Housing Stability Associate (Direct Service)
START/END DATE: 8/31/2020 - 8/27/2021
United Way of King County is seeking determined, passionate, and energetic problem solvers to commit to a year of service (1700 service hours) of service with the Housing Stability program. AmeriCorps member will serve at host agencies to provide one-on-one assistance for individuals and/or families experiencing a housing crisis
Note on COVID-19: Please note that United Way of King County has moved to remote operations and will reopen pending public health guidance. As such, be prepared to partake remotely in interviews, training, and other service responsibilities should we move forward with your candidacy. If technology presents a barrier to applying, interviewing, or accepting the position, please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org for accommodations.
Should we move forward with your candidacy, members will start their AmeriCorps service primarily working remotely. Per United Way and public health guidance, all AmeriCorps members must be able to transition from working remotely to commuting to their site daily at any time during their service year.
Prior to United Way’s reopening, this position may require occasional in-person service. United Way is following all guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Washington State Department of Health regarding social distancing and safety measures. We are eager to support you in having a safe and impactful service term.
Program Overview
Homelessness and housing instability remains a crisis in our region. On any given night, more than 11,199 people will experience homelessness in King County. 5,228 people are unsheltered – staying in vehicles, tents, and on our streets, while approximately 5,971 stay in emergency shelter. The rising cost of living and rent is also contributing to instability, nearly 50% of evictions are because of unpaid rent. United Way of King County believes that this is unacceptable and is committed to reducing the number of unsheltered people and evictions due to unpaid rent in our community. What started as a health crisis, has quickly had reverberating economic shocks in our community, and within the first months of the COVID-19 response, thousands of community members have faced having to choose between paying rent or for other basic needs.
Our vision is to live in a community where everyone has a safe and stable home. We believe our community needs to address the crisis with a strong and efficient crisis response system and an adequate number of stable housing options that help people exit homelessness. We also need to reduce the number of people becoming homeless in the first place.
Housing Stability Team
Housing Stability AmeriCorps members will serve at host agencies to provide one-on-one assistance for individuals and/or families experiencing a housing crisis. Members will directly meet with clients to make sure they are quickly identified, assessed for, and connected. Members will learn and implement a client-centered approach to provide diversion services, eviction prevention, and rent assistance. Members will also be critical to the success of United Way’s Resource Exchanges.
AmeriCorps placements associated with this program will contribute to our goals of helping 3,000 people receive financial assistance and 1,000 people having positive housing outcomes.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Provide one-on-one assistance for individuals and/or families experiencing a housing crisis
- Trained in the diversion-first model to get individuals / families into housing quickly and efficiently
- Navigate complex systems to connect people to financial benefits and income supports
- Work closely on behalf of your clients to ensure strong referrals and housing outcomes
- Provide intake and assessment of new clients to determine housing prevention eligibility
- Act as a liaison on behalf of clients to landlords to establish stable housing
- Facilitate walk-in services to connect clients with diversion services and additional resources
- Conduct housing inspections, rapid rehousing, deliver rent checks, and mobile assessments as needed
- Participate in trainings and implement racial equity strategies to reduce racial disparities
- Provide homelessness prevention services as needed
- Diligently track data to demonstrate service outputs and outcomes
- Conduct outreach at Family Resource Exchange and other community events or meetings
Desired Qualifications
- We believe that the communities we serve must be centered in the work we do, therefore people of color and people who have experienced eviction or homelessness are highly encouraged to apply
- Passionate social justice advocate and driven to end poverty and homelessness in King County
- Cultural humility and experience working with populations from many race, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
- Interest in learning new skills, implement knowledge, and educate others
- Ability to follow processes, be highly organized, and have the tenacity to persist when things get challenging.
- Flexibility, creativity, and perseverance to get things done in a fast-paced environment with stringent, critical, legal deadlines
- Enthusiastic team player and critical thinker
- Comprehensive understanding about systemic causes of poverty and racial inequities
- Second language skill is highly desirable
- Access to a car is desirable
- People of color and people with experience navigating the complex social service system encouraged to apply
- Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills
Eligibility
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States
- Must be available 40 hours a week for 5 days a week
- Able to serve a full year and reach a total of 1700 service hours.
- Must go through a Washington State Patrol background check, FBI background check and National Sex Offender Registry Check, plus state of residence background check if not living in WA currently
- F1 VISAS are not sufficient
Benefits
- $2000 monthly living stipend (pre-tax)
- Loan deferment on qualified student loans during your service
- Payment of interest on qualified student loans that are accrued during service term
- An Education Award of $6,195 upon successful completion of service
- Health benefits that meet minimum standards of ACA compliance
- 10 days of sick leave, 10 days of personal leave
- Childcare assistance
- Unlimited Public transportation pass (ORCA)
- Opportunity to be a part of an innovative, high-impact program
- Working across teams of various community organizations
- Gain valuable personal and professional development experience
- Becoming a member of a large network of current AmeriCorps members and alums
To Apply: Create an application on My AmeriCorps Portal or click here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=90127