Stabilization Mentor

Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) transforms lives by helping people move out of poverty and provides other organizations with the tools to do the same. As a leading nonprofit innovator that combines program delivery, independent research, and public advocacy, we offer a wide range of rewarding career opportunities. EMPath is committed to recruiting, hiring, and sustaining a diverse workforce. All qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender expression, sexuality, age, disability or veteran status, are strongly encouraged to apply. We are an EEO/AA/ADA/ADEA employer based in Boston, Massachusetts.

1. POSITION TITLE: Stabilization Mentor 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Some evening hours may be required

2. GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES: The Stabilization Mentor is a member of a dynamic team of mentoring staff working with participants that exit EMPath shelter programs to maintain self-sufficiency and remain stably housed.  Utilizing EMPath’s Mobility Mentoring model, the Stabilization Mentor, as part of this team, is responsible for supporting participants in maintaining permanent housing and making progress towards goals related to economic self-sufficiency.  Mobility Mentoring training is provided.

3. SUPERVISOR:  Coordinator of Stabilization

IV.        ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE JOB:

1. Work with families as part of an interdisciplinary team to develop a stabilization plan that assists each family’s effort to remain stably housed and best meets their economic and stabilization needs
2. Conduct office and home visits to support and assist families in implementing their stabilization plan
3. Engage participants in goal setting and achievement in the program framework of maintaining permanent housing, employment and savings within a one year horizon
4. Successfully transition participants into longer-term mentoring support
5. Provide intervention services to assist families with problem solving, including holding family meetings as appropriate
6. Assist families with all aspects of managing their tenancy, including collaborating with housing team and landlords
7. Provide advocacy, consumer education and crisis management when necessary to prevent housing disruption
8. Develop relationships with community organizations and resources in order to strengthen referral base for families sustaining housing
9. Help families establish, strengthen, and maintain residential stability and connections to their neighborhood, such as connections to schools, employment services, medical providers
10. Monitor families’ progress through documentation and reporting process
11. Participate in all departmental staff and team meetings
12. Participate in supervision and professional development opportunities

V.         KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Experience working in the community with a diverse population, including homeless and formerly homeless families
2. Ability to collaborate with families to develop goals, and to provide clear feedback about progress
3. Ability to complete required documentation in a thorough and timely manner
4. Familiarity with a variety of housing subsidy programs, as well as landlord/tenant rights
5. Ability to communicate effectively; both written and verbal skills
6. Strong organizational, mediation and negotiation skills and abilities
7. Strong computer skills and ability to enter data accurately into electronic outcomes data base
8. Ability to handle a variety of assignments and have the flexibility to work some evenings if necessary

VI. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: 

1. BA or three plus years work experience in human and/or social services field or property management
2. Bi-lingual in Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Cape Verdean Creole preferred.
3. Access to reliable transportation to perform home visits required

Physical Demand/Working Condition:

Requires prolonged sitting, data entry, some bending, stooping and stretching; requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment.  Work is performed in an office and field environment, client apartment and various other locations as needed.  Work can be rewarding, stressful and very fast paced; at times.