Housing Case Manager and Special Initiatives Manager

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Housing Stability or their designee, the Housing Case Manager and Special Initiatives Manager will carry out constituent–based functions to assist residents with housing stability. The employee will provide information to Somerville residents on housing issues, provide appropriate referrals to contracted and community services, perform direct advocacy to resolve landlord/tenant matters and/or to help tenants successfully relocate into housing they can afford, and work on special initiatives as determined by the OHS Director or designee.

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Assess the needs and status of the at-risk or displaced individual or family in order to develop and implement a housing plan to prevent displacement or achieve re-housing.
• Develop relationships and work with community-based agencies, property managers, and landlords to facilitate housing placement and/or prevent eviction of at-risk and displaced tenants.
• Develop relationships and work with staff from other City departments and other City non-profits to coordinate housing and services for at-risk or displaced tenants.
• Provide information and answer inquiries for landlords and tenants and homeowners regarding housing matters.

• Provide direct advocacy to residents seeking housing assistance, to prevent displacement or assist with rehousing including, but not limited to, accessing financial resources, assisting with maximizing benefits, and advocating with agencies, landlords or housing providers.
• Provide referrals to contracted providers and other community agencies regarding eviction prevention and housing search assistance.

• Maintain client databases to track efforts and outcomes and produce required reports.
• Maintain up-to-date information and knowledge regarding tenancy preservation, homelessness prevention and housing placement resources offered by city, state and non-profit agencies.
• Conduct workshops on landlord/tenant rights and housing search.
• Attend housing and welfare coalitions as requested by the Director of Housing Stability or their designee.

• Perform work on special initiatives as directed by Director of Housing Stability or their designee.  Special initiatives may include projects such as strengthening our database on regional affordable housing opportunities, proactively working with the Somerville Community Corporation to support OHS’s relatively new contract for tenant education and advocacy and researching best practices on anti-displacement initiatives in other cities, states or nations.

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and three to five (3-5) years’ experience in housing programs; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  Licensed Social Workers (LSW) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge:  Knowledge of and experience with strategies and programs geared toward maintaining and expanding affordable housing opportunities; knowledge of housing income certification process; strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

Abilities:  Ability to meet and deal with the public effectively and appropriately; ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to work independently and set priorities.

Skills:  Excellent organizational skills; excellent data processing skills in the use of personal computers and office software including word processing, data base management, internet and spreadsheet applications; strong skills in oral and written communication; excellent customer service skills.  Bi-lingual or multilingual ability in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Haitian-Creole is desirable.

Work Environment               

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.  During the COVID-19 related shutdown of City buildings, employees may be expected to work remotely or in the office. Must comply with applicable state and local safety precautions in office setting, including wearing personal protective equipment and practicing appropriate social distancing.

Physical and Mental Requirements

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 position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Minimal physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. Work requires some agility such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment or photocopy paper (up to 30lbs.).

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Send your resume and cover letter by August 21, 2020 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.