Community Specialist

Masis Staffing is seeking a Community Specialist-Homelessness Prevention Advisor – Rental Assistance (Bilingual English/Spanish) $20.50/hour Starts 11/2 or 11/9The Homelessness Prevention Advisor is the “second stop” for clients after they apply for rental assistance at our housing centers. Once an application is submitted, a strict two-week timeline begins. In this back-office “chaser” role, the Homelessness Prevention Advisor ensures each application is complete—confirming all required questions are answered and tracking down the necessary proof/documentation from clients and landlords.Key ResponsibilitiesAssess client needs and provide information, education, and referrals to appropriate community resources as neededDetermine client eligibility for financial assistance under current available housing and rental assistance programsProcess applications for financial assistance services in a timely manner, ensuring strict adherence to deadlinesMaintain complete, accurate case files and ensure all required databases are consistently up to dateEducate consumers on tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities; rental assistance, homebuyer readiness information, and available community resourcesAssist clients with housing search tools/resources, effective problem solving, and options planning in collaboration with department staffSupport tenants in assessing and resolving potential eviction situations; educate clients on eviction processes and (as needed) the housing court systemRefer complex eviction or housing cases to the Housing Resource SpecialistWork collaboratively with the team to coordinate housing-related resources and servicesEnsure timely, effective communication between internal departments to support high-quality client service delivery

The experience expected from applicants, as well as additional skills and qualifications needed for this job are listed below.
Required Skills & QualificationsBilingual English/Spanish strongly preferredStrong customer service skills with a patient, empathetic listening style xzbcwsv (highly preferred)Basic-plus technical skills, including comfort working in multiple systems and tools such as:Multi-layered databases / case management systemsSpreadsheets (data entry)Scanning and document managementWeb-based phone systemsOutlook and Microsoft Teams (chat + virtual meetings)Strong attention to detail and ability to follow up persistently and professionally with clients and landlords to obtain missing documentationAbility to manage deadlines and prioritize tasks in a time-sensitive environment
Work Location & ScheduleFully onsite in Springfield