Housing Coordinator

About the Job

SUMMARY

The Housing Coordinator will support and promote LACHC's mission to follow Christ by loving and serving our neighbors through comprehensive, quality healthcare.

The Housing Coordinator will provide intensive housing-focused care management services to patients experiencing homelessness and chronic homelessness under the Medi-Cal Community Supports programming. The Housing Coordinator is responsible for working directly with patients to complete comprehensive housing assessments, develop collaborative housing goal plans, to secure permanent housing, and provide intensive support for up to one year after move-in.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include:

• Participate in high-touch, in-person, outreach strategies to continually engage with patients referred for Housing Coordination and/or Tenancy Support Services.
• Working knowledge of Housing First and tenant rights under Fair Housing.
• Clear understanding of nonprofit and community resources for individuals experiencing homelessness in Service Planning Area (SPA) 4.
• Understanding of Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, and Harm Reduction strategies, including certification is Narcan administration.
• Synthesize complex information from assessments, trainings, and research to implement up-to-date, evidence-based interventions for impactful housing navigation and tenancy support.
• Demonstrable expertise in condition(s), and strategies to assist the Medi-Cal Enhanced Care Management populations of focus: Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness; High Utilizers; Adults with Serious Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorder; Incarcerated and Transitioning to the Community; Individuals at Risk for Institutionalization and Eligible for Long Term Care.
• Maintain updated progress notes, assessments, and data in the Electronic Health Record.
• Complete necessary and accurate Medi-Cal billing in the Electronic Health Record for services provided.
• Apply critical thinking skills and sound decision-making capabilities, often under pressure and in complex situations
• Ability to remain flexible, responsive, accessible, and adaptable.

Housing Navigation:

• Collaborate with patients facing homelessness to discuss the housing processes, options, and eligibility, tailored to the patient's preferences and needs.
• Enter all appropriate data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), following the criteria set out by HUD for data elements and the workflows set by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
• Assist patients to navigate the Coordinated Entry System.
• Complete and record VI-SPDAT assessments.
• In addition to VI-SPDAT assessments, conduct an annual Risk Assessment and Housing Goal Plan to guide service needs and strategic interventions, including contributing needs to secure and maintain housing.
• Understanding of application, approval, and terms of housing vouchers available to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness; assist eligible patients in applying to vouchers for rental assistance.
• Work collaboratively with patients' Lead Care Managers to provide updates, progress, and barrier(s) to stable, permanent housing.
• Provide patient assistance with obtaining copies of birth certificates, identification, and other documentation, as needed, for successful housing entry.
• Provide community-based accompaniment services to clients as needed.
• Explore alternative housing settings and resources, such as low-income housing, independent application processes for supportive housing opportunities, shared housing, interim/bridge settings, and shelter availability.
• Identify and work with community resources, coalitions, projects, and partnerships to ensure seamless access to and delivery of housing support services.
• Support patients with the housing application process for housing voucher(s) and/or Permanent Supportive Housing requirements.

Tenancy Support:

• Assist patients in increasing income; educate patients on establishing and maintaining a personal budget for housing maintenance.
• Conduct in-home visits to ensure patient safety and wellness.
• Provide assistance with transition to housing, including helping to orient patient to apartment expectations, upkeep, and navigation of community resources.
• Provide support and intervention with property managers to ensure collaboration, avoid eviction, crisis intervention, patient wellness, and advocacy in the success of tenancy.
• Educate patients and landlords, as needed, on Fair Housing Regulations and accommodation needs, including unit modification(s).
• Remain accessible to both patients and landlords in order to address concerns, engage in problem solving, and avoid possible eviction.
• Assist with annual recertification needs.
• Ensure accurate documentation of services in the Electronic Health Record.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• CPR Certification required.
• Bilingual Spanish a plus.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Two years of relevant case management experience is required. Bachelor's degree in social work or related field from a four-year college or university is preferred. Prior experience working with individuals experiencing homeless, substance use, physical health conditions, and/or mental health conditions.

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE: Experience with Electronic Health Records, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel is preferred. Experience with HMIS and CHAMP databases preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Familiarity with medical terms and operations of clinics is useful. Proficiency in English required, Bi-lingual/ Bi-literal Spanish is a plus.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as totals, proportions and percentages.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to independently make decisions in high-pressure situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to carriers of contagious diseases. The employee may have to deal with irate and irrational clients who may or may not be under the influence of mind-altering substances such as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, etc.

WORK STATUS: F ull-time, Regular, Non-exempt position. Equal Opportunity Employer. We will consider candidates with criminal history.

About the Company

Los Angeles Christian Health Centers opened in 1995 with a handful of staff but a big vision to render hope and healing through healthcare to the thousands of homeless and low-income residents living in Los Angeles County. Today, 120 staff members serve the County's most vulnerable populations from our two full-time health centers in Skid Row and Boyle Heights. We also provide comprehensive medical care at our 10 part-time satellite clinics hosted by our community partners throughout Downtown Los Angeles and Watts.