Supportive Housing Case Worker- Bridgeport

About the role

New Reach is a long-standing organization in Connecticut dedicated to providing shelter, housing, stabilization, and support for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty. Our mission is to inspire lasting independence for all people affected by these issues through a continuum of housing and support services.

Responsibilities

• Accept referrals from local and regional sources including 211 and the Coordinated Access Network (CAN).
• Complete program intakes, initiate contact with referred households, describe program services, and conduct comprehensive, strengths-based assessments to stabilize housing and health.
• Co-create person-centered goal plans with clients and other service providers.
• Provide home and community-based case management services addressing unmet housing and health needs through direct support, coaching, mentoring, crisis intervention, life skills training, advocacy, and linkages to community resources.
• Engage with property managers/owners to provide information on service components, advocate for housing rights, and mediate housing concerns.
• Aid clients in stabilizing housing, including affordable housing search, tenancy skill building, responsibilities, fiscal preparedness for independent rent payment, and housing maintenance.
• Assist clients in identifying unaddressed needs and encourage an array of integrated support/services related to benefits, employment and income, education, housing, medical conditions, mental health, substance use, HIV, family, and community-based supports, and access to mainstream services.
• Refer and support engagement in appropriate services to meet the household's needs.
• Collaborate with program partners including client's household members and natural support networks, property owners/managers, housing authorities, legal entities, and community providers to support housing retention and stability.
• Utilize statewide HMIS database, Google Sheets, and Smartsheet to document HUD assessments, case notes, services, financial requests, and client outcomes in compliance with standards and expectations.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation for all client files per agency policy and procedures and funder requirements, including assessments, goal plans, client services, referral outcomes, housing inspections, rental assistance, and case notes.
• Participate in internal, local, regional, and statewide meetings as assigned.
• Develop a strong community profile with the homeless services, mental health, substance use, and/or HIV/AIDS community as an advocate for clients.
• Perform other duties as assigned to assure successful operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field, or Associate’s degree and 2 years of human services experience, or recovery support specialist certification with 2 years of human experience.
• Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation with proof of insurance.
• Highly motivated, with excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide intensive and comprehensive services to households experiencing homelessness, including advocacy and mediation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, to support the mission of New Reach.
• High level of organizational skills to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with housing, housing law, and provision of services to the identified population.
• Experience working with individuals affected by mental health, substance use, HIV, or health conditions.
• Bilingual in Spanish, both written and oral.

Expectations

Work in the office, in client homes, and in the community from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. Have a solutions-based approach to presented problems.