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Case Manager for Rapid Rehousing

Reports to Job Role: Director of Rapid Rehousing

FLSA: Exempt  

Level: Team Member

Descriptive Summary

The Case Manager for Rapid Rehousing provides critical linkages to and coordination of services on behalf of individuals and families referred to the Rapid Rehousing Program at Cornerstones.  The Case Manager is responsible for utilizing a Housing First approach to rapidly exit single adults and families from emergency shelter or street outreach and will be responsible for meeting or exceeding outcomes as well as other contractual obligations. The Case Manager must possess a patient, trauma-informed approach to service delivery using an equity lens. The Case Manager ensures that rapid rehousing services are equitable and delivered with integrity in accordance with the Agency Mission, Vision, and Values.  The Case Manager works as an integral member of the Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS) and Cornerstones team focusing on 5 primary outcome areas: 1) reducing length of homelessness, 2) exits to permanent housing, 3) increase in income, reduction in debt, improvement in credit score, 4) reducing recidivism and returns to homelessness and 5) integrated care management.  Case management services include, but are not limited to: assessment of social, health, emotional, and economic needs of homeless services participants, development and monitoring of individualized plans to address barriers to housing, collaboration and coordination with community and partner organizations, referrals for service, assistance with searching for and obtaining employment and housing, providing consultation and training, crisis intervention, group facilitation, home visits and tracking and documenting case information in case files and in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS.)  A candidate that is bilingual in English/Spanish and has the ability to use one's lived personal experience of housing instability to help assess system barriers is a plus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages an average caseload of 20-25 households participating in the Rapid Rehousing program. Caseload includes households currently experiencing homelessness and households that have been housed through the program.
• Conducts comprehensive in-depth assessments utilizing uniform intake/assessment tools developed by the Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) as well as assessment and action planning tools developed for Cornerstones Integrated Care Management (ICM) services.
• Works with emergency shelter and street outreach participants to prepare, implement and monitor individual plans and budgets that, at a minimum, address the core outcome areas as well as other significant barriers to housing.  Plans must include goals and specific action steps needed to meet those goals. 
• Works closely with the Housing Locator to educate participants about and assist them with obtaining affordable appropriate housing.
• Determines appropriateness of household for receipt of rapid re-housing funds and recommends amount. Allocates and tracks use of rapid-rehousing funds including Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Virginia Housing Solutions Program (VHSP).
• Recertifies eligibility for the Rapid Rehousing program as indicated by specific program guidelines.
• Conducts home visits and housing inspections.
• Serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers and participants as well as between participants and neighbors.
• Maintains level of contact with households served based on the level of service need, and minimum program requirements.
• Advocates for and actively assists individuals and families in obtaining services (e.g.

childcare, behavioral health, intellectual disability, substance use disorder, housing referrals, financial assistance, employment, training, medical services, mentoring and socialization).

• Works closely with the Child Services Specialist to ensure that the children’s service needs are being met.
• Addresses and if necessary, diffuses crisis situations with participants.  Assesses safety issues and assists participants with accessing emergency services as needed (e.g., medical, behavioral health services, child protective services, adult protective services).
• Participates in multi-disciplinary meetings, case staffings, as well as community-wide trainings and meetings.
• Provides intern / volunteer supervision (as appropriate.)
• Works a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends.
• Uses automated technology including HMIS and hard copy files to maintain, update, and report on case data, goal attainment, and outcomes in a timely manner.
• Manages the HMIS data, outcomes, and case files for the Rapid Rehousing program ensuring that performance measures and outcomes meet contractual obligations.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable human services field or commensurate experience with homeless and/or at-risk populations. Master's Degree preferred.
• MSW plus two years post-Master’s degree a plus.
• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish, English/Arabic, English/French a preferred.

• Requires knowledge and belief in “Housing First” and “Rapid Re-Housing” philosophy and strategies.
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals and families including people with mental health and/or substance abuse disabilities is required.
• Extensive knowledge of current homelessness strategies and priorities [Trauma-Informed Care, Housing First, Equity] essential.
• Knowledge of current social service, homeless, and housing issues and methods/approaches to address issues.
• Knowledge and understanding of tenant’s rights and responsibilities as well as “strengths based” case management.
• Knowledge of the principals and practices of case management.
• Knowledge of regulations and guidelines relating to the assigned area of social service provision.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to use HMIS to establish and maintain case records and to facilitate data collection.
• Ability to schedule and manage workload sufficiently to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends.
• Candidate must be able to lift items weighing 10-20 pounds.
• Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and good driving record.
• Candidate must be able to drive 15-passenger van. 
• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish, English/Arabic, English/French is preferred.

Attitude

• Attentive to constraints of time and funds in setting stretch goals
• Respectful of staff, volunteers, funders and clients
• Forward thinker, considering not just today but what are the implications for tomorrow
• Collaborative leader, working with others individually and in teams

Work Environment

• The work is performed in a typical office environment and in an emergency shelter environment.
• Some work is performed outdoors in both the winter and summer.
• Occasional driving or personal or Cornerstones’ vehicle.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Prolonged sitting and a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular in person interaction with the public, clients, and stakeholders.
• Handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds
• Occasional navigation of stairs, ramps, ladders.
• Nosie level in the work environment is usually low to moderate
• Must be able to safely operate a company vehicle.