Student Affairs Homelessness Resource Specialist (Temporary, Part-Time)

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What We Offer:

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Benefits.

What You Will Do:

The Homelessness Resource Specialist will be a key advocate for homeless students at the university, responsible for developing and implementing training programs that equip staff with the skills and knowledge to identify and refer homeless students to appropriate on-campus and community resources. These training initiatives will aim to raise awareness and ensure faculty and staff are well-prepared to provide timely support to students in need. This position will also lead the creation and ongoing maintenance of a centralized, user-friendly resource webpage on the university's website. The webpage will feature a comprehensive array of resources, including links to critical services, guides, and video tutorials, all designed to support homeless students while also educating university employees on available resources and best practices for supporting vulnerable students. The webpage will serve as a valuable tool for both students and staff, providing easy access to essential information and fostering a supportive campus environment. In addition, the Homelessness Resource Specialist will collaborate closely with key departments across the university, such as Student Affairs, Academic Services, Housing, and Financial Aid, to integrate homelessness-related support information into internal and external communications. This will ensure that all stakeholders, both within the university and the surrounding community, are aware of and connected to available resources. A critical aspect of this role will be developing and refining processes to identify, track, and provide consistent, individualized support for homeless students across all university campuses. This will involve implementing systems that ensure accurate identification and ongoing tracking of student needs, engagement with resources, and overall progress. The Specialist will also use data and insights from these processes to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of existing support systems, making recommendations for improvements as necessary. Through these efforts, the Homelessness Resource Specialist will play a central role in creating a more inclusive and equitable campus environment, ensuring that homeless students have the support they need to succeed academically and personally.

This is a temporary, grant-funded position ending June 30, 2025 or another date as determined by administration.

Training Development:

This position will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive training programs aimed at strengthening NLU's capacity to support homeless students. These training initiatives will be tailored to meet the needs of the NLU campus community, providing faculty and staff with the tools to recognize signs of homelessness and effectively refer students to appropriate campus and community resources.
• Under the guidance of the HOUSE Liaisons and in alignment with training standards set forth by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the training programs will address key issues impacting homeless students, as well as students and families covered under McKinney-Vento legislation and DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) support systems.
• The position will collaborate with campus stakeholders to ensure that the training content is relevant, culturally sensitive, and actionable, fostering a campus-wide culture of awareness and support.
• Additionally, the trainings will emphasize the importance of reducing barriers to resource access, promoting equity, and encouraging proactive engagement with vulnerable student populations. Through these efforts, the position will play a critical role in increasing awareness, enhancing resource accessibility, and ensuring that NLU is a welcoming and supportive environment for all students, particularly those facing housing instability.

Building a Resources Webpage:

• This position will oversee the development and maintenance of a centralized, user-friendly resource webpage on the NLU website, designed to serve as a comprehensive hub for homeless students, their families, and the broader NLU community, including faculty, staff, and students. Responsibilities include curating and creating a wide array of resources such as guides, links to services, and engaging video tutorials tailored to the unique needs of this population.
• The webpage will also serve as a key communication tool by integrating internal and external resources, including housing and homelessness support services, to ensure seamless access to critical information.
• This role will involve collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure the content is accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with best practices for supporting housing-insecure individuals. The ultimate goal is to create a centralized platform that empowers users, enhances awareness, and facilitates connections to essential resources and support networks.

Data and Tracking:

• This position will lead the development and implementation of comprehensive processes to identify, monitor, and support homeless students, McKinney-Vento students, and those involved with DCFS across all NLU campuses. Key responsibilities include designing systems that enable accurate and timely identification of eligible students while maintaining strict confidentiality and compliance with applicable regulations.
• These processes will also facilitate tracking their engagement with university resources, academic progress, and overall well-being, ensuring the delivery of tailored support that meets their unique needs. Collaboration with university departments such as Student Affairs, Academic Services, Financial Aid, and Housing & Residence Life will be essential to streamline data collection and sharing. The role will involve coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to integrate data sources, standardize reporting procedures, and ensure alignment with institutional goals and best practices for supporting at-risk student populations.
• Additionally, this position will analyze data to identify service trends and gaps, generating actionable insights to inform policy development and resource allocation. The individual will also produce regular reports to evaluate the effectiveness of support initiatives, propose improvements, and contribute to the university's commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Through these efforts, the position will be vital in creating a data-driven framework to enhance the success and well-being of homeless students and others facing housing instability or systemic challenges.

• Bachelor's degree preferred, Associates degree required in Social Work, Education, Psychology, or a related field.
• 1-2 years of experience working with external organizations to build relationships and align on shared goals.
• Strong ability to plan, organize, and execute events, including managing logistics, communication, and evaluation.
• Strong ability to manage timelines, coordinate multiple tasks, and ensure deliverables meet objectives.
• Proficient in using office productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace) and comfortable learning project management or tracking systems.
• Ability to document activities, analyze data, and contribute to preparing detailed grant compliance or performance reports.
• Interpersonal Skills: Shows genuine sensitivity to the needs, feelings and capabilities of other people. Deals with others in a pleasant manner. Treats others with respect and consideration.
• Organizational/Project Management Skills: Strong skills in planning, coordinating events, managing timelines, and ensuring that objectives are met within deadlines and requirements.
• Problem Solving/Critical Thinking: The ability to assess complex challenges faced by students, identify barriers, and implement creative, practical solutions.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)

NLU Employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form