Homelessness Prevention Case Manager

Company: Sacred Heart Community Service
Location: San Jose
Posted on: June 8, 2021

Job Description:

Homelessness Prevention

Case Manager

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Sacred Heart Community Service, located in San Jos, CA, is looking for a Homelessness Prevention Case Manager to support families at-risk of homelessness through financial assistance, temporary case management, and connections to resources and supports in the community. This individual must be a self-starter, highly organized and detail oriented with strong communication skills, experience in case management understanding of and sensitivity to the needs of low-income families, and ability to work flexibly and creatively and have a passion for our mission - to change lives and impact poverty. For over 50 years, SHCS has been one of the leading institutions addressing poverty in Santa Clara County through a strategy that combines meeting basic needs, offering tools for self-sufficiency, and engaging the wider community to be involved.

Position Summary

The Homelessness Prevention Case Manager works with low-income families to prevent or end homelessness by focusing on one-time and short-term financial assistance, strength-based case management, advocacy, landlord mediation, outreach and other supportive services that result in maintaining stable, permanent housing. The Case Manager screens, assesses, and conducts intakes for prospective participants. The Case Manager provides enrolled families with flexible financial assistance, temporary case management, and other support that takes a creative "whatever it takes" approach to ensure that families maintain permanent housing. This position is part of the Family Assistance Team and reports to the Family Assistance Manager.

Description of Duties

Case Management (75-85%)

• Conducts prescreens and intakes to determine participant eligibility and assess appropriate level of assistance needed.
• Engages families through assessment of strengths and needs and development of goals and service plan to ensure families remain stably housed.
• Maintains a flexible caseload of up to 30 or more households, including households receiving one-time financial assistance and households participating in case management. Works with each case managed family to develop and implement a strength based case management plan to overcome economic and housing challenges and maintain stable housing.
• Provides and assists households with information, referrals, and connections to develop a support system, including connecting with public benefits and other community resources to maintain stable housing.
• Acts as an advocate in maintaining stable housing, including assisting families with education on tenant's rights, landlord mediation and advocacy, and connections to legal services, as needed.
• Assists families with finding and securing new housing, when needed.
• Supports families with budget counseling and financial literacy services.
• Assists families with immediate crisis intervention, advocacy, problem-solving and other appropriate interventions, as needed.
• Connects families to other opportunities and resources at SHCS, including essential services, self-sufficiency programs, and opportunities to volunteer and to participate in organizing committees.
• Communicates with households at regular intervals after they have received financial assistance or completed case management to assess housing status and provide additional resources or support when needed.
• Develops, tracks, and analyzes monthly goals and objectives in accordance with the operating plan and funder requirements.
• Documents program activity, including prescreens, intakes, financial assistance, and case management into HMIS and Salesforce databases within one business day.
• Maintains case files and progress notes, adhering to professional standards and designated time frames.
• Implements program evaluation tools (i.e., pre/post tests, satisfaction surveys, etc.), analyzes and reports on outcomes.
• Submits monthly narrative, data, and other reports as required.
• Processes financial assistance payments, as needed.

Outreach and Engagement (5%)

• Participates in efforts to promote the availability of homelessness prevention assistance through SHCS and its collaborative partners, including publicly representing the program and organization with community partners and at community fairs or other events.
• Develops and nurtures collaborative relationships with community partners, including schools and the court system, among others.

Participation and Leadership (10-20%)

• Engages and develops program volunteers by providing education, training, feedback, and support.
• Supports the recruitment, engagement and development of leaders through 1:1 meetings, training, and committee support.
• Supports the development and ongoing work of the Family Assistance Advisory Committee.
• Works collaboratively with the Family Assistance Team to ensure appropriate coverage of all team responsibilities, including providing backup staff support for other program activities.
• Supports continuous learning, evaluation, and improvement within the Family Assistance Team.
• Supports the planning and participates in agency-wide programs, events, and outreach efforts.
• Supports the planning and attends staff meetings, retreats, and other team and agency events.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Strong commitment to our vision of a community united to ensure that every child and adult is free from poverty.
• Bachelor's degree in social work, public health, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Three years of experience in human services or related field.
• Experience providing culturally competent, strength-based case management, supportive services, and linkages to community resources.
• Experience and knowledge in the functions of intake, assessment, service planning, case coordination, case conferencing, service plan implementation, crisis intervention, monitoring and follow-up, and case closure.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to deliver difficult messages with compassion and to communicate respectfully with families in stressful situations.
• Sensitivity to issues surrounding households experiencing homelessness, substance use, mental illness, or disabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast-paced environment, while maintaining a positive, solution-oriented approach.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to work independently with limited supervision when necessary.
• Computer skills including proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Google Suite and ability to quickly learn and develop proficiency with tracking database systems.
• Valid CA driver's license, reliable personal vehicle, and vehicle insurance.
• Must complete a criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Bilingual and bicultural in English-Spanish written and verbal strongly preferred.
• Two years of experience working in outreach, shelter, or supportive housing programs for homeless or at-risk households.
• Experience working with landlords, local rental markets, and/or Housing First focused non- profits.

Position is non-exempt, full-time and reports to the Homelessness Prevention Program Manager.

Compensation

The salary is commensurate with experience, ranging from $24-$28/hour.

Excellent benefits include fully paid medical insurance for employees and majority paid medical insurance for qualified dependents, dental insurance, vision insurance, 12 paid holidays, 10 paid sick days per year, paid vacation starting at 10 days per year, additional wellness benefits, basic life and long-term disability insurance, professional development and more.

Sacred Heart Community Service is proud to be an Equal Opportunity workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. SHCS is committed to building a team of people of diverse ethnic, cultural, and experiential backgrounds. We especially encourage members of historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, people of color, women, people living with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ+ people to apply. It is the policy of Sacred Heart Community Service to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. SHCS will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

This position is represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 521.

Keywords: Sacred Heart Community Service, San Jose , Homelessness Prevention Case Manager, Other , San Jose, California