Housing Case Manager-Homeless Outreach and Hypothermia Prevention Program

Housing Case Manager-Homeless Outreach and Hypothermia Prevention Program

Reports to Job Role: Director of Homeless Outreach and Engagement

FLSA: Exempt  

Role: Team Member

Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred. Evenings and weekends required during Hypothermia Prevention season.

Descriptive Summary

The Housing Case Manager-Homeless Outreach and Hypothermia Prevention Program works with the Homeless Outreach team year-round and the Hypothermia Prevention Program team during the Winter months to provide housing search and placement services to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness.  The Housing Case Manager assists the individuals with searching for appropriate housing, completing applications, applying for financial assistance and assisting them with moving from the Homeless Outreach and Hypothermia Prevention Programs to permanent housing. The Housing Case Manager develops working relationships with landlords, rental offices, faith communities, and/or community associations to provide ongoing positive relationships to ensure continued available resources of housing for the clients.  As part of the case management team, assists clients in identifying housing needs and housing barriers.  The Housing Case Manager must have strong interpersonal and motivational skills and must be comfortable meeting unsheltered individuals in places not meant for human habitation such as campsites in the woods and parked cars. In addition, the Housing Case Manager must possess a patient, trauma-informed approach to service delivery service delivery using an equity lens. All duties are performed in a professional and timely manner, in a fast-paced, high-demand environment. The Housing Case Manager is responsible for utilizing a Housing First approach to move individuals experiencing homelessness into permanent housing and will be held accountable for meeting or exceeding outcomes as well as other contractual obligations. The Housing Case Manager ensures that services are equitable and delivered with integrity in accordance with the Agency Mission, Vision, and Values. A Housing Case Manager bilingual in English/Spanish is preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assesses housing barriers of individuals accessing the Homeless Outreach and Hypothermia Prevention Program to determine housing and service needs.
• Meets unsheltered individuals in places not meant for human habitation such as campsites in the woods and parked cars.
• Meets individuals in the evenings at the Hypothermia Prevention Program at North County during the Winter months.

• Develops housing procurement, financial, and self-sufficiency case management plan with participants. This will include intake interview to determine housing needs, goals, and eligibility.
• Identifies and work to develop housing opportunities and maintain on-going relationships with landlords and other housing providers.
• Provides mediation and advocacy with landlords on the individual’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and/or maintain housing.
• Determines appropriateness of individual for receipt of rapid re-housing funds and recommend amount. Allocates and tracks use of ESG and VHSP rapid-rehousing funds.
• Creates and maintains consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e. tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors)
• Serves as an ongoing liaison between property managers and clients as well as between clients and neighbors.
• Applies knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate clients of their rights and responsibilities.
• Follows Cornerstones Integrated Care Management (ICM) model to connect clients to services that will assist them with maintaining stable housing (e.g. benefits, mental health, substance abuse, housing referrals, financial assistance, home based services, training, medical services, mentoring and socialization).
• Connects clients to credit counseling and other services necessary to assist clients with critical skills related to budgeting, managing money, accessing a free personal credit report, and resolving personal credit problems.
• Documents all services identified and provided, referrals made, and transportation provided.
• Travels and makes home visits as well as works an adjusted work schedule including evenings and weekends during the Hypothermia Prevention season.

• Uses automated technology including HMIS and hard copy files to maintain, update, and report on housing activities, case data, goal attainment, and outcomes in a timely manner.
• Provides regular progress reports on outcomes and activities for grant and funding purposes
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable human services field plus two years of professional social work/case management experience with homeless and/or at-risk populations. Master's Degree preferred.
• MSW plus two years post-Master’s degree a plus.
• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish preferred.        

Experience and Skills:

• Requires knowledge and belief in “Housing First” and “Rapid Re-Housing” philosophy and strategies.

• Knowledge or understanding of tenant’s rights and responsibilities, “strengths based” case management, trauma-informed care, and racial equity.
• Knowledge of current social service, homeless, and housing issues and methods/approaches to address issues.
• Experience working with high barrier individuals and families including people with mental health and/or substance abuse disabilities is required.
• Must be comfortable meeting unsheltered individuals in places not meant for human habitation such as campsites in the woods and parked cars.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent data entry and data quality skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends.
• Ability to engage and work collaboratively with others.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office, prepare clear and precise documentation and utilize on-line communication and data tracking systems.
• Ability to use HMIS to establish and maintain case records and to facilitate data collection.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Candidate must be able to lift items weighing 10-20 pounds.
• Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and good driving record.
• Candidate must be able to drive 15 passenger van. 

Candidate will be required to pass criminal background and Child Protective Services background checks.

• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish preferred.

Cornerstones Vision, Purpose and Values:

Cornerstones envisions an equitable, connected community where all individuals and families thrive.  Cornerstones’ employees build and sustain our culture through a commitment to these values:

• Serve and Lead with Passion for Mission Excellence
• Act with Integrity
• Champion Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Collaborate and Innovate for Impact
• Equip and Empower for Success

Work Environment:

This position is performed in an emergency shelter environment and out in the field in places not meant for human habitation.

An Equal Opportunity Employer 

I understand and agree to the duties and expectations of my role as outlined in this job description, Cornerstones Core Competencies and Values statement. This description is intended to describe the essential job functions and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities.