Landlord Engagement Specialist - Housing, Search, and Placement

At Heartland Family Service, we are committed to building a culture that is trauma informed and values and celebrates diversity and inclusion. We believe this allows for better service delivery and innovation, as it encourages our employees to bring various experiences and uniqueness to the workplace.

Trauma Informed Care is an approach to engaging people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma has played in their lives. Trauma Informed Care also acknowledges the effects of working with trauma survivors on our workforce, and seeks to build collaborative and supportive working environments and relationships.

If you believe in our mission of creating healthy families and communities, and like a fast pace, collaborative and team oriented environment, then Heartland Family Service is the agency for you.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This Landlord Engagement Specialist will work as a part of the housing search team working in collaboration with housing programs. These programs provide financial assistance and support services to individuals and families who are experiencing homeless and residing in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties. This position will work to recruit and retain landlords and property managers to work with the supportive housing programs. This position is also responsible for partnering closely with Housing Advocates to identify appropriate housing options for program participants. This position requires some on call hours outside the traditional schedule.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., plus on-call hours.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• *Outreach to new landlords and property managers within the community to inform them of the programs and recruit prospective landlords
• *Facilitates a culture that encourages staff members to have a healthy view of landlords and their importance to our work.
• *Maintain regular contact with existing or previous landlords in order to keep eligibility information up to date and maintain positive working relationships
• *Maintain an updated database of all participating landlords and relevant property information and applicant eligibility criteria
• *Locate unit vacancies and maintain up to date database of available units on a daily basis, including ensuring that identified units meet the needs of program participants
• *Assist with matching units to participants who are searching for housing
• *Foster positive working relationships to increase retention of landlords through mediation, crisis resolution, utilization of mitigation funds and ongoing contact and collaboration.
• *Participate in ongoing quality improvement efforts, including administering landlord satisfaction surveys and compiling results
• *Participate in weekly team meetings to collaborate with the housing search team
• *Coordinate with PSH Case Managers to identity available units and landlords for new clients or existing clients seeking new housing, including maintaining weekly contact with staff and the PSH program coordinator and updating the client database.
• *Work with Housing Advocates and landlords to identify creative solutions to address housing needs of program participants
• *Process requests from staff and partner agencies for use of landlord mitigation funds.
• *Attend quarterly meetings with staff and partner agencies to review use of mitigation funds and landlord recruitment efforts.
• *Ensure required information is collected, entered into prescribed formats, and reported in a timely manner - as outlined by federal funding and internal reporting guidelines. Documentation includes, but is not limited to, documentation of all contacts and services.
• *Assist with conducting initial and annual inspections of housing units into which a program participant will be living as needed, including compliance with lead based paint requirements, fair market rent and rent reasonableness
• *Assist Housing Advocates and/or Case Managers as need with housing search as needed, including providing transportation, viewing units and assisting with the application/move-in processes
• *Work is completed in office space and community-based/non-traditional settings. Ensure safety and security measures for in-home/outreach services are followed.
• *Travel is required, included use of personal vehicle. May be required to transport clients as deemed necessary (limited to housing search or other relevant appointments).
• Is able to work both independently, with little supervision, and as a part of a team.
• Able to establish regularity and dependability in scheduling all appointments and accuracy in reports and statistics.
• Displays a courteous and caring attitude at all times to the clientele, volunteers, and visitors of the Agency.
• Abides by all specific program and Agency procedures, policies, and requirements.
• Cooperates and collaborates with program area staff, volunteers, and other Agency staff.
• Is dependable and punctual regarding scheduling and attendance
• Able to evaluate program services and make recommendations.
• Develops personal and program related skills through participation in internal and external training opportunities including printed material and audio and/or visual media.
• Work outside traditional hours may be required while on call.
• Performs other program related duties as assigned.

*DENOTES ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associates Degree & 1-2 years experience (property management or real estate)
• OR Bachelor's Degree & no experience
• Valid Drivers License and acceptable driving record

COMPETENCIES

Communication - Clearly conveying and receiving messages to meet the needs of all, expressing oneself effectively, understanding underlying issues and adapting communication for the situation.

Teamwork - Working cooperatively and productively with others to achieve results by actively participating in the team and involving other team members.

Problem Solving & Judgment - Ability to assess options and implications in order to identify a solution by breaking down problems, recognizing basic and multiple relationships and can develop complex plans and/or analyses.

Adaptability - Personal willingness and ability to work in and adapt to change, valuing the need for adaptability, demonstrating adaptability through adapting approach and strategy.

Client Focus - Understanding and meeting or exceeding client needs through responsive client service and contributing to positive outcomes for the client, meeting long term client needs.

Innovation Using original and creative thinking to make improvements and/or develop and initiate new approaches for own job/area as well as the organization and does things new to the organization.

Relationship Building - Developing and maintaining win/win relationships and partnerships through establishing formal working relationships.

Service Facilitation - Creates networks to ensure required services are delivered effectively, providing information as required.

Organizational Awareness & Commitment - Understands the structure and culture of the organization and supports the organization's values, principles and goals; demonstrating an understanding of the organization beyond own workgroup and can anticipate and meet organizational needs.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

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 occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

(Work environment characteristics 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 not exposed to weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.