Successful candidates for all AmeriCorps positions will perform their service hours on-site at Housing Forward or a partner agency, and will not be considered employees of the respective agency.
Housing Forward is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against applicants for employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sex, or sexual orientation.
The Chief Finance and Administration Officer serves as a member of the agency’s executive leadership team and participates in key decisions pertaining to strategic initiatives, operating models and operational execution. This position leads, manages, and develops the agency’s finance and administrative team ensuring responsibilities; authorities and accountability of all direct subordinates are defined and understood. This position provides leadership, oversight and administrative direction to finance, human resources, information technology, and facilities maintenance.
Housing Forward is looking for a dynamic, strategic and organized development/event professional to join the team. The Special Events Manager plans, coordinates and fundraises for 4 signature events, other community and Board events as well as managing our donor data in support of our programs to end homelessness. This role will also act as the liaison to the Associate Board, a young professional group supporting our mission. Reporting to the Director of Development & Communications, this position will collaborate with the Development team to build the agency’s private funding base.
The Job Developer is responsible for working with clients (homeless and at risk of-homelessness ) to increase their ability to secure and maintain gainful employment. The Job Developer is also responsible for identifying potential job placement opportunities for program participants and working to develop relationships with said placements. The Job Developer will interact with both participants and job sites in order to make appropriate placements.
The Staff Accountant provides support for the finance department on a wide variety of accounting tasks. The Staff Accountant’s primary responsibility will be grant related accounting operations and general ledger activities. This position involves handling highly confidential and sensitive information and interaction with staff at various levels of the organization. Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize, and organize a diversified workload.
The Shelter Diversion/Aftercare Specialist 1) provides intervention strategies for households who are at-risk of homelessness, as defined by HUD or other federal statutes; and 2) provides comprehensive housing retention case management, advocacy, and support to former clients of the housing programs by assisting them in maintaining stable housing and self-sufficiency to prevent housing loss.
The Volunteer Coordinator actively promotes volunteer opportunities to target congregations, civic groups, and local companies; assists with implementation of the volunteer management database and provides leadership in developing volunteer recognition opportunities.
The Employment Readiness Program helps individuals address barriers to employment and locate, obtain and sustain employment leading to improved financial stability. The Employment Program Associate will facilitate client case management and program services; provide follow-up care as needed for clients completing the program, help maintain referral resources for clients; help maintain computerized and paper client files, and assist with outreach to employers and training programs as needed.
The Emergency Assistance Program works with individuals and families to address to address the immediate crisis through a combination of financial support, if available, and referrals to community based stability support resources. Housing Forward is part of the Suburban Cook County Continuum of Care and as such, collaborates closely with other area homelessness service providers and will be a lead agency in Coordinated Entry. The Emergency Assistance Program Associate will assist with client case management, program services, report coordination and various administrative functions for Emergency Assistance Program. The Program Associate will play an integral role in assessing client need, initiating case management referrals and maintaining our community resource database.
The shelter outreach and engagement specialist is responsible for 1) intake, assessment, and referral services to clients in the Emergency Shelter; 2) facilitation of clients’ move beyond shelter services by linking clients to Housing Forward’s continuum of care; and 3) providing crisis intervention, advocacy and education to and on behalf of clients. The outreach and engagement specialist strives to build a trusting relationship with shelter guests in an effort to encourage access to services and housing and reduce the length of stay in the Emergency Shelter.
The case aide works in the Beds Plus Support Center serving men, women and families from the west suburbs who are experiencing homelessness. The case aide assists in the management of the Support Center activities and assists the program’s case management staff. The case aide is responsible for 1) intake, assessment, and referral services to clients referred from the Emergency Shelter to the Support Center; 2) Assist in the facilitation of moving clients beyond emergency shelter services by linking clients to BEDS Plus Care’s basic services and case management team; and 3) provide crisis intervention, advocacy and education on behalf of clients. The case aide strives to build a trusting relationship with emergency shelter guests in an effort to encourage access to services and housing and reduce the length of stay in the Emergency Shelter.
The Case Aide assists clients experiencing homelessness with basic needs and enrolling in benefits in the day-time Support Center and assists with case management under the direction of Case Managers. The Case Aide also helps ensure the smooth operation of the Support Center and create a welcoming, safe space for clients.
Food insecurity and poor nutrition go hand in hand. For those struggling with hunger, food choices are often prioritized based on an item’s cost, not its nutritional value. Long-term effects on children experiencing hunger include lowered academic achievement, decreased emotional development, and increased health problems. In the elderly malnutrition exacerbates diseases, decreases resistance to infection, and extends hospital stays. In providing emergency hunger relief, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry aims to deliver the very items our clients need most: nutrient-dense and protein-rich foods. The Nutrition Programs Assistant (NPA) is critical to the success of that goal by connecting targeted groups to healthy food through special programs. Thus, the NPA must be skilled in communicating and working with people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life. The NPA also supervises the volunteers who work in these programs. By combining outreach and volunteer management, the NPA helps build connections across age, ability, and interest, thus further integrating volunteers into the service model.
Food insecurity and poor nutrition go hand in hand. For those struggling with hunger, food choices are often prioritized based on an item’s cost, not its nutritional value. Thus, those who suffer from food insecurity are less likely to eat fruits and vegetables, less likely to get the calcium and protein they need, and more likely to have diets high in sugar and fat. In providing emergency hunger relief, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry aims to deliver the very items our clients need most: nutrient-dense and protein-rich foods. The Pantry Supervisor is critical to the success of that goal by enlisting and managing community involvement in the procurement of these foods— including but not limited to retail vendors, congregations, civic groups, volunteers, and individual gardeners. The Pantry Supervisor assists with program assessment by tracking the amount and nutritional content of food procured. To enhance consistent client access to nutritious food, the Pantry Supervisor manages the volunteers who conduct food rescues, drives, deliveries, and distributions. By combining outreach and volunteer management, the Pantry Supervisor helps volunteers be a part of the outreach process, thus further integrating volunteers into the service model.
The Homeless Prevention Case Manager will provide homeless prevention services (HP) as part of Coordinated Entry in Suburban Cook County. Coordinated Entry (CE) is a community-wide system to standardize and expedite the process by which people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness access housing and homeless resources. Through CE, people experiencing homelessness are matched to services and housing based on their preferences and level of need.
The Homeless Prevention Case Manager is responsible for evaluating referrals for homeless prevention assistance to determine eligibility for financial assistance, helping eligible participants complete their applications and to help establish payment plans with landlords and direct participants toward resources to assist with securing affordable housing when needed. The HP Case Manager will provide financial literacy/budget counseling and case management referrals for supportive services to help participants develop ongoing stability plans.
To maintain a clean and safe working environment for all staff and guests.
