Housing Case Manager

FOR IMMEDIATE HIRE

Organization: Project Homeless Connect Washington County

Position: Housing Case Manager

Status: Full Time – Hourly Not to Exceed 40 hours per week

Reports To: Operations and Development Director

Compensation: $47,600 - $51,000 annual salary based on experience & education

Benefits: 80 hours PTO, 40 hours sick time, 11 paid holidays, ERA with employer match, medical reimbursement

Location: Hillsboro, Oregon

Position Closes: Open Until Filled

Project Homeless Connect Washington County (PHC), a nonprofit serving those experiencing homelessness in Washington County, is seeking an individual passionate about serving the vulnerable in our community to join our team as our Day Center Manager. PHC serves the community of Washington County by providing a multifaceted approach towards serving those affected by homelessness. Our vision is to cooperatively develop a high quality, fully integrated system of services and support that responds to the needs of those struggling in our community. Our success depends on knowing everyone as individuals and meeting them where they are at. We know there are many complex reasons someone may be experiencing homelessness. We look to reduce the stress they endure and provide basic needs, and services through a variety of programs. We operate a Day Center, Outreach Team, Temporary Emergency Shelters, and coordinate collaborative One Day Events that provide critical services.

Why Work With us? PHC encompasses our values of Community, Hope, Empowerment, & Compassion in how we serve our guests, and our staff. Our staff our driven by their passion to make a meaningful impact in our community. We strive to foster an environment of inclusiveness, and support staff in their strengths. We value an open, transparent environment and welcome contributions from each staff member.

Overview: Housing and supportive services are a key piece of PHC’s vision, and we believe that walking alongside our guests while helping them become self-sufficient is key to our success and their success. A key imperative is to implement the Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) measure in partnership with Washington County. Housing Case Management Services (HCMS) forms the primary driver of the services available to participants in supportive housing. The participants served in HCMS are experiencing extremely low incomes, one or more disabling conditions, and who are experiencing or at imminent risk of experiencing long-term or frequent episodes of literal homelessness. The Housing Case Manager serves as the central point of contact for coordinating the services for the participant to achieve and maintain health and housing stability.

Overall Job Description:

The individual in this position will work closely with many agency partners to identify and manage a caseload of up to 20 individuals who are seeking housing. Once an individual is identified and assigned to their caseworker, the caseworker will then be responsible for identifying and overcoming barriers of the client, walking along-side them through the process of obtaining housing, and will continue to follow up with and mentor the client for up to one year after they have obtained housing. The case manager will also be responsible for building community relationships, for example, reaching out to area landlords to obtain rental agreements.

Primary Responsibilities:

· Provide a participant centered approach and excellent customer service that is sensitive to the challenges of homelessness, including medical and behavioral health issues that face them, in their efforts to move into and maintain permanent supportive housing.

· Employ a “whatever it takes” approach to assist participants in their transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

· Assist households at every stage of the housing stabilization process including flexible services to meet the individual needs of participants

· Outreach and engagement including processing referrals from Community Connect

· Establish rapport with participants

· Provide a “screening in” philosophy

· Conducts face to face screening and obtain consents

· Provide linkage to other needed providers and services

· Conduct intake enrollment and enroll into HCMS.

· Assist with temporary housing assistance until permanent housing can be secured

· Ensure all documentation is prepared and entered into the Homeless Management Information system (HMIS)

• Assist at all levels of move-in to permanent housing; document ready, housing authority applications and other paperwork, coordination of move-in and orient new tenant to their unit/building
• Conduct assessments, develop and implement individualized case management services plan in collaboration with the participant including needs, goals, steps, timeframes, and disposition of each goal as it is met or changed
• Ensure access to health, mental health, and substance use disorder services. Assists participants with establishing a medical home
• Ensure connection with medication and treatment regimens
• Conduct home visits with participants in their units
• Assist with increasing income, job search, increased education, and social security assistance
• Assist with independent living skills, including social, personal hygiene, budgeting and money management, legal issues and transportation as needed
• Provide housing location services and educate participants on tenant rights and responsibilities.
• Educate participants on the appropriate use of crisis intervention services versus 911 emergency calls, etc.
• Provide eviction prevention counseling; work with property management to help participants resolve issues that threaten their housing stability including tenant rights and responsibilities
• Maintain Professional Development growth

The Ideal Candidate: Minimum Qualifications:

· Equivalent of a high school diploma

· Three years of experience in working with individuals experiencing homelessness.

· 1-3 years’ experience in vendor/client coordination, donation, or inventory management, and/or customer service.

· Friendly, compassionate, and personable individual

· Demonstrates a sense of reliability, and maintains responsibility, with initiative to care for those in their department, employees, and clients alike.

Experience Preferred:

An understanding of the unique needs and struggles of individuals with high barriers to employment and housing.

· Knowledge of local programs available for unemployed individuals.

· A preference may be given to an individual who has similar life experience, either as a formerly homeless person or person with high barriers to employment.

· A preference may be given to speakers of two or more languages.

· Knowledge, experience, or training in mental health work, crisis de-escalation, conflict resolution, and/or providing trauma-informed care.

Skills:

· Written and Verbal Communication

· Word processing

· E-mail

· Basic telephone etiquette

· Excel spreadsheet

· Knowledge of homeless population in Washington County and surrounding areas

Criminal Background:

PHC understands that those in recovery may have backgrounds they are not proud of, and do not represent who they are today. Items that may show up on a background check are not automatic grounds for refusing to hire. Please disclose anything that you would like us to be aware of prior to the background check being completed so we can talk through any situations that may arise. Candidates will be chosen on an individual basis.

Project Homeless Connect has an organizational commitment to equity and inclusion, and to ensure that programs and staff culture are equitable in both access and outcomes regardless of race, ethnicity, faith, culture, language, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or family status. Project Homeless Connect is committed to pursuing effective strategies and devoting dedicated time and resources at every level of the organization to address disparities based on identity and to apply an equity lens to all decisions, programs, and policies.

To Apply: Please send the following:

· A chronological resume without a personal photo

· A cover letter that states your background, skills, and abilities to align with this position

Thank you for exploring an opportunity to be employed with us!

PHC values diversity in its workforce and is an equal opportunity employer. BIPOC candidates are encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $47,600.00 - $51,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Hillsboro, OR 97123: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• Case management: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $47,600 - $51,500