Emergency Assistance Specialist

Title: Emergency Assistance Specialist 

Location: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (Openings at our North site, plus one position each at our South and West sites)

Help a family stay in their home, keep the heat on, or find a place to live. Emergency Assistance Specialists work applications from first contact to payment, quickly and with care, and connect each family to the support that comes next. 

How we serve 

•  Whole family. When a parent goes to work, the whole household feels it. We look at the full picture (children, child care, housing, transportation, well-being) and plan with the family, not just the person on the caseload. 

•  Abundance mindset. Every family brings strengths: skills, support networks, and determination. We build on what is already there, and we treat every setback as a next step, never a final word. 

•  In person, with dignity. Our doors are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clients are welcomed onsite and treated as partners in their own progress. 

•  Results that last. We measure success by jobs kept, wages grown, and families made stronger, and we use what we learn to keep improving. 

What you'll do 

•  Contact applicants, gather verification, and determine eligibility and payment amounts. 

•  Treat homeless applications as same-day. 

•  Work with landlords and utilities to get payment to the right place. 

•  Document each step so payments go out on time. 

•  Connect the whole family to W-2, housing, and community resources for the rest of the emergency. 

You'll thrive here if 

•  You have processed claims, applications, or orders and want that skill to keep a family housed. 

•  You stay kind and clear when someone is having the hardest day of their year. 

What you bring 

•  Associate or bachelor's degree in human services or a related field preferred. 

•  Experience in benefits eligibility, case management, or detailed application processing. 

•  Attention to detail and time management. Paid training on the State's Emergency Assistance program. 

Why America Works 

For four decades, America Works has helped people move from public assistance into lasting jobs, because work brings dignity, independence, and opportunity to the whole family. America Works of Wisconsin, Inc. (AWWI) delivers the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program in Milwaukee County through a Whole-Family Approach, serving the entire household, not just one person. In 2027, we grow to serve the North, South, and West regions of the county. We test new ideas, measure what works, and change what doesn't, and we invest in our people the same way we invest in the families we serve. 

•  Medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid pre-tax 

•  401(k) with employer matching after one year 

•  Paid, structured training: you will learn the program, the systems, and our way of serving with us 

America Works of Wisconsin, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from every background, culture, and work history