Housing Stability Case Manager

Housing Resources, Inc.; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Case Manager at Housing Resources, Inc. supports individuals and families who are unhoused or in housing crisis by delivering case management focused on housing stability, placement, and coordination of services.

You will assess needs, connect clients to community resources, work in the field, document activity, and collaborate with landlords and community partners to prevent evictions and promote stability.

Qualifications

• Experience applying housing stability principles.
• Ability to conduct home visits and assess safety.
• Strong written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Meet with clients at least monthly, in-home unless approved.
• Assess clients’ housing environment for safety and lease compliance.
• Develop individualized housing and success plans.
• Work outside of the office, in the community, for most scheduled work hours.
• Document all client and agency activities within required timelines.
• Maintain active knowledge of HRI programs and services.

Skills

Case management

Community collaboration

Job description

The Case Manager is responsible for supporting individuals and families who are unhoused, experiencing a housing crisis, or living in permanent housing by providing case management services focused on housing stability and placement, with an emphasis on the arrangement, coordination, monitoring and delivery of services related to housing needs and improving housing stability. The case manager is also responsible for connecting individuals and families to non-housing related resources in the community based on an assessment of their needs and establishing strong partnerships other community organizations and their team members.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Meet with clients at least once monthly or more frequently as required. Meetings must occur in the client’s home unless otherwise approved and documented.
• Conduct assessments of clients’ housing environment for safety, lease compliance, and other needs.
• Develop individualized housing and success plans.
• Work outside of the office, in the community, for most scheduled work hours.
• Develop housing and success plans, review housing needs, progress, and determine actions needed to resolve barriers faced for housing stability.
• Participate in case conferences, team, staff, and community meetings and committees as scheduled and assigned.
• Develop and foster landlord relationships including marketing the HRI programs and services, facilitating smooth working relations between landlords and tenants, providing conflict resolution services for complaints and lease violations from participating landlords, agencies, and/or program participants to prevent evictions.
• Provide direct service assistance for all case management activities ensuring shelter diversion or smooth transition from emergency shelter to affordable housing.
• Complete all applicable calculations, forms, and documentation related to eligibility and enrollment such as rent calculations, rent reasonableness, fair market rent, area median income, collection of required documents, review and signature of acknowledgements, releases of information, and other items assigned.
• Assist rent burdened families and individuals by negotiating lease addendums to adjust rental costs based on household affordability through all program areas.
• Conduct required housing unit inspections following all regulations, laws, and program requirements.
• Function as a highly responsive team member with prompt, efficient and detailed responses to phone calls, emails and in person visits within 2 business days. Immediately respond to emergent issues.
• Maintain an active knowledge of all HRI programs, including eligibility requirements and services available.
• Partner with organizations including human service providers and rental property owners to provide a collaborative effort for referral and supportive services.
• Function as the Agency’s Fair Housing representative when assigned.
• Document all client and agency related business and activities accurately and formally in all applicable electronic and paper records and systems within 2 business days.
• Formally communicate all information, decisions, changes, and other essential information to clients using formal and professional writing and business methods.
• Assist with data collection as necessary for reporting and program development.
• Review and comply with all applicable policies and procedures, regulations and laws related to providing services to clients and agency strategic objectives.
• Adhere to all agency policies and procedures, local, state, and federal laws, and regulations.
• Act with compassion, empathy, and care for people experiencing homelessness and housing crisis.