Case Manager - Liberty Plaza

Lantern Community Services Inc; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community support organization in Jamaica, Queens is looking for an experienced Case Manager. You will be responsible for assessing and supporting homeless clients, facilitating their transition to housing, and coordinating with other services. Candidates should possess a high school diploma, 2+ years of experience in social services, and strong relationship-building skills. This role requires flexible scheduling, including potential evening and weekend work.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of social services experience required.
• Possession of a valid Food Handler’s License preferred.
• Experience working with homeless, mentally ill, or low-income populations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake and assessment process for clients.
• Meet weekly with clients to assist in achieving goals.
• Coordinate services with staff and external partners.

Skills

Strong relationship-building skills

Strong Computer skills including Word and Excel

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Education

High school diploma, HSE, or GED

Job description

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Director of Social Services

Location: Jamaica, Queens

Status & Hours: Full-time, five days a week, the schedule may include a weekend day and/or night shift. The schedule will be discussed during the interview process and upon hire. Flexible hours are also required.

Who We Are:

Lantern Community Services helps New Yorkers impacted by homelessness move from surviving to thriving by pairing safe, supportive housing with wraparound services that build lasting stability and independence. If you believe a steady home can be the start of everything else, you’ll fit right in with our mission‑first team. Lantern was also recognized as a Top 2025 Workplace by City & State New York - a great place to do meaningful work with people who care!

About The Role:

We are seeking an experienced Case Manager for Lantern's men's shelter in Jamaica, Queens. Case Managers are part of an interdisciplinary team aimed at stabilizing shelter clients by improving their independent living skills and assisting clients in moving toward their housing goals. Case Managers are responsible for assessing client needs, linking clients to services, planning a course of action towards stabilization and re‑housing, monitoring progress, and documenting client contacts. The successful candidate will have prior experience working with homeless and/or mental health individuals.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Conduct intake and assessment process to orient client to the program and develop individual service plan reflecting assessment needs and goals.
• Meet weekly with clients to assist with the achievement of individual service plan goals.
• Coordinate services with Housing Specialist, other staff, and external partners.
• Provide advocacy for individual clients around entitlements and services.
• Provide crisis intervention, aggressive and supportive counseling to strengthen clients’ ability to make appropriate life decisions.
• Document case management activities in accordance with agency and funding source guidelines and procedures.
• Complete Housing applications (both written and computer-generated) for clients based on their individual needs and functioning.
• Achieve monthly placement quota, as assigned.
• Facilitate workshops, groups, and escort clients as applicable.
• Attend staff meetings and trainings to enhance skills that are related to the job function.
• Conduct weekly/biweekly Unit/Dorm Inspections.
• Must be able to work flexible, alternate schedules, which may include evening and weekend shifts.
• Perform other related duties, such as completing Housing applications and achieving the monthly placement quota, as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• High school diploma, HSE, or GED, required.
• A minimum of 2 years of social services experience required.
• Possession of a valid Food Handler’s License, or the ability to obtain one within six (6) months of hire, is required.
• Experience working with the homeless, mentally ill, substance abuse, and/or low‑income populations.
• Strong relationship‑building skills are required.
• Strong Computer skills required including Word and Excel.
• Ability to work Evenings and/or Weekends on a rotating schedule.
• Preferred experience working in a homeless shelter.
• Knowledge of mental health, substance use, or homelessness.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a shelter environment and works with a population who may experience mental illness, substance use, disability, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illnesses.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, climb stairs, and/or kneel. Occasionally, the employee will have to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Note:

Lantern Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Lantern Community Services (Lantern) values the diversity of all our clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners. By bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together, we create more vibrant, healthy, and just communities.