Outreach Case Manager

Shelter House; Fort Belvoir (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K plan

13 paid holidays

Floating holidays

Birthday off

Team building events

Job summary

Shelter House is seeking an Outreach Case Manager to join the Kennedy Emergency Shelter street outreach team. You will identify and engage unsheltered individuals in Fairfax County Region 1, working in locations not meant for habitation to build rapport and connect clients to a medical home and housing resources.

Responsibilities include direct outreach, collaboration with the Homeless Healthcare Program, and advocating with landlords.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services or related field (or commensurate experience)
• 2+ years of case management/direct services experience
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to prioritize competing priorities and make sound judgments
• Ability to complete tasks while navigating frequent interruptions
• Creative, resourceful problem solving
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation
• Ability to drive a 15-passenger van
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends when needed

Responsibilities

• Actively engage unsheltered individuals across Fairfax County Region 1 locations
• Maintain a consistent street outreach schedule at drop-in centers, campsites, hypothermia shelters
• Engage individuals in places not meant for habitation
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords
• Collaborate with HHP team to connect clients to medical homes and services
• Ensure housing-first case management and housing placement
• Educate clients on leases, rights, responsibilities, and budgeting

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Judgment & prioritization

Driving

Foreign language (preferred)

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services or related field

Job description

Title: OutreachCaseManager

Department: Kennedy Emergency Shelter

Reports to: Assistant Director of Programs

Salary:$52K-$56K

FLSA Status: Exempt

About Us:

Shelter House wasestablishedin 1981 as a grassroots responder to the homelessness crisis in Fairfax County.Since the organization’sinception, we have adapted and grown to meet community needs, all while working in partnership with government and private partners and community members. Today, Shelter House is a successful and reputable organization of over 100 employees committed to preventing and ending homelessness and domestic violence.In the last year, our compassionate team of individuals changed the lives ofnearly 2,000individuals, half of which were children. Our Culture is built from our Core Values of Inclusivity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Empowerment (iC.A.R.E.)

About the Role:

The Street Outreach Case Manager is a member of the street outreach team at the Kennedy Shelter providing services through the Street Outreach and Hypothermia Prevention Programs. This position seeks out, engages, and builds rapport with unsheltered individuals throughout Fairfax County’s Region 1 locations.

The Street Outreach Case Manager mustpossessstrong interpersonal and motivational skills and be comfortable meeting individuals in locations not meant for human habitation, including wooded campsites, parked vehicles, and other outdoor settings. The role requires a patient, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to service delivery in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.This positionutilizesa Housing First framework to support unsheltered individuals in securing andmaintainingpermanent housing.

Key Responsibilities

Outreach & Engagement

• Actively seek out,identify,establishcontact, and build rapport with unsheltered individuals throughout Fairfax County’s Region 1 locations.

• Maintain a consistent schedule of street outreach stops, including drop-in centers, campsites, hypothermia shelters, and other gathering locations, whileremainingflexible to incorporate new outreach sites.

• Engage individuals in places not meant for human habitation, including wooded areas and parked vehicles.

• Respond to community requests forassistancewith individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary Homeless Healthcare Program (HHP) team to connect individuals to a medical home and other critical services

• Wear designated safety uniforms while working in the community to ensure staff are clearly identifiable andmaintainprogram visibility and safetystandards Housing-Focused Case Management

• Assess housing barriersforsingle adults experiencing homelessness todetermineservice and housing needs.

• Develop individualized housing plans, financial stabilization, and self-sufficiency plans using astrengths-based, person-centered approach.

• Utilize Housing First principles to move unsheltered individuals into permanent housing as quickly as possible.

• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords to support housing placement and retention.

• Maintain consistent communication with tenants, landlords, referral sources, and community partners.

• Educate individuals on residential lease agreements, tenant rights, and responsibilities.

• Refer participants to credit counseling and other financial capability services to build budgeting and money management skills.

• Advocate for and activelyassistindividuals in accessing services including showers, laundry, food, public benefits, healthcare, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, employment services, financialassistance, and housing referrals.

Collaboration & Systems Coordination

• Maintain effective partnerships with:

• Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH)

• Fairfax County Health Department

• Community Services Board (CSB)

• Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)

• Department of Family Services (DFS)

• Fairfax County Department of Adult and Aging Services

• Veteran’s Administration (VA)

• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, case staffing, and community-widetrainings.

• Ensure participants receive holistic, integrated care management across systems.

Documentation & Compliance

• Document all services provided, referrals made, and transportation providedin accordance withagency and contractual requirements.

• Maintain complete,accurate, andtimelycase files.

• Enter and update data in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) in compliance with agency and funding standards.

• Meet or exceed performance measures and contractual benchmarks.

Required:

• A bachelor's degree in human services/ related field orcommensurateexperience

• 2+ years of case management/ direct services/other relatedexperience

• Strong written and oral communicationskills

• Ability to prioritize competing priorities and make soundjudgements

• Ability to complete tasks while navigating frequentinterruptions

• Ability to deliver creative, resourceful solutions to uniquechallenges

• Strong organizational and time managementskills

• Valid Driver’s License and reliabletransportation

• Ability to Drive a 15-passengervan

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends whenneeded

Preferred:

• Foreign Language fluency in a language other than English (ex. Spanish, Farsi, Arabic or Amharic)

• Experience with providing services to clients experiencing homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues

• Experienceutilizingthe Homeless Management Information System(HMIS)

Physical Requirements:

• Annual TB Test isrequired

• Ability to sit or stand forlong periods

• Ability to lift items weighing 10-20 pounds

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

• 401K contributions with a 4% employer match

• 13 Paid Holidays, 2 Floating Holidays and the opportunity to take your Birthday Off

• Two Semi-Annual Team Building Events

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Shelter House is committed toprovidingequal employmentopportunityto all employees and applicants. All employment-related decisions will be made and carried out without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age (over 40), sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability unrelated to the individual's ability to perform his or her job or any other legally protected status. Shelter House will also provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and qualified employees with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job, and to employees with respect to their observance of their religious beliefs,in accordance withapplicable law. Any job applicant or employee who would like or needsan accommodationmay requestan accommodationby contacting the Human Resources department.

Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Policy:

Drug-Free Workplace: Shelter House is committed tomaintaininga drug-free workplace. Employment is contingent upon compliance with our Drug-Free Workplace Policy, which prohibits the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, and use of controlled substances or marijuana in the workplace. Additionally, all subcontracts and purchase orders over $10,000 must include provisions ensuring a drug-free workplace.