Coordinated Entry Specialist I

Mission: To inspire and mobilize communities of faith and goodwill to reduce poverty and homelessness, while centering equity and advocating for system change.

Vision: United and transformed by the common love shared by all people of faith and goodwill; that embodies equity, humanity, peace and justice; where all are housed, healed and whole.

Values: Compassion, Equity, Integrity, Faith Driven, Transformation, Solidarity

Job Description

Position: Coordinated Entry Specialist I

Department: Center for Direct Services

Reports to: Coordinated Entry Specialist II (Team Lead)

Type of Position: Direct Services

Position Type: X Employee □ Contractor □Intern

Hours per week: 40

□X Full-time □ Part-time Temporary

□ Exempt X Non-exempt

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION

Associated Ministries plays a pivotal role in driving transformation in Pierce County. Our unwavering commitment lies in functioning as a sustainable organization, fostering impactful partnerships, nurturing authentic interfaith relationships, and advocating for equitable moral leadership. Our ultimate aim is to contribute to the creation of a flourishing community.

We are dedicated to galvanizing and motivating individuals of diverse faiths, along with those of good will, to unite in the battle against homelessness and poverty. These collaborations not only allow us to be compassionate advocates for our neighbors in need but also empower us to be prophetic voices demanding systemic change.

Our mission is "working together toward lasting solutions to homelessness." Given the disproportionate impact of homelessness on people of color, we place a premium on promoting racial equity. We approach all our programs through a lens of racial equity.

Associated Ministries prides itself as an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our selection process ensures that all eligible candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability. Furthermore, we fully support the use of trained guide dogs or service animals by individuals with disabilities.

JOB SUMMARY

The Coordinated Entry Specialist I is part of the Homeless Crisis Response System and works directly with households experiencing homelessness to address housing and homelessness in Pierce County. We meet those experiencing homelessness where they are and we provide the appropriate housing intervention determined by each household's unique level of need. All direct services follow the Housing First Model and can include screening households for eligibility, having conversations with households experiencing homelessness to explore creative alternative housing options, case management, and connecting households with appropriate resources and documents to obtain housing.

The successful candidate for this position will be a person who is able to effectively empathize and facilitate problem solving with others currently experiencing homelessness in building stability and navigate disproportionate access to resources and housing. In addition, the candidate for this position must be non-judgmental, respect differences and be able to balance passion for supporting others with good professional boundaries.

Associated Ministries trusts each employee to thoughtfully support its mission with their individual and collective talents, skills and abilities. We value each person's voice and delegate appropriate levels of authority and decision-making consistent with their assigned roles and responsibilities. In all cases, employees are expected to carry out their work in a manner which supports AM's culture, including interpersonal behavior that supports cooperation, respect and professionalism.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with community partners throughout Pierce County.
• Assess immediate housing barriers and help households brainstorm creative options for alternate housing arrangements utilizing culturally responsive skills/practices, Motivational Interviewing Techniques and/or mediation with family member or friend.
• Consistently demonstrate professional work habits that include organizing and planning work in a systematic way; listening and asking clarifying questions to verify what is heard; being attentive to details to minimize technical mistakes; prioritizing tasks and focusing on the most urgent tasks first; and, managing time to consistently meet deadlines.
• Meet all contractual outputs set for this position.
• Facilitate one-time assistance for move-in costs if permanent housing option is available.
• Complete initial eligibility screenings, in person or by phone on an as needed basis.
• Make appropriate referrals to community partners when needed.
• Develop working relationships with landlords and assist with housing search and placement.
• Provide progressive engagement services and case management/support to households transitioning out of homelessness.
• Understand institutional barriers to services and assist in connecting households with resources such as; childcare, employment, legal assistance, financial counseling, and other mainstream resources that will assist them in obtaining housing.
• Document screenings, assessments, referrals, and case management service transactions in HMIS and maintain at least 95% data accuracy.
• Commit to cultural competence and willing to participate in training to develop practical expertise in working with diverse groups and cultures. Honor cultural and linguistic diversity.
• Schedule appointments, check voicemails, return calls, and work with walk-in clients, filing, submitting check requests, data entry, and research different resources in the community.
• Other duties as assigned.

WORK EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• One-year of experience in human services or a closely related field.
• One-year of experience working with diverse populations and commitment to serve all people regardless of their diverse backgrounds, including all faith traditions.
• Experience working with people in crisis.
• Commitment and ability to engage in empathetic, non-judgmental way with people in stressful situations, in order to help resolve immediate housing crisis.
• Ability to think creatively and problem solve with a solution-focused approach.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Outlook.
• Proven proficiency in writing both case notes and data reports.
• Proven ability to navigate systemic barriers in order to access resources.
• Intermediate to advanced data entry skills that require little or no training or assistance to consistently perform daily tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
• Intermediate verbal communication skills that ensure accurate information-sharing, show respect for others, promote conflict resolution, and encourage cooperation and teamwork.
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively as part of a fast-paced team that must maintain good interpersonal skills and positive relationships with supervisors, coworkers and clients.

WORK EXPERIENCE/ SKILL PREFERENCES

• 6-months+ of past experience with Motivational Interviewing and/or Mediation.
• 6-months+ of past experience with Progressive Engagement and Housing First Services.
• 6-months+ of past experience with conflict resolution, mental health first aid, and/or de-escalation training
• Current familiarity and ability to work in Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS); and an integrated database
• More than 2 years of direct professional work in Human Services
• Fluency in a language other than English.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate degree or 2 years relevant experience

Appropriate life experience also considered.

*All work/skill/educational requirements must be met for hire*

COMPENSATION

Pay Range: $ $32.34 per hour

APPLICATION PROCESS

This position will remain open until filled. First review of applications will be January 16, 2026. Application must include cover letter and resume addressing position requirements. Send to: Associated Ministries, 901 South 13th Street, Tacoma WA 98405, or e-mail all to Marissa Eisele at No phone inquiries, please.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $ $32.34 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person