Family Shelter Case Manager

Job Description


About Lighthouse

Lighthouse MI is a growing non-profit, established in 2019 when Lighthouse of Oakland County and South Oakland Shelter joined forces to offer a stronger collective response to poverty in our Metro Detroit community. With over 80 years of combined experience, Lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope to our neighbors who need it most by offering assistance with emergency basic needs alongside housing programs and supportive services designed to support long-term economic stability. Lighthouse owns and operates Spero Housing Group, a subsidiary non-profit dedicated specifically to developing and operating high quality affordable and supportive housing for persons of low and moderate income, as well as HandUp, a community and crowdfunding platform serving 100+ homeless service agencies and their clients across the United States.

Position Summary

The Case Manager will work directly with the families within Lighthouse's Emergency Family Shelter. The Case Manager will provide housing case management and connect households with resources to obtain and sustain housing. These services will focus on assisting households alleviate their immediate housing crisis, identify additional services needed and work with households to expedite their transition into positive, permanent housing. The ideal candidate will have great communication skills and critical thinking skills to coordinate services and resources for the household. The ideal candidate will also have great interpersonal skills to develop relationships with clients for continued engagement to resolve their homelessness.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Perform screenings and intakes for the shelter program via the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
• Maintain a caseload of 15-20 households,
• Manage the nightly check-in process for the shelter program,
• Provide nightly communication to the shelter team regarding new clients, exited clients, and any specific needs or requests,
• Provide intensive, weekly case management to individuals and families experiencing homelessness,
• Assist in providing weekly daytime or evening support at our shelter locations,.
• Complete asset/needs assessments and assist clients in developing and implementing an Individual Service Plan outlining their goals and relevant action steps,
• Use the Mainstream Benefits Access Tool to screen and connect households to appropriate benefits,
• Screen and connect households to various internal and external housing programs and resources,
• Assist households in searching for and locating affordable housing including securing documents needed to apply for housing,
• Complete Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections when moving a client into housing
• Complete timely case notes and service transactions via HMIS and collect needed data to support the measurement of program outcomes,
• Complete shelter exit interviews, and assist individuals transitioning out of shelter with discharge planning,
• Refer clients to Follow-up Care program, upon exiting the shelter into housing,
• Foster inter-agency collaborative solutions to help clients attain long-term stability,
• Ensure the proper maintenance of client files and records,
• Assist with rotating emergency phone support as needed,
• And assist with after hours remote access to the building for clients, as needed.

Other Core Responsibilities

• Foster and coordinate inter-agency collaborative solutions and referrals to help clients connect with shelter, meet their goals, and attain long-term stability.
• Ensure the proper maintenance of client related files and records.
• Continuously improve and consistently implement various case management and data collection tools.
• Enforce program rules, policies, and procedures and uphold agency values to maintain a safe, client-centered, and inclusive environment for clients, staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Assist with front-desk operations, answering phones, and crisis calls as needed.
• Participate in internal and external task-forces and committees working to assist the homeless population.

Minimum Qualifications

• Lived or professional experience working with people experiencing homelessness or extreme levels of poverty in the US.
• 1+ years' experience in a role directly or indirectly related to human/social services, homeless and re-housing services, and/or case management
• Bachelor's Degree from a 4-year accredited college or university within a related field or an additional four years of relevant experience
• Reliable transportation and maintenance of automobile insurance
• Valid driver's license, Lighthouse reserves that right to require a driving record check with respect to any employee where driving is an essential function of the position.
• Knowledgeable in with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Apps,
• Flexibility and the capacity to prioritize tasks in a rapidly changing environment
• Ability to multitask effectively in a fast paced environment
• Ability to work with a challenging and diverse population
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

• BSW from a 4-year accredited college or university or master's degree in a related field
• 2+ years' experience in a role directly or indirectly related to a human/social services and/or case management
• An understanding of the social constructs impacting those experiencing economic instability,
• Knowledge of the social services landscape in Oakland County and surrounding areas
• HMIS experience
• Ability to self-regulate and work independently while coordinating with other staff
• An appetite for innovation and creative problem-solving
• Harm Reduction, Trauma Informed Care, Housing First, and SPDAT training
• Proven ability to work effectively with racially and ethnically diverse clients and teams
• Experience in managing and leading teams
• Ability to build consensus and resolve conflict; exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations.
• Exceptional communication ability, both written and oral.
• Ability to listen and accept feedback constructively.
• Possess high emotional intelligence skills.
• Unwavering personal integrity.
• Ability to lead in a fast paced, demanding, constantly changing environment

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Physical Demands:

The incumbent typically works in an office environment and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office. Incumbent may encounter frequent interruptions throughout the workday. The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 20 pounds. Contact with the public in office environments may risk exposure to irrational/hostile behavior, contagious diseases, or contact with domestic animals. The physical demands 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.


Excellent benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life, matching 401(k), and more.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills. Lighthouse is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate against any qualified individual based on race, creed, religion, national origin, color, status as a veteran, gender or gender identity, sex, age, sexual preference or orientation, marital status, disability, income, weight, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume online via JobScore.


Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, until the position is filled.


No phone or e-mail inquiries, please.