Eligibility Coordinator-Josephine

Full-time, 40 Hours per week

The primary purpose of this position is to develop and provide housing support services for clients with mental illness and make appropriate community referrals to address individual needs of program participants. Provide intake, data collection and verification, eligibility determination, data entry, information and referral, information; maintain files for assistance in acquiring safe, affordable and stable housing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits. These duties are a representative example of position expectations. Actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on the business needs of the department and the agency.

• Interview applicants to determine eligibility for services following program and supervisor guidelines. Explain program, gather and verify information given and determine eligibility for services following guidelines of programs. Assist applicants in completion of applications; process paperwork correctly and in a timely manner; assists program participants in meeting with landlords and understanding lease agreements.

• Assist the participant to assess their need and develop a plan of both short-term and long-term goals and work plan to meet those needs.

• Evaluate participant’s progress from transitional housing and services to self-sufficiency and stabilization. Work with participants to help them develop the skills needed to assume responsibility for choices and progress.

• Provide education on tenant rights and responsibilities, property care, maintenance, and to coordinate other educational services. Provide housing information, community resource identification and referral, networking, linkages and advocacy to other community resources. Work with area landlords to establish partnerships.

• Collect data needed for completion of program reports. Maintain accurate files assuring all information is entered into the program data base in a timely fashion. Provide information and reports to Supervisor as scheduled or requested.

• Assist and Participate in program related events and projects such as warming and cooling center operations, Point in Time events, Partnering events, community outreach and support etc.

• Communicate in a professional, respectful and courteous manner with all employees, clients, the Board of Directors, and others with whom we may work. Contribute to a successful work group and foster a team-oriented culture through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas.

• Drive a company vehicle in the performance of duties. Driving will be required for travel to client homes to perform home visits, and to perform other essential functions as needed.

• Complete designated job tasks, special projects and all other duties as assigned to meet team, department and agency goals while actively demonstrating accountability, high levels of employee engagement, and responsibility for achieving desired outcomes and measurable results.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of supportive housing experience OR satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training.
• At time of appointment, must possess valid driver’s license. Out of state license holders are required to obtain Oregon driver’s license within 30 days of hire. Finalist must provide court print driving record meeting the UCAN Driver Policy requirements as part of contingent offer of employment.
• This position requires skill in record keeping, data entry and use of complex office equipment. This position requires bending, carrying, keyboarding, occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds, pushing, pulling, reaching, sitting, standing, walking and hearing voice conversation. Requires continuous mental and visual attention.
• Candidate will be required to establish and maintain records and have strong written and verbal communication skills. This position requires running reports and statistical data in an independent work environment.
• Background Investigation: The finalist for this position is required to pass a criminal history background as part of a contingent offer of employment. Conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual from employment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Qualified candidates for this position will have relevant education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions and meet the minimum performance expectations for this position with or without an accommodation.

• Considerable knowledge of community housing resources; considerable knowledge of and experience in empowering individuals, understanding of low income/homeless people and the causes of poverty and homelessness; reasonable knowledge of general office practices and procedures; reasonable knowledge of systematic filing and retrieval processes or systems; reasonable knowledge of word processing; reasonable knowledge of English composition, spelling, grammar and arithmetic; basic knowledge of general recordkeeping and bookkeeping processes.
• Skill in working with people in crisis; organizational skills; good record keeping skills. Entering data rapidly and accurately; use of office equipment which includes automated equipment and other copying equipment; organizational skills; use of spreadsheets, MS-Word, and other commonly used computer programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written forms; maintain confidentiality; make decisions independently in accordance with established policies, and use initiative and judgment in carrying out tasks and responsibilities; establish and maintain records, reports and statistical data; represent program in a variety of settings; remain calm and use good judgment during confrontational or high pressure situations; courteously meet and deal effectively with coworkers, families, community partners and the public. Must follow all safety rules and practices, and perform work in a safe manner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The physical effort typically applied in this job includes:

• Bending
• Lifting
• Reaching
• Walking
• Carrying
• Sitting
• Pulling
• Stooping
• Keyboarding
• Pushing
• Standing

The amount of lifting effort typically applied and the percent of time the effort is applied:

• Less than 1 lb. – More than 70%
• Between 1 & 5 lbs. – 40% to 70%
• Between 5 & 25 lbs. – 15% to 40%
• Between 25 & 60 lbs. – Less than 15%
• More than 60 lbs. – Less than 15%

MENTAL OR VISUAL DEMANDS

• This position requires continuous mental and/or visual attention; the work is either repetitive or diversified requiring constant alertness to monitor the production process and/or identify defects.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The kinds of disagreeable elements the employee would typically be exposed to in the work area include:

• Dirt
• Noise
• Heat
• Cold

Description of the physical surroundings or conditions under which the job is typically performed and the extent of exposure to the disagreeable elements noted above:

• Work is typically performed under reasonably good working conditions; while exposure to any or all of the above elements may occur, such exposure is generally not present to the extent of being disagreeable.

AVAILABILITY AND ATTENDANCE

Due to the nature and scope of the essential functions, the importance of personal interactions between this position, employees, clients and other members of the public, and the availability of job-related tools, equipment and resources at work, performance of the essential functions requires regular, consistent and on-site attendance while working independently and with others during our normal business hours.

Hours of work are during normal business hours and may require occasional evenings and weekends.

FLSA STATUS - Non - Exempt

ABOUT UCAN:

United Community Action Network (UCAN) is a poverty fighting non-profit located in Southern Oregon. Founded in 1969 by low-income community organizers, UCAN now operates programming across multiple departments, delivering programs to equip our neighbors experiencing the symptoms of poverty with resources and opportunities to help them reach their full social, civic, and economic potential. Our dedicated and energetic employees provide essential and supportive services to individuals and families. We take pride in caring for our communities each and every day.

UCAN has a generous Benefit Package including:

• Medical Coverage
• Health Savings Account, Health Reimbursement Arrangement, Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Account
• Company paid Dental
• Voluntary Vision insurance,
• Generous leave (PTO),
• Retirement plans,
• Basic Life and Voluntary life insurance,
• Employee assistance program.

UCAN is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate in the terms and conditions of employment against any applicant or current employee on the basis of any status or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

If you require special assistance at any point during the application or selection process and would like to request an accommodation due to a disability, please e-mail a description of your request to Human Resources: [email protected]