Case Manager, Housing

Description

The Case Manager Housing connects highly vulnerable community members experiencing homelessness to community services, employment, income growth, and housing and transitioning from experiencing homelessness to housing. The Case Manager utilizes crisis response/intervention, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed care principles to build trusting relationships and deliver wrap-around housing stability services. The Case Manager conducts individual assessments and case planning, provides income growth, job readiness, housing search, and placement services, housing plan development, and health and job resource services. This role works outside the office to meet program participants in their homes, in the community, and at Catholic Charities program locations.
Essential Functions

Case Management and Service Coordination

1. Provide support to participants as they transition from street to shelter to housing. Intervene in crisis situations, promote positive solutions, and re-establish stability while providing intervention, support, and mediation to foster housing stability.
2. Develop a trusting and consistent relationship with each client that supports them to envision positive change, receive needed support, and achieve their goals.
3. Conduct thorough assessment to identify the client's unique story, risk factors, and strengths to build upon for a successful program outcome.
4. Develop strength-based/solution-focused individualized action plans that promote income growth, housing, self-sufficiency, goal achievement.
5. Coordinate wrap around services including mental health, legal assistance, entitlement benefits, health care, substance abuse treatment, job training, and housing assistance.
6. Practice assertive engagement to motivate, encourage participation, and promote follow-through.
7. Maintain professional boundaries and a strict level of confidentiality.

Communication and Documentation

1. Maintain thorough, accurate, and up-to-date Case Records and document service encounters as required; enter data in a timely manner in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), DataLink, and/or Smartsheets.
2. Gather housing documentation in an accurate and timely manner including application information, chronic homelessness verification, disability verification, financial records, identification, rental calculations, and annual voucher certifications.
3. Respond to calls, emails, update requests, and other inquiries in a professional and timely manner.
4. Follow all best practices standards of care. Follow all Catholic Charities' Policies and Procedures, including release of information, informed consent, confidentiality, and file documentation.
5. Complete required training and certifications within the established time-period.
6. Serve on an agency or community service committee representing the department and/or agency as assigned.
7. Conduct case management-related duties independently, exercise sound professional and case management judgement, maintain case records with minimal documentation errors and/or corrective actions.
8. Prepare monthly program data reports and participant summaries as assigned.
9. Support the Mission, Vision, and Values of Catholic Charities in the performance of all essential job functions and responsibilities.

Employment and/or Income Growth

1. Provide financial literacy services, including bankruptcy support, credit education, credit reports, and banking services.
2. Assist in the development of a personal budget. Provide budget counseling services and education to assist in establishing payment plans for past debts and to obtain and maintain housing.
3. Prepare participants for employment, including resume preparation, interviewing skills, job search support and workplace etiquette.

Housing Support

1. Assist participants with accessing resources and services to increase housing stability, e.g., linkage to primary care physicians, health insurance, food banks, credit repair, legal aid, In Home Supportive Services (IHSS), money management, tenant rights and responsibilities, mental health, benefits enrollment.
2. Support participants through each step in the housing process, including income growth and attainment, on-time rent payment, budgeting, roommate mediation, neighbor mediation, and successful tenancy.
3. Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice and to create and maintain consistent communication channels between the participant and landlords, referral sources, creditors, and collaborating agencies.
4. Provide advocacy and medication on the client's behalf with landlords, property manages, and housing agencies to obtain and maintain housing.
5. Service as an ongoing liaison with property managers, resource and service providers, and neighbors, as needed, to maintain stable housing.
6. Conduct home visits and accompany participants as needed to appointments related to housing.
7. Provide independent living skills coaching, instruction, and assistance to participants. Independent living skills include paying bills and rent, household management, cleaning, personal hygiene, cooking, nutrition, and personal care.
8. Participate in case conferences, tenant meetings, staff meetings, and community meetings as required

Note: Catholic Charities considers this position to be a mandated reporter of child abuse and elder abuse.

Other Responsibilities

1. Work with Diocese of Santa Rosa and local parishes as appropriate and requested.
2. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Agency Culture

It is essential that all employees of Catholic Charities aspire to the following:

• A commitment to the agency's mission, vision, and values.
• A commitment to excellence in everything we do.
• A commitment to performance and quality improvement.
• A commitment to outcomes and measured results.
• A commitment to innovation and to what is possible.

Education, Experience, and Skills Required

1. Associate degree in a social service or related field or one to two years' experience working as a case manager in housing stabilization or navigation, career readiness or equal work experience, required; bachelor's degree preferred. Two or three years of additional may substitute for an associate degree.
2. Understanding of causes of homelessness, experience working within social services and familiarity with community resources.
3. Prior experience in conducting vocational assessments and understanding transferable skills, aptitudes and abilities and the barriers that hinder employment.
4. Ability to work closely with participants of diverse backgrounds in an interactive and culturally sensitive manner, familiarity with harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation techniques.
5. Ability to work under pressure with a positive, solution-oriented approach.
6. Computer literacy required, including experience with Microsoft 365 Suite including Excel.
7. Strong written and verbal communication; organization, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
8. Excellent interpersonal skills, cooperative, friendly, proactive, and helpful attitude toward clients and co-workers. Ability to work closely with clients and other employees to ensure a positive and constructive environment within the program and throughout the agency.
9. Passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Catholic Charities and its participants.
10. Valid California driver license and at least state required minimum of automobile insurance, clear DMV driving record and ability to provide own transportation. Must be willing and able to travel between agency sites.
11. Must pass DOJ background clearance (fingerprinting) in accordance with the Diocese of Santa Rosa's policies prior to start of employment.
12. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required.

Job Analysis/Job Description 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 job.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is often required to stand, walk, travel, and stoop or bend. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods while using a computer.


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. Frequent incoming telephone calls, scanners, and copiers as well as a wide range of clients or at times clients in distress contribute to a noise level of average to above average.


Employee signature below constitutes employee's understanding of the essential duties, functions, and requirements of the position.


Employee Signature__________________________________________ Date______________