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Housing Specialist III

At Impact NW we are a nonprofit with a mission to prevent homelessness, because we believe in the fundamental right to: beautiful life, stability and peace. More importantly, it also means a life filled with opportunity and community support, especially for Indigenous, Black, Brown, Melanated, Immigrant, and Asian people.

What we seek is for you to share your skill sets - especially if you:

*Put people first

*See the beauty in people

*Promote peace

*Find a way

We believe that with our mission and values as our north star, we can move toward our vision of a future where housing is a human right. If this resonates with you, we’d love to have your purpose and passion on our team at Impact NW.

Benefits Summary:

At Impact NW, we care deeply about the well-being of our team and strive to support a healthy balance between work and life. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and additional Self-Care Leave to help you recharge and take care of yourself.
Employer-paid health insurance for employees, plus a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with an employer contribution to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Long-Term Disability Insurance fully paid by Impact NW.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering free and confidential support for mental health, finances, and more.
401(k) Retirement Plan with an employer matching contribution to help you plan for the future.
A positive, inclusive, and mission-driven work culture where every team member is valued and supported.

We believe that taking care of our people helps us take care of our community.

Job Summary:

The principal role of the Housing Specialist III is to provide advanced, community-based social work services including coordination, advocacy, support, and encouragement using a Housing First framework. This position serves individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness and/or complex housing instability, including those with high barriers. In addition to direct service, the Housing Specialist III provides mentorship and onboarding support to team members, assists supervisors with training and quality assurance efforts, supports compliance monitoring, and contributes to light financial tracking to ensure alignment with funder and agency expectations. The primary working location for this position is at Beacon at Glisan Landing in Multnomah County; however, geographic boundaries are subject to change.

Job Responsibilities:

Maintain advanced working knowledge of all program requirements, including eligibility, enrollment standards, documentation expectations, and funder definitions.
Conduct screening, intake, and referral of internal and external requests for service. Manage a caseload that includes high-acuity and complex cases requiring advanced problem-solving, landlord negotiation, and barrier removal.
Provide progressive person-centered, trauma-informed, and strength-based engagement, assessment, and ongoing case management using the principles of Assertive Engagement and Housing First.
Develop and maintain client relationships that promote long-term housing stability, independence, and self-determination.
Conduct housing search assistance, landlord/property manager negotiation, habitability inspections, and advocacy to support successful lease-up and retention. Research and compile information on new housing and community resources; distribute updated information to staff and participants as appropriate.
Provide education regarding public benefits (WIC, Medicaid, TANF, SNAP, veteran-specific benefits, SSD, SSI, Medicare, etc.) while ensuring participant choice and autonomy.
Coordinate multi-disciplinary service providers (e.g., healthcare, addictions, mental health, employment, and social services) to support holistic client stability.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of mental health, addiction recovery, disability, and social service resources in the metro area.
Meet client service standards set forth by HSN Department Leadership regarding quantity, type, and quality of services delivered.
Serve as a mentor and resource to Housing Specialist II staff.
Support onboarding new team members through shadowing, case consultation, process guidance, and modeling of best practices.
Assist supervisors with training efforts related to housing navigation, documentation standards, landlord engagement, and program procedures.
Provide guidance to team members on complex cases, eligibility interpretation, and barrier resolution strategies.
Model professional communication, documentation quality, and Housing First principles in daily practice.
Maintain expert-level knowledge of and compliance with program policies, departmental tools, agency procedures, and funder requirements.
Assist with file reviews and quality assurance activities to ensure timely, accurate, and complete case records.
Support accurate and timely data entry in HMIS and agency/funder data systems.
Assist with preparation for audits, monitoring visits, or internal compliance reviews.
Ensure accurate documentation of financial assistance in compliance with funder requirements. Support timely submission of required program documentation and reports.
Represent the program in internal and external meetings as delegated. Serve as a liaison with landlords and community partners to resolve complex housing barriers.
Meet face-to-face with walk-ins and respond to calls and emails from housing-unstable individuals seeking information and support, as assigned.
Accept other work assignments as assigned by HSN Department Leadership.

Supervision:

Reports to: Multnomah County PSH Program Coordinator

Requirements and Qualifications:

Bilingual Spanish is required for this position.
Minimum of 3 years of successful housing navigation experience working with individuals and families experiencing poverty and homelessness. Minimum of 2 years for internal hires.
Demonstrated experience managing complex or high-barrier cases, including chronic homelessness.
Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field preferred; equivalent professional or lived experience may be substituted for education requirements.
Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying program and funder guidelines.
Experience mentoring, training, or supporting staff development preferred.
Experience with HMIS and agency/funder data systems required.
Experience supporting documentation compliance, audits, or quality assurance processes preferred.
Demonstrated ability to effectively work within a strength-based, client-centered, Housing First service delivery model.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple and varied tasks while meeting deadlines.
Ability to work independently while serving as a collaborative team leader and resource.
Sensitivity and ability to relate to individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace computer programs.
Ability to travel efficiently in urban and rural areas and between multiple counties.
Personal transportation and a valid driver’s license with acceptable driving history.

JOB CONDITIONS:

Frequent repetitive motion, prolonged periods of sitting, and extensive visual focus.
On-site Monday-Friday to comply with contractual obligations. Hybrid work is not permitted.
Significant travel is required within the Portland Metro area.
Occasional early morning, evening, and weekend meetings.
Periodic exposure to individuals who may be angry or distressed.

Impact NW is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. If you require an accommodation during the application, testing, or interview process, please contact Chelsea Campbell-Martin at 503-242-2436 or careers@impactnw.org.

We are committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.