top of page

JOIN US

   

Housing Stability Specialist position

 

Founded in 2008, ProsperityME is a growing 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Portland, Maine.

  ProsperityME empowers, through education and counseling, members of refugee and immigrant communities to         invest in themselves to build financial stability, careers, businesses and wealth.

 ProsperityME offers financial education services including financial literacy courses, one-on-one financial counseling and  coaching. We also provide support for higher education, security deposit assistance for housing, small business counseling, emergency rental assistance, unemployment navigation services, and workforce development. ProsperityME’s services are open to all refugees, immigrants, asylees, and other individuals with low-income in Greater Portland and Lewiston/Auburn, Maine. Emergency Rental Assistance services are offered in Cumberland and York counties.

​

The Housing Stability Specialist position is a professional position which contributes to the community by supporting Rental Assistance Specialists with assisting tenants and landlords needing emergency rent relief. The HSS provides serves as an entry point that tenants/landlords who apply for the emergency rental assistance program may need to stay housed. The HSS will coordinate access and referrals to the needed housing stability services for individuals and families facing housing instability in their rental housing. The HSS will work with agencies that provide housing services and adhere to Federal and State guidelines, while maintaining strong, open communication and excellent follow through.

 

The position requires considerable discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Duties & Responsibilities:

​

1. Direct client assistance

· Application assistance for the various housing programs based on client needs

· Housing counseling, including financial/budget management and tenant rights

· Supportive conversations with tenants and landlords to assist with reaching agreements on past due rent and/or addressing unsafe housing conditions.

· Work with other service providers on housing navigations if/when another rental is needed

· Provide referrals to and help with filling out application for additional service needs in-house and to outside social service agencies

· Acts as liaison between various partners and manages client referrals as needed.

· Work with rental assistance agencies to provide resource information to individuals, and to negotiate and assess local mainstream resources.

​

2. Collaborative Community Relationships:

· Provide outreach to community-based networks and committees.

· Provide outreach to community service providers including Ethnic and Culturally Based Organizations, landlord associations, financial and legal assistance resources.

​

3. Planning and documentation

· Conduct risk assessment for client’s housing instability;

· Develop and update client’ housing stability planning;

· Maintain client case file for record and perform clerical work;

· Collect data to reflect performance measures;

· Prepare and update periodic reports for documenting progress and organization’s impact.

​

4. Financial Education

  • Schedule classes and provide instruction for ProsperityME courses and other ProsperityME workshops including but not limited to housing, job readiness, and digital literacy.

  • Collaborate with the marketing team to advertise classes in a timely manner.

  • Maintain the student database, maintain attendance records, and collect course surveys and demographic information at the beginning and end of every class.

  • Promote ProsperityME’s programs and services through community outreach.

  • Deliver specific workshops and cultural orientations to New Mainers.

  • Prepare lesson plans, revise curriculum according to the needs of the organization.

  • Meet clients who need basic financial orientation.

 

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree required. BA in Finance or related field preferred.

  • Thorough understanding of Housing programs required.

  • Thorough understanding of personal finance knowledge required.

  • Experience working with minorities, immigrant and refugee communities preferred.

  • Strong Computer skills required (Microsoft Office, database management)

  • Must be proficient in English, French and at least one of the following: Arabic, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi/Kinyamulenge.

  • Must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to present course material in a professional manner using adult education principles.

  • Maine Driver’s License required and must be willing to travel to Portland, Lewiston, and surrounding areas.

  • ​

Job Type: Full-time

​

Benefits:

  • 401(k)

  • 401(k) matching

  • Dental insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Life insurance

  • Paid time off

 

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift

  • Monday to Friday

 

Ability to commute/relocate:

  • Portland, ME 04101: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

​

Experience:

  • Case management: 1 year (Preferred)

 

Work Location: One location

bottom of page