Veterans Housing Case Manager II at Otto's Place

Veterans Housing Case Manager

The Veterans Housing Case Manager is a senior level position requiring a higher level of responsibility, applying advanced subject knowledge, and exercising significant independent judgment and initiative. The Veterans Housing Case Manager II is expected to share knowledge, function as a resource, and serve as a guide to other Veterans Case Managers in the agency. An incumbent in this position may work in either emergency or housing services. Those in emergency services work a caseload of individual program participants experiencing homelessness, many of whom have multiple barriers (i.e., serious mental illness, substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, frequent contact with law enforcement, etc.). They engage and develop relationships with participants and provide trauma-informed support services so that secure, stable, and permanent housing may be achieved. Those in housing services work a case load and provide trauma-informed case management services designed to prevent homelessness and stabilize housing for tenants. This includes assessment, documentation, information and referral, goal setting, and direct advocacy, cooperative case planning, collaboration with the King County Veterans Program and coordination of services. They assist and empower residents to make necessary connections with community and providers to stabilize their lives. This is a unionized position, represented by Local 8 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU).

Location: Pioneer Square Neighborhood (Seattle, WA)

Reports To: Case Manager Supervisor

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm & Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm with monthly staff meetings on 1st Wednesday

Meal Period: Paid (30-minutes)

Salary Range: $32.03 per hour (level II)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide trauma-informed case management utilizing motivational interviewing and strength-based techniques to assigned participants.
• Establish goals and objectives.
• Monitor achievements through regular meetings.
• Identify barriers and steps necessary to overcome obstacles.
• Provide information, referrals, and direct advocacy as needed, utilizing internal and external resources.
• Write clear, objective, and accurate client file case notes of significant interactions, including stability plans, and all other required forms and paperwork including logs, records, reports, and statistics, as requested. Perform documentation (following DAP protocol) and input data in the Clarity Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and other organizational data and case management systems.
• Assess participant housing histories, barriers, and resource/support needs (e.g., food, health, transportation, etc.) and opportunities (e.g., family, friends).
• Per program policy, complete intake and needs assessment (may be in person or by phone and may include collaboration with referring agencies), housing stability plan, VI-SPDAT and orientation to program.
• Assess eligibility for permanent housing resources, such as deposit/move-in financial assistance, rapid rehousing, affordable housing, and permanent supportive housing. Or develop and implement community programs supporting housing stability, wellness, and promote meaningful daily activities for residents, which could include groups, classes, workshops, and special events with the support of the Program Manager.
• Develop a plan with the Program Manager to utilize program based flexible client relocation and assistance funds in a way that emphasizes equitability not equality.
• Identify need for interim or bridge housing, link as requested and available.
• Provide information, referrals, and direct advocacy as needed, utilizing internal and external resources.
• Link participants with services intended to address significant barriers to housing stability – e.g., mental health services, chemical dependency services, primary health services, legal services, employment and/or educational supports.
• In a collaborative manner, coordinate with internal and external agency representatives to ensure clients are resourced according to their needs.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with a network of community providers and services to address and advocate for client needs.
• Work with supervisor to devise and implement corrective action plans for participants failing to meet goals.
• Work with program management on situation assessment and follow-up.
• Daily activities are varied, and the day may be interrupted by emergencies or other daily events.
• Mediate conflicts provide de-escalation and crisis intervention, model appropriate problem solving; and refer to appropriate services as needed.
• Provide milieu management as well as support to the program team in daily operations of the facility.
• In coordination with Program Manager and/or Coordinator, develop and facilitate life skills training and other relevant workshops.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with coworkers and team members.

Housing Search & Placement:

• Develop relationships with property managers (and landlords in emergency services), assisting in breaking down barriers to create pathways to housing.
• Utilize available landlord information and referral resources to identify and access private market housing that will accept housing subsidies or that provide below-market rents; establish and develop additional private market landlord resources to supplement these other sources.
• Help participants to tour neighborhoods and properties; provide and discuss options as part of selection decision.
• Assist participants with obtaining the resources necessary to apply for and move into housing (e.g., application fees, security deposit, first month rent, furnishings, etc.).
• Help participants to complete and submit required housing applications and other materials; help participants to prepare for housing interviews or other housing application meetings.
• Assist participants with move-in to new housing, and with transitioning support to other provider or other community resources.
• Participate in follow up support after the participant has been placed in housing to ensure stability and reduce the likelihood of that participant returning to homelessness.

Education Liaison:

• Support families and students across a diverse spectrum of backgrounds to increase student academic success and support social -emotional development.
• Communicate with parents, teachers, and administrators on an ongoing basis regarding each student's progress.
• Coordinate and facilitate after school programming that promotes social, emotional, and academic growth.
• Assist families in understanding and navigating school district enrollment, services, programs, and systems.
• Collaborate with families, school staff, and community partners to support student overall growth.
• Attend school events and participate in meetings and training for the purpose of sharing information, implementing school initiatives, and addressing student needs.
• Identify local educational/vocational/career development programs and services and develop links with community programs.

Veteran Support:

• In collaboration with the service team, the Case Manager is responsible for developing and implementing client-defined, goal-oriented Housing Stability Plans, assessing the needs of referred households, utilizing VA and community resources to meet identified individual needs with the goal of stabilizing permanent housing in the shortest time possible.
• Coordinate referrals from outreach efforts; maintain a weekly housing list of all currently enrolled veteran households and those presumed eligible.
• Schedule initial intakes/screenings within 48-hours of referral.
• Complete request for payment in a timely manner for rent arrears.
• Maintain current information on community resources veteran and non-veteran specific.
• Attend meetings as necessary and represent Compass Housing Alliance Veteran Services Program.

Guidance & Administration:

• Assist program team members with ongoing continuous quality improvement to enhance program operations, including problem solving, helping to develop program systems or procedures, or participating in or facilitating team workgroups and agency workgroups related to job focus.
• Assist with the onboarding of new Housing Case Managers (mostly at hired site but not limited to this location).
• Serve as a leader to other Housing Case Managers in the agency, especially those at level I.
• Provide onsite guidance, instruction, and leadership to program team members to help create a cohesive team environment.
• Assist in the development of housing stability and case management policies and procedures.
• Communicate and train others on housing and case management policies and procedures.
• Ensure that knowledge is shared and embedded across the agency.
• May be assigned as a trainer in agencywide training related to job focus (such as Insights, Case Management, Motivational Interviewing among others). This may include the development of new modules or updates to existing training.
• May be required to assist management in running monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reports and conducting metrics analysis (e.g., HMIS).
• May assist with the interview and selection process