Housing Case Manager

Description

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California began in December 1944 when a group of Lutheran congregations in San Diego came together to discuss how to better assist families in need. They began discussing how to form a Welfare Commission. Their vision expanded when they came together with another group of Lutheran congregations in Los Angeles having the very same conversation. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California was officially incorporated in 1946 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit social service agency. The mission has stayed true to its earliest beginnings, to be a servant to those in need. Today LSSSC serves thousands of individuals and families throughout Southern California with over 45 programs/services at 18 locations. We are part of the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) network and strive to serve those in need with dignity and respect.

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California’s Mission: Ignited by faith, we live out God’s love by embracing, equipping and empowering vulnerable individuals, families and communities toward self-sufficiency.

Job Summary: Housing Case Manager (HCM) provides supportive services and rental assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in finding housing through the Rapid Rehousing (RRH) permanent housing placement program. The HCM will be responsible for assisting individuals and families experiencing homelessness in finding housing promptly through Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) services. The HCM will be responsible for assisting low-come individuals and families to prevent or end homelessness by focusing on one-time and short-term financial assistance through Homeless Prevention (HP) services. The HCM will work with program participants to eliminate barriers to housing stability, including employment, increasing income, addressing mental/physical health, transportation, childcare, community engagement, strength-based case management, advocacy, landlord mediation and outreach to promote self-sufficiency. The HCM will manage multiple cases at once, build on the strengths of participants, develop person-centered service plans, and connect participants with needed resources and services. Creative problem-solving, careful record-keeping and strong community/landlord linkages and relationship will be key.

Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Screen, assess eligibility, verify client needs, and conduct intakes for prospective participants.

• Complete Reverse Referral and Community Que Referrals in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) system for all RRH participants.

• Conduct street and community-based outreach to find and engage individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including in encampments, shelters, vehicles, motels, and other places not meant for human habitation.

• Assess program participants at program entry to jointly develop a strength-based, goal-driven action plan, progress monitoring, money management, tenant education, and referrals that promote permanent housing and self-sufficiency in the future.

• Identifying participant strengths and barriers to stability to help ensure proper housing options or maintain their current housing.

• Conduct landlord outreach to recruit and maintain relationships with landlords and property managers and

expand available housing units.

• Advocate with landlords on behalf of prospective tenants and mediate landlord-tenant conflicts to prevent

eviction.

• Conduct or coordinate housing habitability inspections and rent reasonableness determinations as required by funders

• Collaborate with participants to locate, secure, and keep proper housing; assist with housing applications, landlord negotiations, and lease review.

• Coordinate outreach efforts with the San Bernardino County Coordinated Entry System (CES), 211, law enforcement homeless outreach teams, health and behavioral health providers, and other outreach partners.

• Work with participants to locate, secure or maintain appropriate housing; assist with landlord negotiations, housing applications, and leases when needed; advocate with landlords for prospective tenants.

• Maintain professional rapport with clients, peers and other community service providers.

• Identifying and provide outreach to landlords and community organizations to educate them about RRH and HP related services:

• Locate suitable RRH housing options.

• Locate landlords with residents in need of HP services.

• Build relationships and connections with landlords.

• Serve as a landlord liaison to help mitigate any issues that arise with tenants.

• Work with tenants and landlords to solve issues and prevent evictions.

• Develop a referral network of services and supports that assist with housing retention, including linkages for warm handoffs to specialists in employment, transportation, childcare, social service benefits, substance use issues, mental health, medical care, HIV specialized care, etc.

• Decide and document participant eligibility for rental aid, security deposits, utility assistance, and arrears payments.

• Develop transition plans with participants as they are near program exit

• Prepare and submit financial assistance requests accurately and on time, in line with program policies and funding limits

• Reassess participant eligibility and level of financial assistance at required intervals.

• Build relationships with program participants to learn their needs, goals, strengths, and barriers to maintaining stable housing; keep the channels of communication open and be proactive about problem-solving.

• Participate in case conferencing, Continuum of Care meetings, and community partner meetings.

• Attend staff meetings, supervision, and required training

• Fulfill mandated reporting obligations for suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse.

• Conduct follow-up contacts after exit to support long-term housing retention, as required by the program

• Provide comprehensive case management support to program participants and ensure services are individualized, culturally competent, family-focused, goal-driven, strength-based, and appropriate.

• Provide supportive services to increase access to health care, benefit entitlement services, immigration, employment and vocational services.

• Match program participants to appropriate housing options, always taking their needs and ability to generate income into account.

• Prepare program participants for eventual self-sufficiency:

• Build connections with potential employers and training programs.

• Prepare participants for job interviews; assist with building a resume.

• Teach participants budgeting and financial literacy skills.

• Ensure participants possess basic life and home care skills; provide training, if needed.

• Conduct visits in participant’s homes once housed to ensure compliance with lease and program agreements.

• Conduct crisis management and home interventions as well as follow-ups.

• Perform benefits and housing maintenance counseling.

• Ensure the client has regular contact with their primary care provider and can access and maintain medical insurance/assistance.

• Document program activity, including prescreens, eligibility, intakes, financial assistance, housing search, applications, landlord mediations and case management.

• Organize and maintain case files in a timely manner and in accordance with professional practice and HIPAA.

• Maintain Internal databases and client rosters.

• Provide monthly program reports to the supervisors.

• Attending meetings and trainings

• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, counseling, or related field.

• Minimum two years of experience providing case management with vulnerable and/or disabled population specifically the chronically homeless, mental health and/or substance abuse population.

• Proven experience as a program supervision or relevant position.

• Knowledge of program management and development policies and procedures.

• Knowledge of Housing First and Trauma Informed Practices

• Knowledge of budgeting, bookkeeping, and reporting.

• Tech savvy, proficient in MS Office.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Bilingual in English and Spanish.

· Experience with HMIS and Coordinated Entry in San Bernardino County.

· Street outreach experience, including engagement in encampments and unsheltered settings.

· Knowledge of Housing First, Rapid Re-Housing, and Homeless Prevention models.

· Interpersonal - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

· Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

· Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed; Recognizes accomplishments of other team members.

· Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Able to read and interpret written information.

· Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Conserves organizational resources.

· Ethics - Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values. Follow the organization’s policies and procedures and avoid involvement in activities that are conflict of interest.

· Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

· Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

· Language Ability: Must read, speak and write fluent English.

· Communication: Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and staff.

· Math Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

· Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

· Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Word Processing software and Spreadsheet software.

· 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. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.