Intensive Case Manager for Homeless Housing and Mental Health Services

About the Organization

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) has been a pioneer in mental health service, advocacy, innovation, and training for nearly a century, working to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities. MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County, supporting over 19,000 low-income and no-income individuals annually with integrated services. The agency achieves impact in mental and physical healthcare, homelessness and housing, supported employment, and wellness and financial services, with special programs for Veterans and transition-age youth.

MHALA also provides training programs for individuals joining the behavioral health workforce and for the larger community around mental health issues. The agency fosters a culture of communication, collaboration, transparency, and work/life balance, encouraging employees to engage in self-care. MHALA promotes diversity and a team-oriented environment with opportunities for growth, offering a competitive salary and full benefits package, including an employee assistance program and generous paid time off.

About the Role

Under the general supervision of the Program Manager, provide high-quality Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) to clients eligible for permanent housing through the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) Housing for Health (HFH) and other programs. Employ a client-centered, "whatever it takes" approach to assist clients in their transition from homelessness to permanent supportive housing, addressing challenges faced by individuals with medical and behavioral health issues.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals at every stage of the housing stabilization process, including flexible services to meet individual client needs.
• Conduct outreach and engagement, process referrals from DHS, Coordinated Entry System (CES) partners, and other HFH partners, establish rapport, and provide a "screening in" philosophy.
• Perform face-to-face screenings, obtain consents, and link clients to other needed providers and services.
• Conduct intake and enrollment activities, assist with program eligibility documentation, complete project intake forms, and enroll clients into ICMS.
• Assist with temporary housing referrals until permanent housing is secured.
• Prepare and enter all documentation into appropriate systems on a monthly basis.
• Assist at all levels of move-in to permanent housing, including helping clients become document-ready, coordinating applications and paperwork, and orienting new tenants to their unit/building.
• Conduct DHS-approved comprehensive psychosocial assessments and develop individualized case management service plans in collaboration with the client.
• Ensure clients have access to health, mental health, and substance use disorder services, and assist with establishing a medical home.
• Help clients obtain income, establish benefits, secure employment or educational opportunities, and address basic needs, life skills, and community participation.
• Provide transportation, housing location services (if scattered-site), and education on tenant rights and responsibilities.
• Educate clients on crisis intervention services versus emergency calls and provide eviction prevention counseling.
• Work with property management and HFH partners to resolve issues threatening housing stability.
• Complete all paperwork in compliance with applicable laws, professional licensure requirements, and agency standards, including 24-hour turnaround documentation in EHR.
• Maintain and enhance professional skills through research, training, workshops, and seminars.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED with a minimum of 1 year of experience providing psychosocial rehabilitation services to a disabled population (required).
• Bachelor’s degree in a human service or related field (preferred).
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to learn and utilize Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and Electronic Health Records Systems (EHR).
• Experience working with clients with mental illness, chronic health issues, and substance use disorders.
• Expertise in chronic homelessness, outreach and engagement strategies, intensive case management, best practice models, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, affordable housing, public benefits applications, housing and landlord/tenant rights, and eviction prevention.
• Ability to maintain a caseload ratio of 1 full-time equivalent intensive case manager to 20–25 clients with a VI-SPDAT of 1 or 2.
• Flexible work schedule, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Valid Class C driver’s license, a vehicle for transportation, proof of automobile insurance, and ability to be insured by MHALA’s liability insurance (conditions of employment).
• TB clearance and annual re-testing (conditions of continued employment).
• Employment verification directly from three past employers within the most recent 7-year period.

Pay

$24.00 per hour (35 hours per week). The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and full benefits package.
• Employee assistance program.
• Generous paid time off.