Consumer Housing Specialist

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Job description

SUMMARY:

The Consumer Housing Specialist's goal is to maintain, improve, and assist service recipient access to safe, affordable and permanent housing. The role will also help to address the stigma related to mental health, substance use and co-occurring disorders. This is a consumer driven positon which means the Specialist should have lived experience with mental health disorder, substance use disorders, and/or homelessness. The service area is East Tennessee which includes Knoxville and the surrounding counties as well as the 8 counties of Northeast Tennessee.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Bachelor Degree required; High School Diploma with 5 years relevant experience considered.

Licensure: N/A

Certification: Certified Peer Support Specialist or eligible within 18 months

Experience: Experience with direct care preferred and/or experience working in the community

Knowledge/Skills: Ability to maintain composure in difficult situations, verbal and written communication skills, able to utilize zoom, web ex and other communication platforms, able to utilize Microsoft products for reporting and educating..

EQUIPMENT:

Computer, fax, copier, motor vehicle, and other equipment required to perform the functions of the position.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Responsible for working independently
2. Must be able to safely drive a company care and maintain a safe driving record.
3. Record/chart pertinent information and observations regarding discussions, plans, progress, strengths, needs, abilities and preferences in regards to community housing options.
4. Update the Recovery within Reach website regarding housing and housing related support information.
5. Assist consumers in learning about and accessing safe, affordable, and quality permanent housing through with community partners.
6. Attend and participate in CHI related meetings, regional Mental Health Planning and Policy Council meetings and other mental health related and recovery-oriented community meetings where the goals of the TDMHSAS Housing and Homeless Services can be advanced.
7. Make educational presentations on CHI 1 and CHI 2 to appropriate audiences (mental health consumers, consumers' families, peer support centers, supportive living facilities, residential treatment facilities, etc.)
8. After completing training, assists consumers in accessing appropriate Social Security benefits by referring to or implementing the SOAR initiative (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery).
9. Submit quarterly reports to regional Housing Facilitator and to the State's Director of Housing and Homeless Services; describe the activities of the quarter.
10. Gather and distribute, as appropriate, information about resources and barriers in the communities served.
11. All other duties as assigned.