Title:                    Eligibility Specialist   
 
Program:             Bringing Families Home
 
Reports to:          Program Coordinator
 
Valley Oasis Coordinated Entry System provides comprehensive services designed to address the root cause of poverty and homelessness within SPA 1 of Los Angeles County. Participants may be mentally ill, have intellectual developmental disabilities, substance abuse issues, and chronic medical/physical disabilities, exiting institutions and are homeless. 

The LACDA Eligibility Specialist focuses on families referred by The Los Angeles County Development Authority. These referrals include families enrolled in the child welfare system and who are experiencing homelessness. The LACDA Eligibility Specialist supports with screening, triage, crisis intervention, and transportation services to at-risk and homeless families.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conduct intake and enrollment activities with eligible participants, including assisting participants with gathering other program eligibility documentation, completing project intake forms, authorizations and enrolling into the BFH Program 
• Obtain participant documentation i.e., ID, Social Security cards, birth certificates, income and other eligibility documents.
• Conduct standardized screening and triage families imminently at-risk and homeless
• Screens and immediately addresses safety concerns; families with identified safety concerns such as domestic violence will be immediately connected to a domestic violence shelter provider. 
• Connects families to immediate supportive services, such as mental health, health, substance abuse, childcare, employment, etc.
• Coordinate with the DPSS Homeless Case Manager for initial eligibility assessment of CalWORKs benefits.
• Collaborate with Co-located Mental Health, Substance Abuse and DPSS staff members
• Maintain complete, accurate, and current files with all required documents and data in agency records and electronic database, HMIS. 
• Provide general clerical support, including but not limited to front desk/receptionist, copying, faxing, emailing, sorting, filing, and record keeping
• Pickup orders for staff and deliver to designated parties (i.e., Walmart, staples, Costco etc.)
• Pickup checks and deliver to designated parties
• Pickup documentation from participants and deliver to designated staff
• Responsible for inventory and ordering of office supplies for the program
• Accept deliveries and regular mail and ensure it is delivered to the appropriate staff/program
• Takes minutes during meetings, ensures accuracy and distributes completed minutes in a timely manner
• Assist the management team with correspondence, spreadsheets, fliers, and copying
• Assist management with BFH program data entry and reporting
• Assist with planning, preparation, and onsite support for agency meetings and events.
• Act as alternate to the receptionist as point of contact to coordinate shred box clean out
• Act as alternate to the receptionist as point of contact to schedule printer maintenance and toner replenishment
• Assist staff with Habitability Inspections 
• Transport/accompany participants in agency vehicle to unit search, viewing, lease signing and to various agencies and healthcare providers in the greater Los Angeles area to increase community support services and community reintegration
• Engage effectively and constructively with the program manager to make program refinements in the best interests of the program
• Attends and actively participates in all team, staff and funder meetings
• Maintain confidentiality of participant files per HIPAA and all applicable guidelines
• Document services provided within 24 hours
• Ensure services to participants are reflective of customer choice and emphasize housing first, harm reduction and trauma-informed care models
• Use effective communication skills such as active and reflective listening to build rapport
• Utilize appropriate motivational interviewing interventions to increase positive outcomes
• Liaise with other providers within the agency, as well as outside to formulate strength-based strategies that focus on housing retention and general wellness
• Participate in staff meetings, individual and group supervision, case conferences and training as required
• Be open and flexible to assisting other departments as needed
• Adhere to agency policies and procedures including confidentiality, child abuse reporting, and code of ethics
• Additional tasks, projects and or responsibilities as assigned by Supervisor that are not outlined but which are an important part of the agency’s goals and/or program outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of Housing 1st model, Harm Reduction strategies and Trauma Informed service delivery
• Knowledge of issues facing homeless individuals (e.g., chronic health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse and resources for undocumented individuals)
• Knowledge of resources including legal, medical, housing, educational and social service agencies and other resources in the community
• Ability to maintain a safe environment for participants and their families
• Ability to work well in a crisis situation
• Ability to handle common problems without supervisor intervention while knowing when supervisor participation is warranted
• Work effectively under conditions of limited supervision, high stress and rapidly changing situations and circumstances
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize strong judgement and interpersonal skills to manage sensitive client interactions including with those who may be in distress with acute illness, substance use issues, co-morbidity of behavioral and physical health issues in addition to homelessness
• Effectively work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds in a multicultural environment
• Demonstrate strong front-desk management skills that effectively serve both business visitors and clients
• Project a professional demeanor and a high level of professionalism when dealing with sensitive matters
• Able to take appropriate steps to deal with emergency situations with the goal of maintaining the safety of all participants
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to follow through from beginning to end on tasks
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral; must communicate professionally and positively with participants, co-workers, management, community partners, employers, landlords, and other service providers
• Strict confidentiality must be observed as it relates to participant information, agency business, program decisions and all other personal information
• Promote cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and objective; collaborate with team members, sharing ideas and differences openly; be receptive to new ideas and adapt to change as necessary 
• Considers impact of personal and professional choices. Consistently make decisions in keeping with organizational values and Supervisor’s direction
• Maintain professional boundaries
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing;
• Accountability – be on time for scheduled shifts;
• Be able to read and write English
• Bilingual Preferred but not required

Qualifications & Experience:

• High School Graduate or equivalent
• One-year related office experience in a nonprofit setting as an employee or volunteer
• Experience with homeless, vulnerable and/or diverse population

Agency Requirements:

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License
• Reliable Transportation
• Auto insurance
• Clean Driving Record

Work Conditions & Physical Demands
The following are work conditions that one may encounter in the course of performing their job duties:

• May be in contact with individuals in crisis 
• May experience unpleasant sensory demands associated with an individual’s use of alcohol and drugs, and lack of personal care
• May experience crisis situations and potentially hostile situations, must be ready to respond quickly and effectively. 

An employee is required to:
Walk and climb stairs; Handle, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; extend both arms above the head and/or reach below the waist; Communicate ideas and information verbally and written word; Be able to move oneself quickly and easily from place to place; Repeat various motions with hands, wrists, fingers; Climb on stools, steps and/or ladders; Be subject to outside environmental conditions, including but not limited to: Rain, heat, wind. 
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. If accommodation(s) are required, employee must inform Human Resources by the first week of employment. If an accommodation is not required at the time of employment, but is later required, you must inform Human Resources at the time it is needed. 

Benefits

Health	Employee Assistance Plan	Paid Sick
Dental	AFLAC	Paid Vacation
Vision	Cafeteria 125 Plan	Personal Days
Acupuncture/Chiropractic	Retirement Plan
Life Insurance	14 Observed Holidays

 
Schedule:
Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm (may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends, holidays and/or on call status)
 
Salary Range:
$20.00 - $22.00 per hour
 
An Equal Opportunity Employer: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability.
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