Domestic Violence Services Housing Coordinator

Position: Domestic Violence Services Housing Coordinator
Reports to: Director of Domestic Violence Services
Position covers: Des Moines County
Salary: $44,000 to $46,200

Job Summary: Supervised by the Director of Domestic Violence Services, the Housing Coordinator assists people who are fleeing domestic violence and/or sexual assault and lack safe, affordable housing. The Housing Specialist will assess each family’s strengths and barriers to housing and, together with the victim/survivor, identify the housing option that best meets the needs of the victim/survivor. The Housing Specialist will also maintain relationships with landlords to ensure that survivors can quickly exit homelessness and maintain their housing. Responsibilities also include providing education about domestic violence and homelessness, and other specific needs resulting from domestic violence through trauma-informed practice.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault certifications are required after appointment to the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for fulfilling the overall mission of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in the provision of services to program participants.
• Assisting survivors/victims with finding and maintaining housing.
• Provide case management for survivors/victims (i.e., assessment, goal planning, regular contacts, and regular in-home visits) to assist them in attaining their goals.
• Provide intervention planning including: collaborating with the victim/survivor to determine their strengths, family involvement needed, safety concerns, short and long-term strategies to achieve housing objectives.
• Connecting survivors/victims to mainstream resources (i.e., FIP, TANF, SSI/D and others).
• Provide advocacy/assistance to help victims/survivors remain safely in their own home, including: rental assistance, legal advocacy, court orders (restraining, no contact, etc.), medical care/behavioral health, life skills, employment, transportation, and emergency assistance.
• Build relationships with landlords to help victims/survivors secure and maintain housing, including: maintaining a housing directory, which should include documentation of all contacts with housing providers.
• Educate clients about tenant responsibilities and rights, financial management, and affordable housing opportunities.
• Mediate landlord-tenant issues.
• Manage multiple sources of funds to assist clients and maintain accurate records of expenditures.
• Maintain working knowledge of the State of Iowa statutes and codes, including services to victims of domestic violence and the landlord/tenant code.
• Participate in continued training as required and other related duties as assigned.
• Work locally to improve access to services for battered women and men and knowledge of battered women’s rights.
• Coordinate follow-up services and activities for adult shelter residents, including organizing daily logging information related to client services, maintaining client files, and organizing and/or completing client orientations.
• Assist with shelter office maintenance, including making copies of forms, cleaning the office, and straightening the desk area.
• Assist in the general upkeep of the facility, including building maintenance, grounds maintenance, security, and the distribution of program donations.
• Document services provided as required.
• Assist with mentoring of new co-workers, volunteers, and interns, providing information about barriers faced by battered women, general operating procedures, crisis intervention, advocacy, and community referrals.

Qualifications – Required:

1. AA degree or equivalent combination of education and experience (Two years of experience as a family or domestic violence case manager in a major social service program may be substituted for one year of college education) .
2. Demonstrated knowledge of domestic violence and systems advocacy.
3. Understanding of issues of cultural and socioeconomic diversity as applied to domestic violence intervention services.
4. Experience in peer advocacy and crisis intervention work.
5. A working knowledge of basic office functions, including word processing and email.
6. Ability to provide confidential services in smaller, rural communities.
7. Be organized and detail-oriented.
8. Ability to work in an independent and self-directed manner.
9. Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
10. Ability to pass an Iowa background, Child Abuse and Sex Offender Registry check.

Qualifications – Desired:

1. Experience working with families and landlords to find housing in private, market-rate rental units. Experience and/or training in landlord-tenant mediation.
2. Strong writing and editing skills.
3. Public speaking skills and the ability to provide training within the scope of employment.
4. Knowledge and understanding of civil and criminal law practice related to domestic violence, particularly housing issues, protection orders, immigration, and divorce.
5. Multilingual.

Related Duties:

1. On-Call.
2. Travel required, with day, weekend, and evening work.
3. Other duties as assigned.

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to: bronisp@dvipiowa.org

This position will remain open until filled.