Overview: Beyond Housing is a nationally recognized community development organization that works to strengthen families and transform underserved communities to create a stronger, more equitable, and prosperous St. Louis region for all. We engage where we’re needed, focusing on building consensus among leaders, providing and preserving housing, fostering community structures that shape lives, and guiding systems that make people’s lives better.
We lead with vision for what a community can be ~ every community is different, but thriving communities tend to share the same basic set of positive traits regarding housing, safety, education, health, infrastructure, and access to basic human services.
We bring together leaders and resources, volunteers, and citizens, and pursue a wide assortment of creative approaches to build stronger, healthier communities for life.
Finally, we are community builders, not kingdom builders. “It’s their neighborhood, future, & dreams”. Our objective is to help build and contribute the good things we do for the sake of adding value to the lives of the people we’re honored to serve.
Position Summary: The Financial Empowerment Specialist will work within the Housing Resource Coordination (HRC) department providing transformational and holistic case management related to financial coaching for housing stability and goal achievement. The goal is to bridge low to moderate income rental housing clients to homeownership, building generational wealth and strong communities. Services include budget and credit counseling, emergency savings, action planning, progress motivation, and follow up.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Create a mutually developed SMART goal of Financial Management.
- Conduct a comprehensive individual one-on-one advising session reviewing client’s personal hardships, finances, and self-identified goals.
- Maintain schedule of appointments for counseling sessions including client follow up and contact to ensure client is working toward their identified housing goals.
- Use motivational interviewing to engage client.
- Model techniques from Your Money, Your Goals curriculum and NeighborWorks Financial Capability Program.
- Maintain and update client records after each counseling session and engagement.
- Ensure that quality control measures are followed, and that client satisfaction is a priority.
- Must be knowledgeable about community resources and partnerships to utilize as referral sources.
- Referrals can include additional resources for credit disputes, in depth financial planning, and tools for incentivized savings.
- Must be able to create and foster relationships with clients, building trust and confidence.
- Follow up as needed, to monitor client’s needs and/or to determine the quality of the services that were provided.
- Manage current and future Emergency Matched Savings (EMS) funds.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Caseload of approximately 100 clients; with 2,600 annual engagements.
Personal Qualities:
- Collaborative — A dynamic personality that is collaboratively minded, can recognize and identify strengths, seek consensus around mutual goals, and build meaningful relationships.
- Creative and Curious — A systems-thinker and builder, who is not afraid to be innovative in designing solutions and has skills in articulating these ideas and concepts.
- Methodical — Strong analytical, systems, and problem solving skills to evaluate performance, prepare reports, and recommend/implement solutions using independent judgment. Ability to move from concepts to action through strong program design and evaluation.
- Reliable — Leadership skills that reflect and value a team approach, demonstrated integrity, effectiveness, efficiency, and the ability to deliver high quality service. Highly capable of handling multiple tasks, projects and timelines. Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Trusted — Ability to work with residents, partners, and staff of diversified backgrounds with a positive, optimistic, solutions oriented attitude. Shares a deep respect for the community, its stakeholders and the residents that we serve.
- Driven — Passion for the work and an interest in continuous learning and improvement.
Preferred Experience and Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED required. B.S.W. preferred.
- HUD certified counselor preferred
- Computer literacy including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Apricot or Salesforce database experience preferred.
- Ability to coordinate external providers of services and to cultivate new providers.
- Able to compose correspondence that is grammatically correct with accurate spelling and punctuation.
- Ability to perform multiple tasks requiring considerable exercise of independent judgment.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and as productive team member.
- Ability to identify internal weaknesses, identify solutions, and to adapt procedures and protocols to create more efficient systems and more effective resident outcomes.
Supervisor:
- Housing Resource Manager
Salary and Benefits:
- Full-time hourly position with benefits for full-time position as determined in current Beyond Housing Employee Handbook
- Salary – $44,000.00
Application Instructions: Please send resume, cover letter, and salary expectations in MS Word format toHR@beyondhousing.org
Beyond Housing believes that each individual is unique, and we are committed to respecting the diversity of all individuals. We strive to move beyond simple tolerance, embracing and celebrating the differences contained within each of us, making us stronger as whole.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Beyond Housing is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
ADA – Beyond Housing is committed to furthering the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The company is always willing to consider reasonable accommodations, which may allow a disabled person to perform this or any other job. The Summary of Physical Requirements is a list of what we believe at this point to be necessary in order to perform the essential functions of the job.
Diversity & Inclusion Statement at Beyond Housing, we are committed to promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity throughout our organization and culture. We strive to understand and appreciate the individuality of every employee and create a better place to work for all. We nurture a culture where everyone positively acknowledges equity through action and is aware, understanding, and appreciative of diversity.
Our vision is to go beyond simple tolerance and fully embrace the things that make each person unique. We recognize that our employees’ differences support our ability to advance equity for the communities we serve. Further, we understand that equity is critical to the fulfillment of our mission to help entire communities become better places to live.
