Shelter Case Manager

Shelter Case Manager

The Shelter Case Manager assists individuals in moving from homelessness to permanent housing by providing weekly case management and supportive services. We are seeking an individual with strong critical and analytical thinking and transformative skills that will meet program guidelines and ensure participant success. Services are delivered using a low-barrier, harm reduction, housing-focused, person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally conscious, voluntary services model, designed to support participants in obtaining housing and developing independent living skills.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Provides weekly housing-focused case management to a caseload of 18-24 individuals;
• Engages, assesses, and develops housing needs and individual housing plans with participants to quickly exit shelter and build skills toward housing stabilization;
• Performs participant intake assessment to determine participant's needs and goals, and collaborates with participant to develop a strengths-based, solution-focused individual service and action plan that promotes obtaining and maintaining permanent housing;
• Upon intake, assist participants in obtaining applicable identity and income documentation for housing applications, including any other documents required to qualify for housing programs per Coordinated Access Network (CAN) guidelines;
• Supports participants in brainstorming ways to remove barriers and reduce participants' average lengths of stay;
• Increase the number of households who exit to permanent housing using shelter diversion techniques, family mediation, and other resources to assist participants in self-resolving their housing crisis;
• Assists participants in conducting rental searches, submitting applications, and attending housing-related appointments;
• Connects participants to cash, medical, and other benefits; supportive services including but not limited to workforce development, financial literacy, childcare, transportation, and healthcare and other community-based services;
• Assists participants in attending appointments, including providing transportation utilizing personal vehicle for agency business, as appropriate; and
• Provides education on good tenancy.

Schedule:

• The Shelter Case Manager is a full-time, non-exempt position. Work schedule is Tuesday- Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm; may offer flexibility based upon program needs. Due to the nature of the role, working on a Saturday is required and non-negotiable.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

YWCA Hartford Region (YWCA), in recognition of its values and responsibility to its employees and the communities in which it operates, is committed to equality of opportunity. To this end, YWCA's policy is to comply with the laws, regulations, and orders that provide for and impose obligations on employers with respect to the management of their equal employment opportunity programs.

Accordingly, YWCA does not discriminate or permit discrimination against any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. YWCA Hartford Region, Inc. takes affirmative action to ensure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, military status, veteran status, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to blindness, unless such disability prevents performance of the work involved.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree preferred. Preferably in human services or related fields.

Experience:

• Two (2) years' experience in human services or a related field required.
• Bachelor's degree in human services will be considered alongside related experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work with participants experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental health, and substance use issues required.
• Experience providing residential and community case management services, determining appropriate interventions, and solving practical problems.
• Candidates already part of the Coordinated Access Network are encouraged to apply.
• Skilled in individual and group-based interventions.

Knowledge and Licensure:

• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.
• Possession of and ability to maintain a valid driver's license, reliable vehicle, and current registration and insurance.
• Candidate with strong critical and forward-thinking skills, allowing for independent problem-solving for best practices for participants.

Skills:

• Adaptability: Adapts easily to change and competing priorities.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Composure: Responds to information and situations in a self-controlled manner.
• Customer Service: Excellent interpersonal skills including professional demeanor and positive, service-oriented attitude toward all internal and external customers.
• Emotional Intelligence: Recognizes and values the diversity and uniqueness of others. Empathetically and respectfully accepts these differences and works cooperatively and sincerely to optimize the contributions of all individuals.
• Ethics & Integrity: Ability to adhere to confidentiality guidelines. Makes decisions and conducts self in a manner consistent with the organization's mission. Treats all individuals in the work environment respectfully. Demonstrates high personal standards of acceptance and openness to others.
• Personal Accountability: Accepts responsibility for own actions and embraces experiences as learning opportunities.
• Planning: Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Problem Solving: Ability to de-escalate crises with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Service: Passion, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven and self-directed.
• Team Building: Preference for working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Technical Skills: Proficient use of Microsoft Office and other computer applications used for tracking data and reporting outcomes.

YWCA Hartford Region