Housing Search Case Manager

Responsibilities

• Conduct Housing Based Assessment to best determine the immediate client concerns and/or barriers related to accessing and sustaining housing including, but not limited to: income, employment, housing, food and nutrition, adult education, legal, health, life skills, mental health, substance abuse, family relations, mobility, community involvement/linkages, safety, prevention skills, transportation and domestic violence;
• Obtain resources and services as requested and/or needed to address barriers to housing as stated above including but not limited to; CORI resolution, credit problems, and assistance with financial applications;
• Develop partnerships and collaborations with internal and external service providers to ensure client receives comprehensive services within Housing First Framework;
• Aid client with move-in transition supports including but not limited to; furniture and furnishings assistance, budget support, and other resources and services as needed;
• Maintain on-going relationship with placed clients and/or ensure that they are connected to community supports and services;
• Make home visits to clients who have obtained permanent housing as needed and/or requested.
• Develop and implement a housing intake/history with homeless and/or at-risk of homelessness clients;
• Develop and implement a tracking system for clients regarding their housing search and placements;
• Ensure that all homeless or at-risk clients are assisted with completion of standardized, universal applications;
• Ensure that all clients receive explanation and assistance with navigating housing application processes including referral to all appropriate housing opportunities, including but not limited to, local housing authorities, regional non-profit housing agencies, private management companies, and community development corporations;
• Aid clients as needed with on-going housing search including but not limited to, contacting prospective landlords and/or management companies, accompanying clients to view and apply for units, attending appointments at housing agencies and other search activities as they present;
• Collaborate with other staff to develop housing leads and landlord contacts through outreach activities;
• Cookordinate housing search efforts with internal and external resources;
• Share information regarding housing opportunities with other staff;
• Work closely with the other staff to develop and conduct housing search workshops to address varied needs and stages of housing search.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree preferred; may be substituted for 2 years of relevant work experience
• At least 2 years of experience in non-profit social services programming or related field
• Case Management and assessment experience with homeless individuals and families;
• Experience with crisis intervention regarding issues such as homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse;
• Experience assisting clients with housing barriers, including legal, financial, psychological and criminal;
• Knowledge and experience with MA state service systems including but not limited to, DTA, the DCF, and DMH;
• Knowledge and experience with service agencies and resources for homeless individuals and families;
• Experience with direct service delivery;
• Willingness to accompany clients as needed to appointments;
• Willingness to work as part of a team to promote the goals of the program and agency;
• Sensitive to the needs of the homeless, low income and diverse populations;
• Ability to work in a busy, diverse team setting;
• Excellent time management, organizational and communication skills;
• Bi-lingual Preferred