HOUSING SOLUTIONS SPECIALIST/CONTINUUM OF CARE
Job Location:

Address: 1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 280, Phoenix, Arizona 85007
This position may offer the ability to work remotely, in Arizona, to include in-office hoteling, based on the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. Must have the ability to commute and utilize our Phoenix office hoteling space as needed.

Posting Details:

Salary: $72,000 - $90,000 Grade: 24
Salary determined by experience.
Position will remain open until business needs are met.

Job Summary:

The Housing Solutions Division was developed to enable the agency to address the housing needs of populations that require a more comprehensive approach to housing stability beyond affordable housing options. These populations have been identified as those diagnosed with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI), those suffering from Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and those chronically resistant to treatment, persons and families who are homeless, homeless persons with disabilities, homeless seniors sixty-two (62) and older, homeless veterans, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and victims of domestic violence.

To address the needs of these specialty populations, Housing Solutions oversees a combination of federal and state funds via the Arizona Balance of State Continuum of Care (AZBOSCOC), and State Housing Trust Funds. These programmatic funds are granted out to direct service providers on a competitive basis providing funding support in the areas of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Rapid Rehousing (RRH), Transitional Housing (TH), Emergency Shelter Operations, and Supportive Services (SS). Competitive funding may also support the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of properties to enable the continued service of homeless populations.

Arizona Balance of State Continuum of Care (AZBOSCOC)

The Arizona Department of Housing serves as the Collaborative Applicant and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead agency for the Balance of State Continuum of Care which oversees the 13 counties and tribal nations outside of Maricopa and Pima counties in Arizona. A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a community-wide coordination system designed to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people experiencing homelessness as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency.

The Continuum of Care was established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enable localities to apply to the federal government for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act competitive grant funding. This process brings together local governments, community partners, faith-based organizations, non-profits, and current and/or formerly homeless persons to develop solutions to end homelessness. On an annual basis, the agency applies for competitive funding from HUD for projects and programs that are identified as priority needs through the Continuum of Care Program. ADOH then acts as the administering agency for grants that are granted to the participating Subrecipients. On average, ADOH secures $7M annually in federal funding for transitional and permanent housing programs within the Balance of State geographic region.

Incumbents may be required to perform other job-related tasks other than, or in addition to those presented in this description.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, in Arizona, to include in-office hoteling, based on the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. Must have the ability to commute and utilize our Phoenix office hoteling space as needed.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, shall be performed within Arizona.

Job Duties:

The Housing Solutions Division was developed to enable the agency to address the housing needs of populations that require a more comprehensive approach to housing stability beyond affordable housing options. These populations have been identified as those diagnosed with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI), those suffering from Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and those chronically resistant to treatment, persons and families who are homeless, homeless persons with disabilities, homeless seniors sixty-two (62) and older, homeless veterans, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and victims of domestic violence.

To address the needs of these specialty populations, Housing Solutions oversees a combination of federal and state funds via the Arizona Balance of State Continuum of Care (AZBOSCOC), and State Housing Trust Funds. These programmatic funds are granted out to direct service providers on a competitive basis providing funding support in the areas of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Rapid Rehousing (RRH), Transitional Housing (TH), Emergency Shelter Operations, and Supportive Services (SS). Competitive funding may also support the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of properties to enable the continued service of homeless populations.

Arizona Balance of State Continuum of Care (AZBOSCOC)

The Arizona Department of Housing serves as the Collaborative Applicant and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead agency for the Balance of State Continuum of Care which oversees the 13 counties and tribal nations outside of Maricopa and Pima counties in Arizona. A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a community-wide coordination system designed to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people experiencing homelessness as they move to stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency.

The Continuum of Care was established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enable localities to apply to the federal government for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act competitive grant funding. This process brings together local governments, community partners, faith-based organizations, non-profits, and current and/or formerly homeless persons to develop solutions to end homelessness. On an annual basis, the agency applies for competitive funding from HUD for projects and programs that are identified as priority needs through the Continuum of Care Program. ADOH then acts as the administering agency for grants that are granted to the participating Subrecipients. On average, ADOH secures $7M annually in federal funding for transitional and permanent housing programs within the Balance of State geographic region.

On behalf of the Arizona Balance of State Continuum of Care (AZBOSCOC), and reporting to the Housing Solutions Administrator, the Housing Solutions Specialist, Continuum of Care position will oversee the statewide coordination of the BOSCOC which includes interfacing with external community partners and stakeholders such as the Governance Advisory Board (GAB), the Local Coalitions/Continuums to End Homelessness (LCEHs), the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Committee, the Data Warehouse Enterprise Linkage (DWEL) Collaborative, and the Coordinated Entry (CE) Committee to improve systems, ensure integrated statewide client support, develop strategies to combat the absence of pre-existing integrated support systems, and oversee Balance of State HMIS operations.
• Collaborate with homeless and housing providers including local networks and coalitions to develop, evaluate, and meet benchmarks for System Performance Measures (SPM) designed to combat and reduce homelessness in the BOSCOC geographic region.
• Preparation and submission of the Arizona Balance of State Continuum of Care competitive collaborative application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and preparation and submission of the annual Unified Funding Agency (UFA) registration.
• Organize the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of all unsheltered individuals in the Balance of State geographic region.
• Successful operation of the Balance of State Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and Balance of State representing member of the DWEL Collaborative to ensure the meeting of HUD requirements to record and store client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of persons experiencing homelessness.
• Ensure ongoing compliance through the analysis of quarterly data quality reports, and analyze data per region for internal reporting, the development of strategic plans, and in support of agency goals and strategic objectives to end homelessness statewide.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of the position. Incumbents may be required to perform other job-related tasks other than, or in addition to those presented in this description.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, in Arizona, to include in-office hoteling, based on the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. Must have the ability to commute and utilize our Phoenix office hoteling space as needed.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge
• Knowledge of HUD Code of Federal Regulations
• Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act
• Knowledge of board governance practices including parliamentary procedure
• Knowledge and understanding of Arizona's social and political landscape, with particular knowledge of and experience working with rural communities and tribal nations.

Skills
• Data-driven analysis, and data-driven decision-making
• Stated experience analyzing and interpreting legal documents and Federal and State statutes and regulations.
• Experience reviewing and comprehending financial and budget documents to track spend down rates, spending trends, and evaluate financial risk.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, and/or experience interfacing with direct service providers on behalf of these populations.
• Working proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and other various software applications and platforms.

Abilities
• Ability to meet regular, recurring deadlines including the following annual milestones: timely submission of HUD CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) competitive application(s); timely submission of annual UFA application; timely compilation, review, and publishing of PIT Count and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) data.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and drive initiatives forward to completion.
• Ability to review and interpret complex, technical documents and data, and translate complex concepts into plain language for various internal and external audiences.

A Bachelor's degree, or advanced degree in Public Health, Public Policy, Social Work, Human Services, or Finance is desired, but not required. Formal educational requirements can be substituted with professional experience.

Candidates outside of Maricopa and Pima Counties representing rural and tribal communities are welcome and encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate values lifelong learning and may not possess all of the qualifications listed in this announcement, but is adaptive and willing to learn.

Selective Preference(s):

Pre-Employment Requirements:

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver's License Requirements.

Benefits:

The State of Arizona offers an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Sick Leave
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance

Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance.

By providing the option of a remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here . For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement:

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program. New ASRS members will have a 27-week waiting period for membership. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement.

Contact Us:

Visit housing.az.gov for comprehensive information on the Arizona Department of Housing.