Intake Specialist

ABOUT US:

United Way is advancing the common good in Ventura County by providing help today in ways that strengthen tomorrow. United Way has the scope, expertise and influences to bring together human services agencies, government, businesses, private foundations and dedicated volunteers around a common vision of creating maximum impact and achieving long-lasting results. Why United Way? We all want to have the greatest possible impact on our community and the issues that we care about. Join the movement. At United Way, you unite your hopes and strengths with others to accomplish more than any of us can alone.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:

The mission of the United Way of Ventura County is: “To Mobilize and Inspire the Caring Power and Resources of our Community.” In keeping with this charge and in response to the shelter crisis in Ventura County, United Way of Ventura County launched a Homelessness Initiative to include a Landlord Engagement Program (LEP) to increase housing stock and utilize existing housing vouchers and housing subsidies provided by local jurisdictions and community partners in preventing and ending homelessness. Everyone needs a safe place to call home, yet that basic need is increasingly out of reach for many people in Ventura County. Limited affordable housing supply, extremely low vacancy rates, and prohibitive and rising rents, make home access for those with housing barriers exceedingly challenging. Advocating for these individuals and families includes recruiting, cultivating, retaining, and growing the number of landlords willing to help prevent and end homelessness.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Intake Specialist serves as the first point of contact for households seeking housing assistance and supports program operations through intake, documentation, housing inspections, and assistance coordination. This position conducts initial screenings, collects and reviews documentation, assists with unit inspections for habitability, and supports the delivery of financial assistance in compliance with HUD, HHAP, CoC, and agency policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for individuals and families seeking housing assistance Conduct initial eligibility screenings for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) and Homeless Prevention (HP)
• Verify household composition, income, housing status, and financial hardship
• Explain program requirements, participant responsibilities, and next steps clearly and compassionately
• Collect, review, and organize required documentation (income, bank statements, leases, notices, IDs, etc.)
• Ensure all documentation meets funder requirements
• Identify missing or inconsistent documentation and follow up with households promptly
• Maintain accurate and complete participant files in accordance with agency and regulatory standards
• Maintain screening logs, trackers, and referral lists
• Coordinate with Case Managers, Housing Navigators, and Supervisors to transfer eligible households for full enrollment
• Provide warm handoffs to internal programs and external partners when households are not eligible
• Communicate effectively with landlords, partner agencies, and community resources as needed
• Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based engagement
• Always maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries
• Support equitable access to services for diverse populations, including seniors, families, TAY, and limited-English-proficiency households
• Support the coordination of rental assistance, deposits, and other eligible financial assistance
• Prepare documentation needed for payment requests and approvals
• Deliver checks to landlords and/or property managers as assigned
• Obtain and document proof of delivery, receipts, or acknowledgments in participant files

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Preferred a bachelor's degree is usually required, though the field can vary. Common degrees include social work, psychology, or healthcare administration.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• General knowledge and experience in Ventura County, the VA, and the local network of community-based health and human services organizations serving low-income homeless populations, or veteran families at risk of homelessness, is preferred.
• Proficiency required in MS Word, Excel and other related computer programs required, and research related software preferred.
• Commits to the organization-has the responsibility for aligning one’s own behavior, leadership and commitment with needs, priorities, goals, and culture of the UWVC.
• Embraces diversity and inclusion-creates an atmosphere that respects and embraces engagement of all people, ideas and backgrounds and aligns with United Way’s values.
• Seizes learning-able and willing to learn new skills and knowledge and accept new challenges to further United Way mission.
• Personifies teamwork-demonstrates good collaboration and communication to be effective in any team setting.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear, taste or smell. The employee must

occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perceptions, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Send Cover Letter, Resume, and list of three (3) references to:

United Way of Ventura County

702 County Square Drive, Suite 100

Ventura, CA 93003

Yvonne.Estrada@vcunitedway.org