Housing Coordinator

About the role

The Housing Coordinator will support and promote LACHC's mission to follow Christ by loving and serving our neighbors through comprehensive, quality healthcare. The Housing Coordinator will provide intensive housing-focused care management services to patients experiencing homelessness and chronic homelessness under the Medi-Cal Community Supports programming.

Responsibilities

• Participate in high-touch, in-person, outreach strategies to continually engage with patients referred for Housing Coordination and/or Tenancy Support Services.
• Working knowledge of Housing First and tenant rights under Fair Housing.
• Clear understanding of nonprofit and community resources for individuals experiencing homelessness in Service Planning Area (SPA) 4.
• Understanding of Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, and Harm Reduction strategies, including certification in Narcan administration.
• Synthesize complex information from assessments, trainings, and research to implement up-to-date, evidence-based interventions for impactful housing navigation and tenancy support.
• Demonstrable expertise in condition(s), and strategies to assist the Medi-Cal Enhanced Care Management populations of focus: Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness; High Utilizers; Adults with Serious Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorder; Incarcerated and Transitioning to the Community; Individuals at Risk for Institutionalization and Eligible for Long Term Care.
• Maintain updated progress notes, assessments, and data in the Electronic Health Record.
• Complete necessary and accurate Medi-Cal billing in the Electronic Health Record for services provided.
• Apply critical thinking skills and sound decision-making capabilities, often under pressure and in complex situations.
• Ability to remain flexible, responsive, accessible, and adaptable.
• Housing Navigation
• Collaborate with patients facing homelessness to discuss the housing processes, options, and eligibility, tailored to the patient’s preferences and needs.
• Enter all appropriate data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), following the criteria set out by HUD for data elements and the workflows set by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).
• Assist patients to navigate the Coordinated Entry System.
• Conduct an annual Risk Assessment and Housing Goal Plan to guide service needs and strategic interventions, including contributing needs to secure and maintain housing.
• Explore alternative housing settings and resources, such as low-income housing, independent application processes for supportive housing opportunities, shared housing, interim/bridge settings, and shelter availability.
• Identify and work with community resources, coalitions, projects, and partnerships to ensure seamless access to and delivery of housing support services.
• Support patients with the housing application process for housing voucher(s) and/or Permanent Supportive Housing requirements.
• Tenancy Support
• Aid patients in increasing income; educate patients on establishing and maintaining a personal budget for housing maintenance.
• Conduct in-home visits to ensure patient safety and wellness.
• Provide support and intervention with property managers to ensure collaboration, avoid eviction, crisis intervention, patient wellness, and advocacy in the success of tenancy.
• Educate patients and landlords, as needed, on Fair Housing Regulations and accommodation needs, including unit modification(s).
• Remain accessible to both patients and landlords in order to address concerns, engage in problem solving, and avoid possible eviction.
• Affirm and assist with annual recertification needs.
• Ensure accurate documentation of services in the Electronic Health Record.

Qualifications

• CPR Certification required.
• Bilingual Spanish a plus.
• Two years of relevant case management experience is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field from a four-year college or university is preferred.
• Prior experience working with individuals experiencing homeless, substance use, physical health conditions, and/or mental health conditions.
• Experience with Electronic Health Records, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel is preferred.
• Experience with HMIS and CHAMP databases preferred.
• Familiarity with medical terms and operations of clinics is useful.
• Proficiency in English required, Bi-lingual/ Bi-literal Spanish is a plus.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as totals, proportions and percentages.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to independently make decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Sit and talk or hear.
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
• Stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Exposure to carriers of contagious diseases.
• Deal with irate and irrational clients who may or may not be under the influence of mind-altering substances such as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, etc.