Homeless Action Center (HAC) is a community-based legal services program founded in 1990 to provide legal services to homeless people in Alameda County. Over time, HAC’s specialty became public benefits advocacy, with a focus on Social Security disability benefits. The process of qualifying for disability benefits can be lengthy and difficult. Employing a client-centered focus and harm reduction principles, Staff Attorneys and Advocates work closely with other legal services programs and social services programs to assist clients in meeting their emergency and longer-term needs during this process. HAC represents over 2,000 clients at a time. Please refer to www.homelessactioncenter.org.
HAC is beginning a pilot program to reunify families with people involved in the criminal justice system. This pilot will provide a $600 rental payment to family members, including family of choice, who are able to house SSI Advocacy clients coming out of incarceration who are experiencing homelessness. The family member will agree to provide a room in a house or apartment for their justice-involved tenant. Families will receive a one-time, $1,000 rehousing payment to help cover the incidental costs of bringing a tenant into their home. While the client is awaiting SSI approval HAC will pay $600 a month in rent. After the client is awarded SSI the tenant will pay the rent directly to their family member. HAC is looking for someone to provide administrative support to this project.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The duties and responsibilities for the Administrative Assistant position include but not limited to:
- Maintaining records of clients enrolled in the project;
- Ensuring clients retain eligibility;
- Issuing checks for move-in costs, ongoing monthly rental subsidy, and other approved costs;
- Distributing checks;
- Ensuring quality data collection and accurate documentation;
- Participating in related program, agency, and community meetings as assigned;
- Communicating and working well with a small team of colleagues assigned to this project;
- Communicating with clients enrolled in the project and families/friends of clients enrolled;
- Treating all participants with dignity and respect.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- A clear understanding of, and the ability to demonstrate, professional ethics, boundaries, and judgment;
- Integrity to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner and to follow the confidentiality practices of a law office;
- Attention to detail;
- Proficient in Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Word.
- Ability to work independently but willing to ask for help or clarification as much as needed;
- Initiative, flexibility, and the capacity to respond effectively in all situations;
- Strong organizational skills;
- The necessary attitudes, knowledge, and skills to demonstrate cultural humility, deliver culturally competent services, and work effectively in cross-cultural situations;
- Understanding of and enthusiasm for employing harm reduction principles in dealing with issues arising from substance use, mental illness, homelessness, and incarceration.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Frequent: bending, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, and walking.
- Intermittent lifting, pushing, and pulling. Frequent repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
- The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and extensive reading.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Contact with clients who may have behavioral and psychiatric problems including shouting, use of profanity, and inappropriate behavioral choices;
- Supervision: assigned duties according to specified procedures and receives detailed instructions. Work is reviewed frequently. The employee performs a variety of routine work within established policies and procedures, and receives instructions on assignments, new policies, or projects;
- Our offices have open spaces, and thus can be loud and chaotic. While we are a working law office, the layout, as well as the nature of our work, can mean that it is louder than a “typical” office space;
- We have animals – cats and dogs – in our offices;
- May include contact with clients with mental health issues who demonstrate behaviors such as use of profanity, shouting, running away, self-harm and violence;
- Occasional need to interact with clients that may be expressing anger both appropriately and inappropriately;
- The worker is occasionally exposed to perfume or scents in personal care products used by employees, clients, and visitors;
- The worker is occasionally exposed to cleaning products;
- The work environment may include local traveling using various modes of transportation;
- The work environment may include driving an agency vehicle.
SALARY & BENEFITS:
- The starting salary for this position is $64,272. Salary scales are reviewed annually. This is a full-time hourly nonexempt position;
- Employer-paid insurance: health, vision, and dental, as well as $50,000 basic term life insurance policy, long-term disability insurance, and employee assistance program. Coverage 100% employer paid for employee only; employee may purchase coverage for spouse and/or dependents through HAC. Additional optional life insurance, short-term disability, accident, and critical illness plans available;
- Subsidy for Commuter Check program;
- Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) in the amount of $200 subsidy per month for all staff who have student loans, regardless of salary or loan amount;
- 403(b) account available with employer contribution of up to 4% of annual salary;
- Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and list of three references IN ONE PDF DOCUMENT to recruitment@homelessactioncenter.org.
DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
HAC is committed to providing equal employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, legal domicile status, veteran status, disability or AIDS/HIV status or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law.