Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, DC and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the County’s public health and human services that the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With 1,750 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a department, we believe health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods and healthy food. HHS’ provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

If you are interested in working for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Community Service Aide III (Housing Locator) position.

About the Position:

This position is located in the Department’s Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH) division. The vision of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH) is a home for everyone in Montgomery County, where the experience of homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time only. The mission is to strive to be a leader in the work to end homelessness across our nation. Through commitment and collaboration, SEPH seeks to create effective systems to achieve the vision. The housing and homeless continuum embraces a Housing First philosophy. Housing First recognizes that people are most successful when they have choice in housing and seeks to eliminate barriers such as sobriety requirements or treatment compliance. SEPH provides a full continuum of services including housing stabilization, homeless diversion, and permanent housing; and employs evidence-based and promising practices. The mission cannot be achieved without collaborating with public and private partners through the Interagency Commission on Homelessness. Special needs populations include veterans, both individuals and families, persons with behavioral health challenges, individuals with developmental disabilities, and transitioning youth and seniors with disabilities experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Major Duties:

• Work with impacted Montgomery County residents and SEPH case workers to match participant needs and preferences with potential housing units. Must identify housing that can accommodate or adapt to housing needs of residents and meet County Rental Code, in addition, to any housing program guidelines for rent reasonableness, housing availability standards and lead based paint requirements.
• Contact landlords to discuss their interest in accepting a specific tenants, facilitate matches between landlords/property management companies and prospective tenants, and negotiate with landlords for tenants to be able to remain in housing.
• Act as lead liaison between the SEPH program participants, landlords, and service providers by maintaining consistent communication channels, both verbal and written.
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on SEPH participant’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing.
• Facilitate expediated move-in/move out process including conducting Inspections as applicable, coordinating security deposits and first month’s rent through Emergency Services.
• Operate a motor vehicle to transport supplies, and equipment, to other locations to perform these duties and would require the need to lift and carry, and manage stairs with equipment, and supplies.
• Must be available to work evening and/or weekend hours to align with landlord recruitment schedules/activities.

Selected candidate will be required to complete a medical exam and drug and alcohol screening.

Effective August 30, 2021 all new hires will be required to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus prior to their first date of employment. Individuals who are unable to be vaccinated should contact OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov to discuss possible accommodations.

OHR reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position/IRC.

Montgomery County Government is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email to OHR@montgomerycountymd.gov . Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

Montgomery County Government also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, please refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference .

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for interview.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law : Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code . Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Experience: Three (3) years of experience providing delivery of social, health and/or public assistance services.

Education: Completion of high school or High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance of a valid Class C (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant’s state of residence when required for job-related duties.

The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevancy of training, and experience in the following areas.

• Experience working with housing or homeless programs and /or housing providers.
• Experience working with landlords or real estate sales.
• Experience working with clients from a wide variety of socioeconomic levels and from diverse multicultural and multilingual backgrounds.
• Experience establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the public, and/or members of public or private agencies.
• Experience with computer applications including databases, Word and Microsoft Outlook email.