The Housing Specialist provides supportive services and outreach to ACT participants to help them access and maintain safe, affordable housing. Responsibilities include service coordination, crisis intervention, and side-by-side coaching for activities of daily living.
Requirements summary
Requires a Bachelor's degree in a related field such as social work or psychology and at least two years of direct-service experience with mental health populations. A valid driver's license and personal experience as a recipient of mental health or substance use services are required or preferred.
Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees.
The employees of St.
Luke's are our most valuable asset!
Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.
The ACT/FACT Housing Specialist is a member of a multidisciplinary Assertive Community Treatment Team.
The Housing Specialist provides supportive services—including outreach, monitoring, assessment and service planning, support network building, consultation to families, side-by-side skills training and instruction in the use of community resources, including referrals to community assistance, as needed.
The Housing Specialist has personal experience as a recipient of mental health or co-occurring substance use services and is willing to partner with participants to facilitate their recovery and community integration.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Meet with ACT participants—in their homes and other community venues—to provide in vivo services which improve the participants’ quality of life and maintain community tenure.
Services include, but are not limited to: (a) Assisting with activities of daily living, (b) Budget planning and money management, (c) Maintenance of stable housing, (d) Accessing benefits and entitlements to increase financial independence, (e) Meal planning and grocery shopping, (f) Access to reliable transportation services, (g) Side-by-side coaching and training, (h) Transport and accompany clients to scheduled community activities or appointments.
Provide medication service—including delivery of medications and observation of ingestion—as directed by the team psychiatrist, nursing staff, and Team Leader.
In collaboration with other members of the ACT staff, provide service coordination for an assigned group of clients (a) Assume responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating, and revising treatment goals, (b) Provide individual and supportive counseling to assist with symptom management.
Provide on-call crisis services on a rotating schedule (including both primary on-call responsibilities and back-up on-call responsibilities)—as directed by the Team Leader—to cover program needs.
Complete documentation of all services in a timely manner, using the electronic health record, in accordance with program and Network standards.
Work weekend, evening, and holidays on a rotating schedule—as directed by the Team Leader—to cover program needs.
Cross-train with other ACT Specialties to provide other services (e.g., forensic support, vocational support, etc.) to the ACT participants.
The Housing Specialist builds and maintains relationships with landlords and housing-related stakeholders in the community—to build a network of housing resources for the ACT participants.
The Housing Specialist assists ACT participants with accessing and maintaining safe and affordable housing.
When available, the Housing Specialist assists with applications for and maintenance of housing-related funding (e.g., HUD subsidies, Section 8).
The Housing Specialist may provide educational and support groups to participants of the ACT Team—to address housing-related skills and needs.
The Housing Specialist provides primary support to ACT participants and provides cross-training to the other members of the ACT team—to assist with access to housing-related supports and resources—with the goal of promoting mental health stability and reducing forensic and hospital recidivism.
Other duties may be assigned.
PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS: Physical Demands: Heavy work exertional activity.
Occasionally lift and/or carry up to 50 lbs., and sit, stand, and/or walk at least 6 hours in an 8-hour workday.
Non-exertional activity: Stooping (bending at the waist) and crouching (stooping and bending at the knees)- required frequently; handling (grasping)- required frequently; fine manipulation- required occasionally.
Important
The functional capacity to perform heavy work includes the functional capacity to perform medium, light, and sedentary work. Good physical and mental health. Visual and auditory acuity required to provide comprehensive care.
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in criminal justice, sociology, social work, psychology, counseling, or related field.
Training
AND
EXPERIENCE: Minimum of two years of direct-service experience with individuals with mental health concerns. Experience working with individuals with forensic involvement and/or co-occurring substance use disorders is preferred. Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license along with a driving record in compliance with St. Luke’s University Health Network policy. Please complete your application using your full legal name and current home address. Be sure to include employment history for the past seven (7) years, including your present employer. Additionally, you are encouraged to upload a current resume, including all work history, education, and/or certifications and licenses, if applicable. It is highly recommended that you create a profile at the conclusion of submitting your first application. Thank you for your interest in St. Luke's!! St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 23,000 employees providing services at 16 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue in excess of $4 billion, the
Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital. SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. The Network’s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Premier 13 times total and eleven years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. In 2021, St. Luke’s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally. St. Luke’s is the ONLY health care institution in the Lehigh Valley to be named a Top Workplace regionally repeating the exclusive honor for the third year in a row. Also, for the third straight year, St. Luke’s has been a Top Workplaces in the Philadelphia Region by the Philadelphia Inquirer, ranking 9th in the large employer category for 2025 and the only health care system in PA to receive this award. In 2025, St. Luke’s was recognized as a national Top Workplaces by USA Today, three years in a row, including the 3rd best health care system in the nation in 2023 and 2024. Lastly, in 2025, St. Luke’s was named a Top Workplace in New Jersey for the third year in a row. Learn More Here.
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