Position Summary
The Case Manager, Housing Stabilization provides intensive case management services to highly vulnerable community members transitioning from experiencing homelessness to housing. The Case Manager, Housing Stabilization is a direct service position working with individuals and families, including participants with both diagnosed and undiagnosed co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The Case Manager, Housing Stabilization utilizes crisis response/intervention, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed care principles to build trusting relationships and deliver wrap-around housing stability services. The Case Manager, Housing Stabilization conducts housing stabilization plans, individual assessments, and provides income growth, life skills, job skills, and health resource services. The Case Manager, Housing Stabilization collaborates with the internal network and external partners, maintains professional relationships, and communicates effectively with all internal and external partners using shared tools provided by the agency. The Case Manager, Housing Stabilization’s knowledge and understanding of relevant resources is oriented toward individual and family resilience.
The Case Manager, Housing Stabilization works outside the office to meet program participants in their homes, in the community, and at Catholic Charities program locations.
Essential Functions
Case Management and Service Coordination
- Provide support to participants as they transition from street to shelter to housing. Intervene in crisis situations, promote positive solutions, and re-establish stability while providing intervention, support, and mediation to foster a successful program stay.
- Develop a trusting and consistent relationship with each client that supports them to envision positive change, receive needed support, and achieve their goals.
- Conduct thorough assessments to identify the client’s unique story, risk factors, and strengths to build up for a successful outcome attainment.
- Develop strength-based and solution-focused individualized action plans that promote housing stability, income growth, and ongoing self-sufficiency.
- Provide ongoing case management services encouraging goal completion.
- Coordinate wrap around services including mental health, legal assistance, entitlement benefits, health care, substance abuse treatment, job training, and housing assistance.
- Assist clients with applications including SSI and SSDI benefits, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and TANF.
- Practice assertive engagement to motivate, encourage participation, and promote follow through.
- Maintain professional boundaries and a strict level of confidentiality.
Communication and Documentation
- Maintain thorough, accurate, and up-to-date case records and document service encounters as required. Enter data in a timely manner in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), DataLink, and/or Smartsheets.
- Gather housing documentation in an accurate and timely manner including chronic homelessness verification, disability verification, financial records, identification, rental calculations, and annual voucher certifications.
- Respond to calls, e-mails, update requests, and other inquiries in a professional and timely manner.
- Follow all best practice standards of care. Follow all Catholic Charities’ policy and procedure including release of information, informed consent, confidentiality, and file documentation.
- Complete required training and certifications within the established time period.
- Serve on agency or community service committees representing the department and/or agency.
- Conduct case management-related duties independently, exercise sound professional and case management judgement, maintain case records with minimal documentation errors and/or corrective actions.
- Prepare monthly program data reports and participant summaries as assigned by the Program Manager, Housing Stabilization .
- Support the Mission, Vision, and Values of Catholic Charities in the performance of all essential job functions and responsibilities.
Employment and/or Income Growth
- Provide financial literacy services including bankruptcy support, credit education, credit reports, banking services, and budgeting.
- Prepare participants for employment including resume preparation, interviewing skills, job search support, and workplace etiquette.
Housing Stabilization
- Assist participants with accessing resources and services to increase housing stability (e.g., linkage to primary care physicians, health insurance, food banks, credit repair, legal aid, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), money management, tenant rights and responsibilities, mental health, and benefit enrollment).
- Support participants through each step in the housing stabilization process including income growth and attainment, on-time rent payment, budgeting, roommate mediation, neighbor mediation, and successful tenancy.
- Advocate, as needed, directly with landlords, property managers, and housing agencies.
- Conduct regular home visits and accompany participants as needed to appointments related to housing stability.
- Provide independent living skills coaching, instruction, and assistance to participants. Independent living skills include paying bills, paying rent, household management, cleaning, personal hygiene, cooking, nutrition, and personal care.
- Participate in case conferences, tenant meetings, staff meetings, and community meetings as required.
Note: Catholic Charities considers this position to be a mandated reporter of child abuse and elder abuse.
Other Responsibilities
- Work with Diocese of Santa Rosa and local parishes as appropriate and requested.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Agency Culture
It is essential that all employees of Catholic Charities aspire to the following:
- A commitment to the agency’s mission, vision, and values.
- A commitment to excellence in everything we do.
- A commitment to performance and quality improvement.
- A commitment to outcomes and measured results.
- A commitment to innovation and to what is possible.
Education, Experience, and Skills Required
- Associates degree in a social service or related field or one to two years’ experience working as a case manager in housing stabilization or navigation or career readiness or equal work experience required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Understanding of causes of homelessness, experience working within social services and familiarity with community resources.
- Prior experience in conducting vocational assessment and understanding transferable skills, aptitudes, abilities, and the barriers that hinder employment.
- Ability to work under pressure with a positive, solution-oriented approach.
- Computer literacy required, including experience with Microsoft 365 Suite including Excel.
- Strong written and verbal communication; organization, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, cooperative, friendly, proactive, and helpful attitude with clients and co-workers. Ability to work closely with clients and other employees to ensure a positive and constructive environment within the program or department and throughout the Agency.
- Passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Catholic Charities and its clients.
- Valid California driver license and at least state required minimum of automobile insurance, clear DMV driving record and ability to provide own transportation. Must be willing and able to travel between agency sites.
- Must pass DOJ background clearance (fingerprinting) in accordance with the Diocese of Santa Rosa’s policies prior to start of employment.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required.
Job Analysis/Job Description Physical Requirements
Never (N)
Occasionally (O) = Up to 3 Hours per Day
Frequently (F) = Up to 6 Hours per Day
Constantly (C) = Up to 8 Hours per Day
Physical Activities
Frequency
Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like.
N
Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.
N
Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods.
C
Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
F
Adjusting or moving objects up to 10 pounds in all directions.
C
Communicating with others to exchange information.
C
Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
C
Operating machinery and/or power tools.
N
Operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment.
F
Assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned.
C
Environmental Conditions
Frequency
Low Temperatures.
N
High Temperatures.
N
Outdoor elements such as precipitation and wind.
N
Noisy environments.
N
Hazardous conditions.
N
Poor ventilation.
N
Small and/or enclosed spaces.
N
No adverse environmental conditions expected.
X
Physical Demands
Frequency
Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
N
Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
X
Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds.
N
Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more.
N