization/Prioritization: Organized, detail-oriented, and proactive.

Care Level Qualifications:

• Advocacy Skills: Actively advocates for clients in accessing benefits, navigating systems, and ensuring equitable treatment across agencies.
• Resource Identification: Able to identify and connect clients to housing, employment, health, and social services by leveraging community resources effectively.
• Research Skills: Uses strong analytical skills to research, track, and resolve client needs.
• Partnership Engagement: Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with community organizations and service providers through communication and collaboration skills to strengthen client support networks.
• Group Facilitation Skills: Confident leading group discussions or workshops that promote learning, collaboration, and empowerment.
• Specific Knowledge: Specialized demonstrated knowledge in Housing Resources.

COMPETENCIES

• Job Knowledge: Understands job duties and performs tasks with accuracy.
• Commitment to Growth: Demonstrates a selfless commitment to others on the team, including activity-based dependability, self-improvement activities. Actively seeks opportunities to contribute at higher levels in service to LifeMoves and others on the team.
• Performance Improvement: Sets performance goals, establishes the approach, creates a learning environment.
• Time Management and Reliability: Manages workload effectively and meets deadlines.
• Proactive Collaboration: Actively seeks opportunities to partner with colleagues across teams and functions. Shares knowledge, communicates openly, and anticipates needs to support collective goals. Builds trust by contributing ideas, offering assistance, and ensuring alignment to achieve results together.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

N/A

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

This position requires regular travel between agency sites, community partner locations, client service events, and internal and external meetings. As such:

• A valid [State] driver's license and reliable transportation are required.
• Must be able to travel throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties as part of regular duties.
• Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with agency policy.
• Occasional evening or weekend travel may be required to attend community events or support client services.
• Must maintain vehicle insurance as required by law and agency policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with others in the workplace. The employee must frequently use hands or fingers and handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must frequently stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities this position requires include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This rewarding role offers a competitive annual base salary and an opportunity to participate in the LifeMoves benefits package.

LifeMoves is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to building a culturally diverse staff representing the communities we serve. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, physical or mental disability (non-disqualifying), sexual orientation, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, personal favoritism, lived experiences or any other non-merit-based factor. Candidates who are bilingual/bi-cultural, of color, Native/Indigenous, with disabilities, who identify as LGBTQIA+, or who are members of other marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We aim to create and sustain inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environments where everyone can thrive.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of LifeMoves. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties, and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the job holder's responsibility.

If you require a disability accommodation during the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (650) 685-5880.

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