Family Advocate-Transitional Housing

Salary: $22-$23/hour, depending on experience
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Reports to: Senior Manager FA-Refugio

Position overview
As part of promoting Esperanza United’s mission, Family Advocates assist women and children who are survivors of domestic violence to develop, pursue, and achieve their goals to live free of violence.

• The transitional housing advocate will be responsible for conducting intake assessments and providing direct advocacy and supportive services to transitional housing participants.
• Primarily working Monday – Friday 8am to 4pm with occasional evening/weekends on special projects

About us
Esperanza United mobilizes Latinas and Latin@ communities to end gender-based violence. Formerly Casa de Esperanza, Esperanza United was founded in 1982 by a small group of persevering Latinas as an emergency shelter in St. Paul, Minnesota. We continue to ground our work in community strengths and wisdom, as we serve Latin@s locally and nationwide.

Core responsibilities
Safety, support, and response (70%)

• Assist adult survivors of domestic violence and their children to identify goals and methods to achieve them
• Provide supportive listening and assist family members to develop and reinforce safety plans
• Provide direct advocacy and supportive services to transitional housing participants
• Provide information about and access to relevant resources such as orders for protection, public benefits, medical care, housing assistance, legal protections, etc.
• Prepare for, provide transportation, and accompany participants to appointments, as needed
• Support survivors with immigration relief measures, especially related to domestic violence
• Intervene on behalf of survivors/families in crisis situations with landlords, employers, creditors, social service caseworkers, attorneys, etc. when necessary
• Answer the 24-hour bilingual crisis line when needed. Provide supportive listening and resource information. Assist survivors in deciding upon a course of action. Arrange for safe shelter and transportation, as needed
• Maintain knowledge of current resources. Help maintain relationships with other organizations, as well as identify new relationships, to maximize benefits and services available
• Keep up to date with organizations to maximize benefits and services available for survivors of domestic violence

Planning, administrative & intervention (30%)

• Conduct intake assessments for individuals referred for transitional housing services
• Coordinate and lead community groups for transitional housing participants
• Assist with developing and implementing policies and procedures related to the transitional housing initiative and coordinate activities with partners
• Develop and maintain relationships with housing resources and services including public housing entities and independent landlords
• Participate in quarterly meetings with partner agencies and organizations
• Participate in outreach to the Latin@ population in the metro area
• Maintain up to date housing related information and resources
• Provide clear and timely data entry and work documentation for reporting purposes and contribute to the analysis of the transitional housing initiative
• Participate in in-service and other job-related training
• Provide training or information on how the lack of affordable housing affects immigrant Latin@s victims of domestic violence
• Perform a variety of administrative duties related to transitional housing such as requesting payments for rent, utilities, etc.

Qualifications

Education and experience

• High school diploma or GED and two years’ experience in an intervention setting OR
• A combination of equivalent experience and education

Skills and abilities

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills in Spanish and English
• Knowledge of the Latina community. Bi-cultural experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of housing resources in the metro area
• Knowledge of domestic violence issues preferred
• Ability to listen, intervene/de-escalate, and resolve conflicts effectively and independently
• Ability to manage multiple priorities to ensure deadlines are met
• Knowledge of and ability to use computers/technical resources to effectively accomplish work
• Flexibility with work schedule and other jobs/academics/responsibilities
• Ability to provide transportation for participants and travel to various locations for meetings or events. A valid driver’s license and adequate auto insurance

Work environment
Esperanza United strives for diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, (dis) ability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, place of residence, political affiliation, veteran status, status regard to public assistance, or any other class protected by local, state, or federal law.

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions and qualifications of this position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this job description

Please apply at out website, copy paste link below:
https://secure5.entertimeonline.com/ta/CBIZ20595.careers?CareersSearch&ein_id=85127564