Housing And Maintenance Specialist

Full job description The Housing and Maintenance Specialist aids newly arrived refugees to ensure the best possible initial resettlement experience and the achievement of client self-sufficiency in both housing and business settings. In coordination with the Resettlement team, the Housing and Maintenance Specialist oversees the provision, procurement, and quality control of pre-arrival and post-arrival resettlement goods and services for newly arrived refugees according to established federal guidelines. The Housing and Maintenance Specialist will be responsible for locating housing for new arrivals and ensuring that God Is Good Foundation clients receive appropriate furnishings and ensuring the set up of housing. The Housing and Maintenance Specialist will also be responsible for maintenance of the building and grounds of God Is Good Foundation and company-held properties. The Housing and Maintenance Specialist also participates, as required, in program planning and service developments through teams, committees, and workgroups.
Agency Profile Founded in 2009 God Is Good Foundation is a Christian religious ministry in Evansville, IN. GIG conducts Christian religious services, Christian faith-based ministry activities which serves our community, and missions activities globally.
GIG is also a local affiliate of Church World Service (CWS), one of ten national voluntary agencies authorized to provide resettlement services to refugees admitted to the United States through the State Department's Refugee Admissions Program. GIG follows state, national, and federal guidelines in serving refugees. As such, all religious activities are conducted at a different time and or place than refugee services. GIG staff and volunteers do not engage in any religious messaging in connection to delivery of refugee services.
In addition to refugees, GIG serves Afghan, Ukrainian and Cuban parolees, and individuals from various countries who have been approved for, or are applying for, asylum. GIG secures housing and medical care for refugees and provides them with comprehensive case management including employment services, ESL and cultural orientation, and specialized programs for refugee youth and elders and the arts. GIG also offers citizenship classes for immigrants preparing to apply for naturalization.
Major Responsibilities: Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Property Management and Vendor Relations: · Conduct ongoing outreach to current and potential landlords and property managers, building strong working relationships with the goal of increasing access to housing for refugee families and to coordinate client home repair requests as needed. Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations to support a positive resettlement experience.
· Regularly visit apartment complexes to ensure housing meets the minimum standards as laid out in federal regulations.
· Update the current housing resource tracking sheet on regular bases.
· Handle all scheduling with outside vendors
· Oversee adequate completion of work
Client Services: · Research and secure safe, appropriate, and affordable housing for refugees prior to their arrival in the US.
· Prepare and plan temporary housing such as hotel or Airbnb in case of delayed permanent housing upon arrival.
· Coordinate with US Ties, complete assistance agreement, and maintain ongoing communication regarding arrivals.
· Coordinate all aspects of new arrival's airport pick-ups including communicating arrival information to Case Workers, informing staff of changes, and assisting volunteers when they participate in the new arrival process.
· Organize and oversee the setup of housing for refugees, including coordinating the signing of leases.
· Ensure accuracy and completion of leases maintained in client case files are following IRC policies.
· Ensure client fully understands the lease term and conditions (provide interpretation if needed), and client attains a copy of the signed lease
· Ensure compliance with case files management and reporting requirements.
· Arrange the logistics of new arrival home set-ups, including furniture orders and delivery, planning and placing purchase orders, and establishment of utility connections and home safety inspections. ?
· Prepare to provide Hot and ready to eat meals for all case members upon arrival, also purchase food necessities for first week of arrival and continue as needed.
Maintenance: · Creates and follows maintenance calendar
· Performs a variety of skilled and semiskilled work in the maintenance and repair of God Is Good Foundation owned buildings and grounds, housing and properties.
· Performs, assists or oversees carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical work.
· Performs, assists or oversees with building alterations.
· Performs, assists or oversees heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems maintenance and repairs.
· Performs, assists or oversees work involved in the cleaning and care of the buildings and facilities.
· May maintain assigned areas of buildings and facilities in a clean, orderly and safe condition.
· Moves and arranges furniture and equipment.
