Statement of Duties

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. The Office of Housing Stability is committed to the principle that safe, affordable housing should be a human right accessible to all. OHS seeks applicants that share this vision and a passion for housing justice.

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, legal services, housing search assistance, income maximization and other identified services to promote long term housing stability.
Maintain client file notes and databases to track work performed 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 nonprofit agencies.
Conduct workshops on landlord/tenant rights and housing search.
Attend housing and welfare coalition meetings as requested by the Director of Housing Stability or their designee.
As assigned perform e-duty to address emergencies and walk-in duty to respond to residents walking into the office without a pre-set appointment.
Actively participate in staff meetings, retreats, trainings, and other OHS activities.
Conduct workshops for Somerville residents, landlords and/or agency staff.
Perform work on special initiatives as directed by Director of Housing Stability or their designee. Special initiatives may include, but are not limited to projects to improve OHS’ internal procedures and protocols, projects relating to the cultivation of OHS relationships with landlords and realtors, performing or planning workshops and the like.

Minimum Qualifications:

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 and promoting tenants’ housing stability; knowledge of housing income certification process; strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Docs.

Ability: 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 work with clients who are experiencing stress attendant to housing instability or other crises which affect their ability to maintain housing stability; 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, database management, internet and spreadsheet applications; strong skills in oral and written communication; excellent customer service skills. Ability to speak Portuguese is strongly preferred and ability to speak Spanish is preferred.

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. 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.

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $66,244.85 annualized + benefits
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: October 11, 2024

Preference will be given to applications submitted by November 1st.

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. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Long term disability through Sun Life
Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
Annual cancer screening & wellness release
Somerville Retirement Pension System
Tuition reimbursement
MBTA pass program
FREE Blue Bikes membership
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.

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Housing Case Manager and Special Initiatives