Housing Focused Case Manager

Housing Focused Case Manager

The Housing Focused Case Manager provides critical linkages to and coordination of services on behalf of individuals at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS). The Housing Focused Case Manager is responsible for utilizing a Housing First approach to rapidly exit adult only households from ERCS and will be held responsible for meeting or exceeding outcomes as well as other contractual obligations. The Housing Focused Case Manager must possess a patient, trauma-informed approach to service delivery using an equity lens. The Housing Focused Case Manager ensures that housing focused services are equitable and delivered with integrity in accordance with the Agency Mission, Vision, and Values. The Housing Focused Case Manager works as an integral member of the ERCS and Cornerstones team focusing on five primary outcome areas: reducing length of homelessness, exits to permanent housing, increase in income, reduction in debt, improvement in credit score, reducing recidivism and returns to homelessness, and integrated care management.

Housing focused case management services include, but are not limited to: assessment of social, health, emotional, and economic needs of shelter participants, development and monitoring of individualized housing stability plans to address barriers to housing, collaboration and coordination with community and partner organizations, referrals for service, assistance with searching for and obtaining employment and housing, providing consultation and training, crisis intervention, group facilitation, field visits and tracking and documenting case information in case files and in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). A candidate that is bilingual in English/Spanish and has the ability to use one's lived personal experience of housing instability to help assess system barriers is a plus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages an average caseload of 12-15 adult only households experiencing homelessness at ERCS.
• Conducts comprehensive in-depth assessments utilizing uniform intake/assessment tools developed by the Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) as well as assessment and action planning tools developed for Cornerstones Integrated Care Management (ICM) services.
• Works with shelter participants to prepare, implement and monitor individual plans and budgets that, at a minimum, address the core outcome areas as well as other significant barriers to housing. Plans must include goals and specific action steps needed to meet those goals.
• Works closely with the Housing Locator to educate shelter participants about and assist them with obtaining affordable appropriate housing.
• Assesses household eligibility and need for benefits and services and makes appropriate referrals, including requests for financial and / or housing assistance, and connection with county and mainstream benefits.
• Advocates for and actively assists individuals in obtaining services (e.g. behavioral health, intellectual disability, substance use disorder, housing referrals, financial assistance, employment, training, medical services, mentoring and socialization).
• Provides mediation and advocacy with landlords on the individual's behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain housing.
• Creates and maintains consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e. tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors).
• Applies knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate individuals of their rights and responsibilities.
• Makes referrals for credit counseling and other services necessary to assist participants with critical skills related to budgeting, managing money, accessing a free personal credit report, and resolving personal credit problems.
• Maintains effective partnerships with OPEH, the Fairfax County Health Department, the Fairfax County Community Services Board (CSB), Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), Department of Family Services (DFS), and the Fairfax County Department of Adult and Aging, to ensure participants receive holistic, integrated care management across Cornerstones.
• Addresses and if necessary, diffuses crisis situations with shelter participants. Assesses safety concerns and assists shelter participants to access emergency services as needed (e.g., medical, behavioral health services, adult protective services).
• Maintains level of contact with households served based on the level of service need, and minimum program requirements.
• Maintains case and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) files that meet agency and contractual standards.
• Develops and facilitates psycho-educational groups or trainings for shelter participants and colleagues.
• Conducts housing inspections (as appropriate).
• Participates in multi-disciplinary meetings, case staffing's, as well as community-wide trainings and meetings.
• Provides intern / volunteer supervision (as appropriate).
• Works a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends.
• Uses automated technology including HMIS and hard copy files to maintain, update, and report on case data, goal attainment, and outcomes in a timely manner.
• Assists with front desk coverage when needed.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provides intern / volunteer supervision (as appropriate).

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Bachelor's degree in an applicable human services field or commensurate experience with homeless and/or at-risk populations. Master's Degree preferred.
• MSW plus two years post-Master's degree a plus.
• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish, English/Arabic, English/French is preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite or related software.
• Requires knowledge and belief in "Housing First" and "Rapid Re-Housing" philosophy and strategies.
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals including people with mental health and/or substance abuse disabilities is required.
• Extensive knowledge of current homelessness strategies and priorities [Trauma-Informed Care, Housing First, Equity] essential.
• Knowledge of current social service, homeless, and housing issues and methods/approaches to address issues.
• Knowledge and understanding of tenant's rights and responsibilities as well as "strengths based" case management.
• Knowledge of the principals and practices of case management.
• Knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service provision.
• Ability to use HMIS to establish and maintain case records and to facilitate data collection.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with staff, clients, volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and as a member of a team.
• Must be detailed with strong attention to follow-through, flexible, and able to work accurately under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Must be responsible, dependable, and display the highest level of integrity.
• Must have a valid drivers' license with no history of significant accidents or moving violations.

Attitude

• Attentive to constraints of time and funds in setting stretch goals.
• Respectful of staff, volunteers, funders and clients.
• Forward thinker, considering not just today but what are the implications for tomorrow.
• Collaborative leader, working with others individually and in teams.

Work Environment

• This position is performed in an emergency shelter environment.
• Some work is performed outdoors in both the winter and summer.
• Occasional driving of personal or Cornerstones' vehicle.
• Candidate must be able to drive 15-passenger van.

Physical Requirements

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

• Prolonged sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular in person interaction with the public, clients, and stakeholders.
• Handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 10-20 pounds.
• Occasional navigation of (stairs, ramps, ladders…).
• Nosie level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.