· Takes care of equipment and materials used in work assignments.
· Mows and edges lawns and other grounds areas.
· Trims trees, shrubs and hedges.
· Waters ground areas.
· Operates a variety of irrigation equipment.
· Does landscaping and gardening.
· Participates in the repair and remodeling of buildings.
· Assists with the inspection of buildings and facilities for needed repairs.
· Uses and operates a variety of hand and power tools.
· Learns to use electrical testing and other specialized testing equipment.
· Completes and maintains records and reports.
Compliance Documentation: · Prepare and complete pre-arrival documentation for client case files
· Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date case-note/service logs containing detailed information about service provision.
· Ensure compliance with case file management and reporting requirements or OSHA standards, including timely data entry in hard-copy files and electronic databases.
TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Frequently sit for extended periods; stand and walk or crouch on narrow, slippery, and erratically moving surfaces; stoop, kneel, bend to pick up or move objects, office equipment, and furniture; physical ability may occasionally be required to lift up to 100 lbs. without assistance; physical ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 150 pounds with assistance; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of lawn mowing equipment, hand and power tools, electrical testing equipment, and a variety of building trades, tools, and equipment.
TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS A combination of standard office environment and 'field' time in and around the service delivery area. Work is performed both in office and outdoor environments; some measure of lifting and moving furnishings, connection with property managers, US Ties, clients, and volunteers, some exposure to varying temperatures; exposure to dust, steam, controlled and hazardous substances, pesticides, herbicides, gases, and chemicals; working around an electrical current, and moving machinery parts; some contact with staff and the public.
Typical hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00. Some measure of evenings or weekends may be required dependent on maintenance needs or to finalize housing set up.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: · Basic knowledge of carpentry, electrical, and plumbing trades.
· Standard tools, methods, practices, and materials involved in one of the building trades such as carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical.
· Safe work practices.
· Methods and practices followed in the maintenance of tools, machinery, and equipment.
· Occupational hazards and safety precautions of the building maintenance trades.
Ability to: · Work well with individuals who speak limited English
· Take initiative to ensure that housing and maintenance needs are completed within established deadlines
· Learn to perform a wide range of skilled and semi-skilled building trades work.
· Learn applicable provisions of building, electrical, and plumbing codes.
· Use a variety of building trades tools and equipment.
· Recognize and locate conditions which require maintenance and repair work.
· Use and care for hand and power tools utilized in the building trades.
· Estimate time and materials needed to perform maintenance, construction, and repair jobs.
· Follow written and oral instructions.
· Read and write English. Bi-lingual a plus
· Perform arithmetic calculations at the level necessary for satisfactory job performance.
· Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
Team/Office Participation: · Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and other duties as assigned by the Resettlement Mangar.
· Supervise and train a team of volunteers and interns working either directly with clients in the office on a variety of organizational and administrative tasks.
· Work as part of a team to provide comprehensive strength-based services to IRC clients through coordination of cases and effective communication between team members and departments.
· Comply with all policies, procedures and protocols of the agency.
Job Requirements: · Use personal, insured vehicle, and/or the ability to operate a passenger van to travel and transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area.
· Ability to operate box trucks as needed.
Work Arrangements and Location GIG staff are currently required to work in-person, either in the office or the field.
Compensation and Benefits Non-exempt position, 20 hours per week. Pay based on background and experience. To Apply Interested applicants should reply with a résumé and cover letter to
Barb Bias
Executive Director/CEO
God Is Good Foundation
900 S. Barker Ave.
Evansville, IN 47712
Email:
Those who have previously applied for a position at GIG are eligible to reapply. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $17.00 per hour
Expected hours: 20 per week
Benefits:
Paid time off Schedule:
8 hour shift Monday to Friday On call Weekends as needed Application Question(s):
Moving furniture is required for this job position. Are you physically able to safely lift up to 100 lbs? Experience:
Maintenance: 1 year (Required) License/Certification:
Driver's License (Required) Work Location: In person