Case Manager - Rapid Rehousing

Montgomery-County-Coalition-For-the-Homeles; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless is seeking a Case Manager for the Rapid Rehousing Program. You will provide field-based case management, housing search assistance, and supportive services to promote self-sufficiency and housing stability for single individuals.

Work includes completing documentation, coordinating with landlords and service providers, and delivering client-centered services in offices and in the community to participants.

Qualifications

• Requires belief in the “Housing First” philosophy and strategies.
• Bachelor’s Degree in human services preferred or minimum of a two-year degree with three years related experience.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly listening, mediation, and writing.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to meet a demanding workload.
• Detail oriented to complete files and contract compliance.
• Knowledge of tenant rights and responsibilities, and strengths-based case management.
• Strong budgeting and mathematical skills; ability to produce required reports for government agencies.
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to maintain landlord relationships.
• Fluency in English required; Spanish speaking is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Assess housing barriers to determine housing and service needs.
• Develop a housing procurement, financial, and self-sufficiency case plan with clients.
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords to obtain and maintain housing.
• Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice.
• Assist participants in securing and maintaining employment with outside employment services.
• Maintain communication between tenants, landlords, referrals, and agencies; document interactions.
• Serve as liaison between property managers, participants, and neighbors.
• Provide information and referrals to social service programs.
• Assist in budget counseling and repayment planning for housing.
• Develop strength-based/solution-focused plans and timely referrals to ensure ongoing housing stability.
• Identify participant strengths and barriers to stability; link to resources.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Documentation

Budgeting

Interpersonal skills

Mediation

Time management

Bilingual Spanish (helpful)

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in social work / related field

Two-year degree in human-related services + 3 years related experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

HMIS knowledge

Job description

Description

Case Manager - Rapid Rehousing Program

General Description:

Provides a variety of field activities in the rapid re-housing program for single individuals; the case manager performs direct client services and completes documentation.

Work involves orienting all eligible participants to the program and providing housing search and supportive services to promote participants self-sufficiency, integration into the community, and permanency in housing;

performing administrative tasks involved in the review and maintenance of a caseload of program participants. The principal duties are performed both in a general office environment and in the field and community where program participants reside.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assess housing barriers of individuals experiencing homelessness to determine housing and service needs.
• Develop a housing procurement, financial, and self-sufficiency case management plan with clients. This shall include intake interview to determine client’s needs, goals, and eligibility.
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on the client’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and or maintain housing.
• Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice.
• Assist participants in securing and maintaining employment, this includes working with an outside contractor who provides dedicated employment services.
• Create and maintain consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e. tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors and creditors).
• Serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers and participants as well as between participants and neighbors.
• Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs.
• Assist in development of and encourage adherence to a personal budget through pro‑active housing and budget counseling sessions; provide budget counseling and education to assist clients in establishing payments plans for bills and past debts and to assist clients in obtaining and maintaining their housing.
• Assist participants in development of a strength‑based/solution‑focused individualized goal and action plan that promotes permanent housing and self‑sufficiency; develop an effective, timely referral network in order to ensure ongoing direction and support as needed.
• Identify participant strengths and barriers to stability and assist participants to reducing barriers and linking to resources and services.
• Provide pro‑active follow‑up home visits to ensure stability and further progress towards self sufficiency; this includes support, advocacy, reducing isolation, listening, problem solving, and identification of resources to assist with reintegration of participants in the community.
• Apply knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate clients of their rights and responsibilities.
• Maintain accurate daily logs records, monthly outcome reports, and files for each client.
• Transport clients as deemed necessary. Transportation requirements should be limited to housing and job searches and occasional visit to relevant social service agencies.
• Collect and report program data, including but not limited to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Complete all appropriate monthly and annual report forms.
• Maintain a complete working file providing activity documentation and copies of all corresponding paperwork, both in a paper file and electric filing.
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Requires knowledge and belief in “Housing First” philosophy and strategies.
• Minimum Education Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in human services preferred or a minimum of a two years degree in Human related services and three years related experience.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly listening, mediation, and writing skills.
• Possess strong organizational skills with ability to meet a demanding workload.
• Detail oriented to complete requirements of files and contract compliance.
• Creative thinker/adaptive personality.
• Knowledge or understanding of tenant’s rights and responsibilities as well as “strengths based” case management.
• Strong record keeping, budgeting, and mathematical skills; ability to produce required reports to federal, state. and local government agencies and funding sources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources, social service agencies, and ability to maintain good landlord relationships
• Fluency in the English language is required. Spanish speaking ability is an added asset but is not required.
• Experience with computer and knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Valid driver’s license, car, and good driving record
• Sensitivity to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of population served.
• A commitment to empowering others to solve their own problems.
• A conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• The ability to establish and set appropriate limits with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers or professionals.
• The capacity to maintain a role to empower clients and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals