Housing Locator and Case Manager II

at  Catholic Charities Comm

HELPING OUR COMMUNITY’S MOST VULNERABLE WITH SOLUTIONS THAT PERMANENTLY IMPROVE LIVES

As part of our Housing team, you will play a vital role in helping clients who are experiencing homelessness. Your primary responsibility will be to assist these clients with securing safe and stable housing. Your work with clients will be focused on building relationships and helping them access the resources and support they need to become self-sufficient. This may involve working with clients to develop a plan for securing housing, aiding with housing applications, engaging with landlords, helping clients understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants, providing case management services, providing electronic assistance services, and helping clients navigate the often-complex process of securing housing to name a few.
In addition to these core responsibilities, collaboration is an integral part of our housing team to ensure that clients receive the support and assistance they need to achieve their goals. This may involve working with local community organizations and government agencies to develop comprehensive and effective solutions to the challenges facing our clients.
JOB SUMMARY: Provides comprehensive case management and client advocacy under the various Housing Programs for individuals and families in need. Additional responsibilities include: working directly with owners, landlords, and property managers within Northern Arizona to identify housing opportunities for homeless individuals and families. Responsible for introducing rent subsidy programs (RRH, PSH, HOME TBA, Section 8, etc.) and explaining how they work to support individuals and families in housing. This includes educating prospective landlords, owners, and management firms on how assistance/subsidy programs work, services provided, and other benefits.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Education /Background: Minimum of a High School Diploma or Equivalent and 4 years of relevant experience. Bachelor’s degree in Social work or related field preferred. Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.
• Job Knowledge: Must have good interviewing and case recording skills, must be familiar with local laws, customs and cultures. Must be able to instruct vulnerable individuals in a way which preserves their dignity. Must be sensitive to cultural differences within the agency and community. Fluent in Microsoft Office Applications (Word & Outlook).
• Working Conditions/Physical Demands: Must be able to stoop, bend, squat, sit on floor and ambulate over uneven floor surfaces including stairs and steps. Must be able to visually and auditory assess and interact with clients to ensure their safety and wellbeing. Requires considerable work outside of the office and substantial driving. May lift up to 30 pounds.
• Other requirements:
• Valid AZ driver’s license, reliable transportation and ability to show proof of registration/insurance.
• Level One Fingerprint clearance or ability to obtain fingerprint clearance; must maintain clearance.
• You must be 21 years of age or older to drive on behalf of Catholic Charities.
  Hourly rate starting at $19.11 and may increase depending on experience.
  Excellent Benefits: Medical (including Vision), Dental, Basic Life, Short-Term Disability, Vacation, Sick Time, 13 Paid Holidays, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), 403(b), EAP and Pension Plan
  We Value Diversity!

JOB DUTIES:

• Responsible for receiving referrals and engaging clients within 48 hours, through home visits or telephone contact. Completes documentation regarding all contacts and information regarding the case.
• Responsible for outreach and engagement of clients through telephone calls, home visits, and ongoing communication with Supportive Services partners for those in need.
• Interviews client; skillfully and quickly assessing situation. Completes client intake assessments for emergency shelter and housing programs. Gathers client information to help determine appropriateness for housing programs.
• Oversees the collection and review of all collateral information necessary to assess client eligibility for assistance under the Housing Program.
• Provides Case Management teaching, supporting, encouraging, and advocating for client as needed.
• Works with the community resources and keeps current on available resources.
• Provides client with current information regarding workshops and seminars to help them meet their goals to improve their lives to include financial education.
• Responsible for developing and implementing individual service plans, making community referrals, on-going reassessment of the service plans and follow up. Updates service plans on a quarterly basis.
• Maintains records, completes reports, and collects data as required.
• Keeps informed and utilizes opportunities for personal growth.
• Processes housing applications and requests credit and background checks. Verification of income and employment in order to establish eligibility.
• Provides accurate documentation of services, including identifying resources, writing progress notes, detailed summaries of all services and contracts and submits as required or outlined. Completes monthly progress reports and billing as required.
• Shares responsibility with other program staff for 24/7 emergency telephone coverage.
• Be familiar with and educate on Fair Housing, housing right laws and responsibilities—with the intention of mitigating potential tenant-related issues, including deterrence of evictions.
• Actively identify, engage, recruit and maintain relationships with private sector landlords including property managers and property owners to increase housing options for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and participating in permanent and rapid re-housing subsidy programs.
• Develop and manage a comprehensive outreach/ working relationship with stakeholders including other community members, especially landlords. Implement a landlord recruitment and retention plan.
• Identify housing options for individuals and families with criminal history, imperfect credit, mental health or other barriers to housing.
• Perform initial site visits at all prospective sites to ensure they meet guidelines for habitability standards. This is a visual inspection of the exterior of the building and the interior of a potential rental unit.
• Maintain a database of landlords, and management firms working with programs. This database should include a list of amenities to each respective site. The list should also delineate each property’s category (i.e. market rate, affordable, permanent supportive, Section 8, etc.).
• Maintain awareness of changes in market and community processes that can impact services; bring forward prospective recommendations to deal with expected changes.
• Be aware and committed to Housing First, rapid rehousing, coordinated entry procedures, and other housing based strategies for ending homelessness in order to educate private sector landlords of what programs entail.
• Promote and assist landlords with the use of the ADOH AZ Landlord Incentive Project (ALIP) to address damages related to participation in eligible housing programs to maintain landlord participation.
• Develop a strategy for how information regarding available units will be equitably disseminated.
• Create a targeted communication/marketing plan tailored to landlords’ central motivations and concerns to promote their participation. This may include PSA’s, social networks, specific events, etc.
• Negotiate with landlords experiencing conflict to find compromise solutions to experienced problems, including outside mediation services for more serious conflict to help avoid eviction.
• Promote ongoing commitment to excellence and continual quality improvement to ensure the highest quality of services to our staff and clients.
• Performs other duties as assigned.