Somerville is a city that upholds progressive principles for both employees and residents. The City of Somerville embraces and encourages an innovative, empowering, and collaborative workplace culture in a fast-paced, challenging environment. The City also offers a generous benefits package that embodies a strong work-life balance. Not only is Somerville a “Model City,” as termed by The Boston Globe, but it is also a model employer.
Statement of Duties
Under the direct supervision of the Director of Housing Stability or their designee, the Housing Case Manager and Communications Liaison 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 work with the Communications Department to develop on-line and print materials for publicity regarding the services available through the Office of Housing Stability.
Essential Functions
- 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, owners and landlords to facilitate housing placement for at-risk and displaced tenants.
- Develop relationships and work with staff from other City departments to coordinate housing and services for at-risk or displaced tenants.
- Provide information and answer inquiries to landlords and tenants and other constituents regarding housing matters.
- Provide direct advocacy and case management to residents seeking housing assistance, 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.
- Develop social media content, web content and publicity materials in collaboration with the Communications Department of the City of Somerville.
- Perform related work as directed by Director of Housing Stability or their designee.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree and three to five (3-5) years’ experience in supportive 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; knowledge of other graphic design and communication software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and social media applications is desirable.
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.
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.
Application Procedure:
Send your resume and cover letter by Tuesday, December 11, 2018 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.
Hours: Full Time
Salary: $61,200.00 a year plus benefits