Community Coordinator - Housing Department, Homelessness Response Division

The City of San Jose Housing Department’s mission is to strengthen and to revitalize the community through housing and neighborhood investments. The Housing Department has funded over 20,000 affordable apartments, oversees the Rent Stabilization Program that provides protection to both renters and mobile homeowners, and is implementing innovative programs to preserve restricted affordable apartments. The Housing Department also strives to make homelessness in San Jose rare, brief, and one-time, through the implementation of the Community Plan to End Homelessness. The Plan is a collaborative public-private partnership with the County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing, the Santa Clara Housing Authority, and Destination: Home, a nonprofit. The Housing Department manages four U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Programs entitlement grants in addition to numerous state and local grant programs. Over the past three years, the Housing Department has played a major role in protecting the City most vulnerable residents by investing over $150 million in funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Housing Department has a capital budget of approximately $333.5 million, an operating budget of $19 million and 109 full-time employees. The Housing Department is committed to creating a welcoming, equitable, and supportive workplace for all employees.

The Housing Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Community Coordinator vacancy in the Homelessness Response Division.

The salary range for this classification is: $92,426.88 - $112,432.32.

This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

This is a limit-dated position that is anticipated to be funded through June 30, 2027, subject to further extension as appropriate. However, should this position be discontinued through the budget process, the City may seek to place you in other internal job opportunities based on your previous work experience. 

The Community Outreach Coordinator is a crucial member of the City's Housing Department, working within the Homelessness Response Team. This role will be assigned a wide range of responsibilities but will focus on the City's broad response to homelessness. This involves coordinating and implementing outreach efforts aimed at addressing the immediate needs of unhoused individuals and families. The position will play a key role in street-based services offering direct client support, crisis response interventions, case management and community engagement regarding homelessness and homeless encampments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct outreach on a proactive basis, responding to community concerns by providing outreach to homeless encampments and addressing the needs and concerns of the community.
• Engage with both housed residents and those experiencing homelessness, fostering relationships, understanding their needs, and linking them to appropriate services.
• Provide case management support. Facilitate access to individualized services, assessments, and shelter and/or housing options, ensuring that responses are timely and effective in addressing the crises of those in need.
• Work closely with other city departments, non-profit organizations, and community partners to coordinate a comprehensive response to homelessness.
• Document all outreach activities and interactions in HMIS, other databases as assigned by the City, maintain records, and prepare reports as needed.
• Assist clients with accessing public benefits and assistance as appropriate.
• Conduct VI-SPDATS assessments to determine client vulnerability, self-sufficiency, and appropriate housing or service program referral and placement.
• Coordinate transportation for clients to shelters or other appropriate destination 
• Respond to crisis related calls/concerns within the same day of the request.
• Performing contact and liaison work in explaining and interpreting City programs.
• Processing reports and data tracking through ERCS and HMIS.
• Coordinating with governmental agencies, local businesses, and City Departments;
• Providing information to residents, housed and experiencing homelessness on accessing City services or other service providers;
• Rendering first aid in case of injury
• May be required to provide bilingual translation, both orally and in writing.
• Make timely and accurate decisions in emergencies or crises with particular awareness of the need for the safety of all clients, staff, or volunteers involved.

Schedule:

This is a full-time position, typically scheduled Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM. However, flexibility is required as the role may involve early morning, evening, or weekend work depending on the nature of community concerns and outreach activities.

Education: Completion of two (2) years of course work at an accredited college or university, including courses in social science.

Experience: Three (3) years of experience in work concerned with the improvement of inter-group relations, delinquency or homeless prevention, public health, youth or social development, or, involvement in blight reduction or community safety programs.

Acceptable Substitution: Additional related experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Required Licensing: Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California.

The ideal candidate will possess the most desirable combination of training, skills, and experience, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable experience, knowledge, and skills for this position include:

• Knowledge of national best practices in providing homeless services, and experience with government programs transitioning homeless into transitional and permanent affordable housing.
• Five years’ direct experience providing services to the homeless community.
• Ability to establish excellent working relationships with external organizations, City staff, homeless populations, and key stakeholders.
• Ability to carry out detailed analytical assignments and to make sound judgments and recommendations.
• Ability to coordinate all resources (case management, subsidies, and housing units) for a homelessness reduction program. 
• Ability to organize work effectively and to successfully manage multiple projects and processes, including preparing complex reports for City executive staff and City Council, and to meet deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent oral communication skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to provide leadership to ensure that the programs/projects are run in an effective and efficient manner and that employees are positively motivated.
• Positive attitude and desire to learn the City’s approach to affordable housing.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history:

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Collaboration - Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Selection Process: 

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Ginger Quijano at [email protected].