Housing Placement Specialist, Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect

Hebrew SeniorLife employees set the highest standard in our commitment to redefine the experience of aging. With compassion, resilience, and determination, we make a difference in the lives of patients, residents, their families, and the broad senior care community every day. And they in ours as well. These life-changing connections give our work meaning and fuel our desire to advance our potential. To be all that we can be. At Hebrew SeniorLife, that’s uniquely possible. Because here we’re supported to always keep growing. And as we do, so does our collective impact.

Our benefits include:

• Excellent medical and dental benefits, available on your first day for positions over 24 hours/week
• A 403b retirement plan open to all employees, including per diems
• Generous paid time off
• On-site health and wellness programming
• Tuition reimbursement and scholarships
• An employee recognition program

The Housing Placement Specialist is primarily responsible for providing trauma-informed, person-centered housing placement and stabilization services to clients served by Hebrew SeniorLife’s (HSL) Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect (CPEAN).  The Housing Placement Specialist will also be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with CPEAN’s community partners and referral sources as well as affordable senior housing providers and communities across Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, and educating seniors and community stakeholders and advocates about access to affordable senior housing.  The role is hands-on, with both micro-level and macro-level work.

Launched in 2018, CPEAN provides safe shelter and services for seniors suffering from abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, and works to prevent elder abuse by increasing awareness and providing education. CPEAN operates the first and only emergency shelter program in Massachusetts exclusively for seniors, and is funded largely by philanthropy.

The Housing Placement Specialist is a part-time position (40-50% FTE, with off-hours flexibility preferred), dependent upon candidate preference and experience.  Hybrid opportunity with primary office location at Bridge Street, and expected routine travel to other HSL sites and non-HSL locations across the Greater Boston area.

• Perform person-centered, trauma-informed housing needs assessments for all CPEAN referrals
• Assist clients in gathering or obtaining necessary documents required to secure permanent housing
• Provide direct service to clients including but not limited to: accompanying clients to appointments, assisting clients with completing housing applications (paper and electronic)
• Facilitate transition to post-CPEAN stabilized housing and perform person-centered, trauma-informed post-transition assessments and follow-up visits
• Conduct outreach to landlords, management companies, brokers, and other real estate parties to build relationships and expand housing resources
• Cultivate collaborative relationships with community partners that routinely encounter vulnerable seniors in need of stabilized housing, e.g. AgeStrong, MetroHousing, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Hearth, Inc., and Adult Protective Services agencies
• Work collaboratively with legal counsel as needed to advocate for clients’ housing rights (e.g. accompanying clients to Housing Court, representing clients in administrative appeals of housing application denials, etc.)
• Create and deliver (likely with CPEAN colleagues and/or community partners) educational presentations and trainings on topics of interest
• Create, review and enhance CPEAN standardized documentation, policies and protocols around post-CPEAN housing placement and stabilization services
• Participate in CPEAN donor events and funding solicitations as needed
• Represent CPEAN in housing-related committee and coalition meeting to receive updates and trends in housing, report on challenges and explore resources
• Perform other related duties as assigned or as responsibilities dictate.

• Bachelors’ degree, or a combination of education and experience that is functionally equivalent. Graduate degree in social services or related field a plus.
• Experience navigating the affordable housing landscape in Greater Boston (both private and public housing) and knowledge of housing subsidies; familiarity with senior housing providers (both market-rate and affordable) a plus.
• Must have a demonstrated passion for working with seniors; experience working with seniors from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds a plus.
• Knowledge of safety planning, trauma-informed services, and person-centered care/services, or willingness to learn through focused training opportunities.
• Familiarity with the state Adult Protective Services system a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to details, and strong follow up skills
• Ability to be self-directed and highly motivated
• Computer literacy; experience with Windows, Word, Power Point, Excel and Zoom.
• Must be able to travel by car to locations throughout Greater Boston and Eastern MA.