Case Manager

Summary/Objective 

To assist families experiencing homelessness with obtaining suitable housing. A Case Manager will use a trauma-informed approach to help families navigate barriers to tenancy. They will assist families in building a support system by connecting them with resources they can access while in shelter and continue to access once they are stably housed. Responsible for the development of trusting, supportive and respectful relationships with clients while maintaining a safe and secure shelter environment.  As with all shelter staff, the Case Manager will assist in the overall maintenance of a structured and enhanced shelter environment.

Essential Functions

• Meet with each new family within three business days and begin a family life assessment/housing history to establish needs and issues of family.
• Assist family to connect with services in the community that are useful to addressing any needs of individual family members. Establish initial contact if needed.
• Within 5 days of shelter entry create a Re-housing plan with the family that addresses areas of employment, life skills and counseling assessment. Update Re-housing plan every 30 days as required by EOHLC. Support families in completing activities listed in the Re-housing plan. Take appropriate steps when a family does not comply with the plan.
• Assist participants 18 and older in connecting to job training, job placement services, or Mass Rehab.

• Resolve or facilitate tenancy screening barriers, such as securing identifying documents and determine through a printout, bill or direct information from the utility companies the status of past debt.

• Assist participants in securing benefits such as but not limited to; TAFDC, SNAP, MassHealth, and WIC
• Assist families with securing or maintaining current healthcare services.
• Meet with each family minimally bi-weekly or weekly as needed.
• Document case management efforts and meetings utilizing the EA case notes in ETO.
• Comply with all EOHLC requirements in the ETO system.

• Develop a budget with the family and monitor it on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

• Assist family in ensuring support connections/resources are accessible upon exiting shelter.
• Conduct weekly unit inspections with the Operations Support Staff. Address all housekeeping issues as needed. Teach and monitor necessary skills for maintaining cleanliness and order. Be prepared to teach by example.

• Prepare each unit for new move-in taking steps necessary to have unit clean, orderly, and ready for new family.

• Transportation and support as necessary.
• In collaboration with Housing Search Worker:
• Develop a shelter exit plan for each family.
• Knowledge of various housing programs including but not limited to; housing subsidies, housing lotteries, and processing for the HomeBase program.
• Communicate with families and Housing Worker to understand the family’s housing priorities, including but not limited to unit location, size, and rent, as well as other information that may be helpful to establish a positive tenancy
• Assist housing workers in addressing issues of past tenancies and establish a plan for avoiding missteps in the future, i.e., history of non-payment of rent or utilities.
• Coordinate and assist housing worker in tenancy education such as, how to engage with landlords, unit viewing skills, and lease rights and expectations

Additional Duties

• Call case conferences as needed and include all necessary parties.
• Assist other team members as needed or as directed by the supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned by Program Director or to help meet program criteria.
• Participate in training required by Housing Assistance Corp or EOHLC
• Comply with all reporting requirements of the shelter funding source, including maintaining accurate case files.
• Attend staff meetings as required.

Required Qualifications, Education, and Experience

• HS Diploma or equivalency
• 2 years experience working with homeless or low income families
• Experience working with clients in crisis
• Strong ability to effectively resolve and cope with immediate crisis situations
• Detail oriented with strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to set and observe appropriate boundaries with clients
• Possess well developed decision making skills
• Ability to multi-task and remain calm in demanding and unpredictable situations
• Computer skills including MS Word and Microsoft Outlook
• Valid MA Driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Service or Social Science field
• 5+ years experience working with homeless or low income families
• Knowledge of community resources
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people
• Bilingual

Physical and Mental Job Requirements

• Use of and/or subject to:
  • Vehicle
  • Computers/monitors
• Physical requirements:
  • Occasional lifting/carrying up to 25lbs
  • Occasional pushing up to 75 lbs
  • Occasional pulling up to 75 lbs
  • Occasional bending
  • Occasional squatting
  • Occasional kneeling
  • Occasional reaching
  • Frequent standing
  • Frequent sitting
  • Frequent walking
  • Constant handwriting and typing
  • Constant visual perception
  • Frequent visual inspection
  • Frequent color distinction
  • Constant hearing
  • Constant speaking
  • Occasional smelling
• Mental requirements:
  • Understand and apply routine verbal and/or written instructions
  • Understand and apply non-routine verbal and/or written instructions
  • Understand complex problems and collaborate to explore alternative solutions
  • Organize actions to complete sequential and/or routine tasks
  • Organize and prioritize individual work schedule to manage multiple tasks and/or projects
  • Organize and prioritize the work schedules of others to manage multiple tasks and/or projects
  • Make decisions that have an impact on the individual’s work
  • Make decisions that have an impact on the immediate work unit’s operations and/or services
  • Make decisions that have significant impact on a department’s credibility, operations, and/or services
  • Make decisions that have an impact on the health and wellbeing of clients
  • Communicate and exchange routine/basic information
  • Communicate and explain a variety of information
  • Communicate in-depth information for the purpose of interpreting, and/or negotiating
  • Memorization/concentration
  • Learning/knowledge retention
  • Preparing/analyzing numerical figures
  • Emotional/behavioral self regulation
  • Interacting with others

Work Environment

• The functions of this role are conducted in an office and field environment

Hours of Work

• This role is paid on an hourly basis.
• The hours of work for this position are: Typically daytime , but may vary

AAP/EEO Statement 
The Housing Assistance Corporation (“HAC”) is committed to a firm policy in favor of equal employment opportunity and will abide by all applicable state and federal regulations by not discriminating against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or veteran status.  Our commitment to equal employment opportunities shall include employment, upgrading, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves or other absences from work, layoff, compensation and benefits, selection for training or other education, professional opportunities and conflict resolution.

It is also the policy of HAC to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of their status as woman, minority or individuals with disabilities or protected veterans, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements.

Please inform us of any necessary accommodations required during the application process and/or at any time during employment.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Sign-on bonus of up to $1,000!