Bilingual On-Duty Client Crisis Responder

San Diego LGBT Community Center; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Full medical/dental/vision

401(k) with match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

The San Diego LGBT Community Center is seeking a Bilingual On Duty Client Crisis Responder to provide on‑demand support onsite. Duties include crisis triage, referrals, and short‑term case management for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.

The role requires strong organizational skills, experience with housing and healthcare navigation, and fluency in English and Spanish. It offers competitive pay and a full benefits package in a supportive LGBTQ‑affirming

Qualifications

• At least one year of case management and client systems navigation experience.
• Knowledge of housing first, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and trauma‑informed care.
• Fluency in English & Spanish is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide systems navigation and short-term case management to households, including crises, housing stabilization, mental health support, benefits, and food distribution.
• Be on-demand for client telephone and walk-in interventions.
• Staff monthly food distribution and weekly events as needed.
• Maintain communication with landlords and mediate rental issues.
• Complete timely program documentation and reporting to meet goals and grant deliverables.
• Enter data into HMIS and use CIE as a case management tool.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Crisis intervention

Case management

Systems navigation

Multicultural teamwork

Education

One year case management experience

Tools

HMIS

CIE

Job description

WELCOME TO YOUR CENTER!

Established as a community non‑profit in 1972, The Center provides targeted programs and services to the full diversity of the San Diego LGBTQ community. The mission of The Center is to enhance and sustain the health and well‑being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, nonbinary, immigrant, and HIV communities for the betterment of our entire San Diego region. Our vision is to create a Center and Center culture where every person feels and knows that they are welcomed, valued, and supported. As the beacon for our regional LGBTQ community, we actively recommit to being a more vibrant, bold, innovative, safe, and modern center each day than the day before. The Center is sex‑positive and provides advocacy and critical health and social support services to support our community members through all stages of life, focusing on our deeply held values of equity, social justice, and client‑centered, trauma‑informed care. The Center currently has over 75 staff working at five facilities across San Diego County.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Crisis Services Manager, the Bilingual On Duty Client Crisis Responder is available onsite at The Center for on‑demand telephone and walk‑in interventions. Duties include triaging clients' needs, crisis intervention/de‑escalation, shelter referrals, Ryan White medical and non‑medical case management, prevention & diversion housing navigation, connection to care and resources for people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, and provision of information and referrals to community members and their families. Services are designed and provided within the context of a multidisciplinary professional team. It also includes completing ADAP, EARP, Covered California enrollments, and VI‑SPDAT assessments for San Diego's regional coordinated entry system for clients who are experiencing homelessness.

This position will support individuals, couples, and families at‑risk of, or who are actively experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, fleeing domestic violence, victims of hate incidents, financial instability through short‑term case management, and connections to resources and support internally and externally in the community. This position will assess each household's strengths and needs, assist in developing service goals, and work with the household to meet set goals. The Bilingual On Duty Crisis Responder will monitor and document contract grant deliverables, resources (bus passes, gift cards, etc.), and ensure goals are fulfilled while the program stays within the allocated budget.

The ideal candidate will be a self‑motivated, highly organized, and detail‑oriented team player with strong communication skills, experience in navigating systems and resources in San Diego, case management, understanding of and sensitivity to the needs of low‑income families and vulnerable populations (including the LGBTQ, immigrant, and HIV communities), and ability to work flexibly and creatively, and is passionate about the care they provide.

PRIMARY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide systems navigation and short‑term case management to households. Assisting with needs such as, but not limited to, crises, housing stabilization (i.e., intake, assessment, goal planning, and regular contact), mental health support, SUD treatment, benefits, and food distribution.
• Responsible for on‑demand client telephone and walk‑in interventions.
• Staffing The Center's monthly food distribution event and weekly Project Compassion event as needed.
• Maintain regular contact with landlords, negotiate payment arrangements, and mediate landlord‑tenant issues.
• Complete timely program documentation and reporting, ensuring that programs are on track to meet contractual goals and grant deliverables.
• Assist in unloading program resources and organizing the resource pantry, including food and hygiene items, and communicate with the Crisis Services Manager when supplies are running low.
• Contribute monthly client narrative stories and input for contract monthly progress reports.
• Coordinate with the Director of Community Programs to ensure compliance with funding expectations.
• Establish and maintain active working relationships with center program staff, community partners, and other LGBT‑affirming providers.
• Connect households to mainstream resources that will continue after the discharge from our services.
• Complete timely and accurate case notes, data collection, and other documentation for assigned clients.
• Enter data into regional HMIS as required.
• Utilize CIE as a case management tool.

Required Qualifications:

• Education and/or Experience: At least one year of experience in case manage ment and client systems navigation is required. Must have knowledge of the housing first model, harm reduction principles, motivational interviewing, and trauma‑informed care.
• Computer/Office Equipment Skills: Must be comfortable working in PC/Windows‑based environments. Must have proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Other Skills: Must work well in multicultural teams and with diverse constituencies; must be self‑motivated and highly organized with the ability to effectively work under pressure, use independent judgment, and produce a quality work product;
• Language Skills: Fluency in English & Spanish is required.

preferred QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education and/or Experience:
  • Minimum of two years of experience working with adults with serious mental illness and/or co‑occurring substance abuse disorder experiencing complex life challenges (trauma, homelessness, criminal justice system involvement, poverty, isolation, unmet physical health needs, etc.).
  • Experience with clients living with HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ clients is strongly preferred.
  • At least one year working with clients in crisis and providing de‑escalation techniques is preferred. Additionally, experience working with the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and Covered California enrollment experience is strongly preferred.
• Computer/Office Equipment Skills: Experience with CIE and HMIS systems preferred.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Compensation: The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $26.00/hour and is commensurate with experience. This is a Full‑Time Regular Non‑Exempt position.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday with rotating 10am‑6:30pm or 11am‑8:00pm shifts.
• Benefits: The CENTER offers a robust benefits package, inclusive of Competitive Pay Scales, 401(k) Retirement Plan (with company match), Full Medical, Dental, Vision, and Chiropractic Health Coverage, Out‑of‑Pocket Optional Coverage for Spouses, Domestic Partners, and Dependent Children, Full‑time and Part‑Time Schedules, Generous Vacation and Holiday Benefits, Professional Training & Development Experiences, Opportunities for Promotion & Advancement

The San Diego LGBTQ Community Center is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.