Housing & Integration Specialist

The Housing & Integration Specialist supports long-term housing stability, integration, and self-sufficiency of IRC clients by educating them on tenant rights and assisting with housing program applications and renewals. The role empowers clients to independently maintain stable housing and advocates on their behalf to prevent displacement.

Responsibilities

• Provide housing stability case management to IRC clients working toward long-term housing security and self-sufficiency, addressing needs that arise well beyond initial resettlement or arrival.
• Educate clients on tenant rights and responsibilities, lease renewals, move-in/move-out procedures, maintenance request processes, and change of address procedures, empowering clients with the practical knowledge to independently maintain stable housing and advocate for themselves as tenants.
• Providing financial education and coaching on budgeting for rent and utilities, housing costs and identifying housing that is sustainable based on household income.
• Assist clients with applications, recertifications, and renewals for public and subsidized housing programs (e.g., Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8, public housing authority programs, and other government rental assistance), including gathering documentation, completing forms, and following up with housing authorities and landlords to ensure continuity of housing.
• Identify clients at risk of eviction or housing loss and provide early intervention, connecting clients to emergency rental assistance and other resources, and advocating on clients' behalf with landlords and public housing authorities to prevent displacement.
• Maintain working relationships with public housing authorities, subsidized housing providers, and landlords to support clients' long-term housing stability.
• Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations to support clients' integration.
• Track program outputs and outcomes (e.g., households served through housing education, applications and renewals completed) and maintain accurate documentation and data entry in IRC's client database to satisfy funder and contract reporting requirements.
• May train and lead the activities of support staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Use personal, insured vehicle with valid driver’s license to travel to client homes, housing authorities, and community partners as needed throughout the service delivery area
• Minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience.
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferred.
• Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
• Superb organization, planning, and logistical skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, public and subsidized housing systems and processes (e.g., Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8) preferred.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research and problem-solving purposes.

Skills

• Client Home Visits
• Driving License
• Refugee Context Experience
• Immigrant Population Experience
• Relationship Building
• Diplomacy
• Networking
• Multicultural Communication
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Organization
• Planning
• Logistics Management
• Attention to Detail
• Public Housing Systems
• Subsidized Housing Knowledge
• Housing Choice Voucher
• Tenant Rights Education
• Housing Program Applications
• MS Word
• MS Excel
• Microsoft Outlook
• Internet Research
• Data Entry

Languages

English