Client Support and Service Coordinator-Restorative Housing in Elgin

VOA Illinois; Elgin (IL); On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading nonprofit organization, VOA Illinois, is seeking a Client Support and Service Coordinator for their Restorative Housing Program in Elgin. The role focuses on providing case management and essential housing services to clients at risk of homelessness. This full-time position emphasizes engagement, resource coordination, and advocacy, ensuring a trauma-informed approach to care. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree and substantial experience in social services.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

403b/403b Matching

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Referral Program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in social services.
• Experience in engaging with low-income populations.

Responsibilities

• Provides general case management for clients' needs.
• Coordinates with other supportive services.
• Participates in community efforts to eliminate homelessness.

Skills

Empathy

Active Listening

Cultural Competence

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services

Tools

Microsoft Office

EchoVantage

HMIS

Job description

Client Support and Service Coordinator-Restorative Housing in Elgin

About Us: Volunteers of America is a national, faith-based nonprofit organization founded over 125 years ago. VOA Illinois is one of the oldest affiliates of the Volunteers of America family delivering strength-based trauma-informed, gender-responsive and culturally sensitive programs and services at the highest standards of excellence to our clients. We have never stopped reinventing our services and we continue to innovate based on our communities’ evolving needs. VOA Illinois, a certified “Great Place to Work,” fosters an organizational culture focused on faith, innovation and collaboration. Year after year VOA Illinois expands and promotes from within, holding a workforce with over 50% having experienced promotion. Check out our careers page to find more opportunities at Careers - VOA Illinois .

Position Type: This is a Full-time, in-office position and requires a 40-hour week on average. May include occasional weekend and/or evening hours as assigned. This position involves travel to other sites and locations. This position is non-exempt and reports to the Lead Client Support and Service Coordinator.

Environment: Physical demands include sedentary work, operating a computer and other office productivity machinery with frequent communication with clients and colleagues of VOA Illinois and others involved in the care and custody of clients. The individual hired must be able to move, traverse and travel in the community in a vehicle, assist clients in and out of a vehicle if necessary and transport clients in the community. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Core Competencies: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to meet or exceed the following;

• Drive engagement and communication with clients that embodies empathy, patience and emotional intelligence.
• Advocate for clients using active listening to determine resources and meet various needs.
• Collaborate with VOA colleagues, outside organizations or vendors, etc. to connect clients and obtain necessary resources.
• Display discipline in managing time and attention to assigned caseload, tasks or projects.
• Exercise prudent stewardship of agency resources.
• Exhibit cultural competence while serving clients of diverse backgrounds and commit to expanding knowledge and understanding of different communities and people groups.
• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior at all times.
• Engage with trauma-informed care approach and practice principles.
• Recognize and display ability to de-escalate and resolve conflict as necessary.

Program Overview: VOA Illinois’ Restorative Housing Program will address the housing needs of forensic consumers remanded for outpatient treatment by Illinois County Courts to IDHS under statutes finding them Unfit to Stand Trial or Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. A lack of stable housing often presents a barrier to placement and successful, ongoing engagement for these clients when placed with an outpatient fitness restoration provider. Expanded assistance in addressing housing needs will have a positive impact on these individuals and their continuation in treatment and fitness education. This program will provide these individuals with immediate temporary housing and pre-tenancy support during the housing location process. Providers will maintain ongoing communication with the outpatient fitness restoration provider(s) on progress establishing housing for participants and participants' ongoing participation in the pilot program.

Essential Functions: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provides general case management, (i.e. evaluation of social, psychological and physical needs, and the development of a service plan) for a client when the general service community is not providing such service.
• Meets with program participants to provide support, monitor progress on the service plan, etc.
• Coordinates with other supportive services aimed at providing support to clients who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
• Participates in community-wide efforts to eliminate homelessness.
• Provides housing supportive service to program participants, including ensuring referrals are made to appropriate housing facilities that meet quality and safety standards, and ensuring all inspection requirements are met.
• Assists in meeting goals and exceeding standards of compliance for appropriate, safe, stable housing for program participants.
• Works with team members in providing resources and support to the clients enrolled in the program.
• Evaluates each participant to determine what types of supportive housing services are needed in order to obtain self-sufficiency and remain in or acquire permanent housing.
• Completes housing inspections when appropriate, serving as a “subject matter expert” on housing issues as related to fair housing, affordable housing, and tenant and landlord rights and requirements.
• Engages and recruits’ potential landlords and establish productive relationships for the purpose of establishing a portfolio of safe and affordable housing options.
• Participates and/or assists with the facilitation of housing events including landlord seminars and housing resource fairs.
• Coordinates with leadership to develop innovative projects and programs designed to transition clients into permanent, safe and affordable housing.
• Researches demographic and community housing data to forecast trends for potential programs.
• Acts as a liaison with those providing legal assistance to clients around fair housing, landlord disputes, and evictions. Additionally between community agencies, service providers and clients.
• Delivers services with sensitivity to the participants’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and engages participants with respect even when holding them accountable for their own outcomes.
• Uses the least intrusive intervention necessary to alleviate a problem situation.
• Facilitates and monitors the delivery of services to clients to ensure they are appropriate, timely, and satisfactory.
• Educates clients on service availability, application procedures, client rights, etc., both individually and as a group.
• Advocates and may negotiate on behalf of clients for adequate, timely, and cost effective provision of services.
• Meets with service providers as needed and appropriate.
• Pursues avenues for additional services through private local, state, and federal sources.
• Documents contact with clients, providers, and families.
• Uses databases such as EchoVantage and HMIS for data entry.
• Upholds the mission and values of VOA Illinois at all times.

Other Duties: As assigned by supervisor.

Education and Experience:

• Position requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Acceptable degrees include those related to human services.
• Position requires some demonstrated experience in the helping/service field.
• Experience in service management, including organizing, problem solving, and advocating.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in the field of social services, related experience with homeless services;
• Prefer one year of related experience working with low income population and providing supportive housing services or property management.
• This position prefers familiarity with subsidized and market value rental properties in the Elgin/Kane County area.
• Experience and demonstrated proficiency/success in leveraging and working with community resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively and maintain good relations with clients and employees.
• Excellent communication, writing, problem solving, and organization skills.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, with especially spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools.

Compensation and Benefits: Base Hourly Range: $22.20-$26.64

• Medical Dental, Vision
• 403b/403b Matching
• Paid-Time Off
• Life Insurance
• PSLF
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Referral program
• AFLAC Supplemental Insurance options

VOA Illinois provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state, federal or local law.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities upon request.