Homeless Shelter Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description: Program Director/ Case Manager Family Shelter
QUALIFICATIONS:
The Program Director shall possess the following:
o Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and accompanying license in New York State or related degree from an accredited university.
o Good character as evidenced by at least two (2) letters of recommendation from unrelated individuals knowledgeable of the person's background, qualifications, and experience.
o Experience in program management, supervision, and homeless services.
o Clearance from the central register for Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
o A valid driver's license.
o Physical ability to climb stairs daily

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Works at Program site, 4 unit mother/child homeless shelter,  providing overall supervision of staff, delivery of professional and confidential services for the residents, and information and referral services to those seeking assistance through Mercy Center Ministries Inc.  In consultation with Executive Director and Board of Directors, develop procedures and professional direction for agency programs.
Shelter Management: 
o Ensure appropriate use of department mandated systems, such as Shelter Online Attendance Reporting (SOAR) and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and DSS AWARDS, when available
o Develop and maintain collaborative partnership with community agencies that provide linkages and services to agency adults, children, and programs. 
o Maintain good relationships with town, neighbors, first responders 
o Provide 24/7 on-call services to program staff; ensure timely notification of serious incidents to the Department and timely submission of serious incident report in SMS
o Maintain staffing plan as per contract with DSS. Schedule all shelter coverage, evaluation of shelter staff, corrective actions for shelter staff as needed
o Any other administrative and/or compliance related responsibility required by the Department
o Ensure proper training for each staff member, as per OTDA/DSS requirements
o Ensure completion of monthly fire drills at each site, on rotating shifts
o Provide crisis management, including issues related to clients experiencing challenges following rules or engaging with staff
o Responsible for the timely scheduling of semi- annual site inspection with the Department, accompany the inspector for each site visit, schedule repairs and needed.
o Document and oversee all client and facility emergencies, provide support to staff as needed, including emergency relief. Calls from staff on duty to supervisor should be returned in under 1 hour depending on the nature of the message left. 
o Responsible for service coordination with the clients to assist them in their move to permanent housing
o Responsible for ensuring a clean, safe, and functional site doing rounds of entire site 2x per shift and documenting it. 
o Provide direct supervision, and schedule training for shelter staff
o Perform 90-day and annual staff evaluations
o Document staff development including corrective actions and policy review meetings

Case Management: 
o Ensure all clients referred by the Department are checked in –in when they arrive, no matter the time of day
o Ensures duties of housing and all other shelter staff are completed thoroughly and timely
o Document and oversee all client and facility emergencies
o Oversee admission, client needs assessment and ILP completion; ensure all housing applications, violations, and discharges are completed thoroughly 
o Complete shelter admission packet and intake (to be defined by the Department) at client’s admission to the shelter
o Complete initial service plan with all clients within 10 days of admission, and every 2 weeks thereafter; document action steps client must take to progress towards permanent housing
o Ensure residents are always provided with nutritional meals
o Work with client to identify exit plan and timeframe
o Ensure client applies for and maintain a temporary assistance case
o Assist client to budget for and pay their shelter obligation
o Advise, guide, assist and motivate clients to become proactive in attaining all goals to become independent and to maintain responsibility for themselves, their children, and environment
o Maintain communication with Executive Director on progress of all clients
o Maintain confidentiality of the clients’ personal information
o Completed all applicable housing applications each client may be eligible for, including but not limited to Single Point of Access (SPA), permanent supportive housing (PSH), shelter supplement program (SSP)
o Develop transition plan with client once preparing to move to permanent housing
o Plan and lead weekly house meetings for residents

Housing: 
o Responsible to assist clients identify housing options
o Establish and maintain permanent housing resource list, to include landlords, management companies, housing developments, local housing authorities, real estate agency, etc.
o Develop a working relationship with all permanent housing resources
o Make housing appointments for residents for residents and accompany whenever possible
o Advocate for clients with landlords and real estate agents
o Assist residents in making housing calls and ensure housing logs are correct
o Submit monthly housing logs to the Department listing all permanent housing searches
o Secure housing leads from newspapers, internet, real estate agencies and other outside sources and distribute housing leading to all residents
o Arrange for transportation so residents can view housing leads
o Assist client in all activities once linked to housing-paperwork, TA requirements, etc.
o Any other housing related responsibility require by the Department

Administrative Responsibilities:
o Meet for Director’s meeting with peer Directors, Executive and Associate Directors bi-weekly.
o Assist at Fundraisers
o Inform Executive Director of potential admission/discharge ; and any emergency crisis involving the residents
o Attend Board of Directors meetings as required
o Complete recordings, reports, statistics as described and required by funding and supervisory agencies
*Other Duties as requested.