Housing Case Manager Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Description

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at www.irco.org.  

POSITION:                           Enhanced Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager

JOB CLASS/GRADE:            Specialist 1/Grade 8

WAGE:                                  Starting at $48,600 per year based on experience 

FLSA; EEO; WC:                   Non-Exempt; Professional; 8864

LOCATIONS:                        Greater Middle East Center, 4915 SW Griffith Drive, Beaverton, OR 97005

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS:          1.0 FTE; Full-Time with Benefits; Regular

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: (2)

APPLY AT:                            www.irco.org 

STATUS:                                Full-Time with Benefits

PROGRAM(S):                      Washington County Supportive Housing Services Program

SECTOR/DIVISION:             Housing & Supportive Services/Asset & Opportunity Building 

REQUIREMENTS:                 Fluency in English required; a second language preferred

                                                Must possess a valid driver's license and verification of current auto insurance

                                                and have full use of an automobile during work hours. 

Program Summary
Response program focused on quickly resolving the housing crisis of eligible households. ERRH Case Managers use Progressive Assistance to help program households rapidly resolve current barriers and/or obtain and retain permanent housing in either the private rental market or affordable housing market as available. 

Enhanced Rapid Re-Housing programs design service provision based on the core components of: Current housing barrier resolution; housing identification, rent & move-in assistance, and case management and supportive services. Enhanced Rapid Re-Housing Programs are expected to be aligned with National Alliance to End Homelessness Program Standards for RRH Rapid Re-Housing Tool Kit. 

Enhanced Rapid Re-Housing Case Managers focus on case management and rental assistance, serving those people who are currently experiencing a housing crisis through focused efforts with an emphasis on services that assist households in finding new permanent housing and then meeting their responsibilities as tenants and in complying with a standard lease agreement. 

Enhanced Rapid Re-Housing's eligible population falls into the definitions provided by The Metro Regional Council and the Washington County SHS which includes households between 0 and 50% of the Area Median Income for Washington County, and are currently homeless, exiting an institution of care; are involuntarily doubled up; are staying in a motel utilizing their own or public funds; people who face imminent homelessness; or those people who are within fourteen (14) days of losing their housing or have received an eviction order from a court. 

ERRH providers shall: 

• Follow the standards of best practices in ERRH with a person-centered approach that includes excellent customer service sensitive to the challenges that people experiencing homelessness face as they move into and maintain supportive housing. 
• Ensure that services are flexible in intensity to meet the individual needs of each household. Intensity shall be regularly monitored and adjusted as needed following best practices in a modified Critical Time Intervention and Progressive Assistance model of services provision; employ a "whatever it takes" and "meet them where they are" approach to working with households in their transition from a housing crisis to permanent housing and longer-term retention; and will receive 100% of their referrals through the Community Connect system. Referral percentages will be monitored by DHS and can be adjusted to ensure equitable distribution of resources and system needs. 
• Community Connect is the county-wide framework which links individuals experiencing homelessness to organizations providing housing resources in a systematic and efficient manner. 
• All Supportive Housing Services (SHS) must also be structured to lead with lawful fairness in access and treatment, especially meeting the needs of Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/e, Asians, Pacific Islanders, immigrants and refugees.
• Specific services will also be designed to meet the distinct needs of seniors, children, persons with disabilities, individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, criminal justice involved individuals, households impacted by domestic violence, youth exiting foster care, unaccompanied homeless youth, people who identify as LGBTQ+, women, and people living with certain chronic health conditions.

Position Summary
The Enhanced Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager works under the supervision of the Housing and Supportive Services Manager to provide high quality Housing Case Management Services to participants currently experiencing homelessness and housing instability and are eligible for supportive housing funded through the Metro Supportive Housing Services in Washington County. 

Essential Functions

• 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 
• Conducts face-to-face screening and obtain consents and establish rapport with participants 
• Meeting with potential clients and assessing program eligibility 
• Checking clients' eligibility before scheduling appointments 
• Complete intakes and maintain case files, required paperwork, and reports on a timely and regular basis 
• Meeting individually with clients in a case management setting to help them define, work toward to reach their goals to find housing 
• Provide linkage to other needed providers and services 
• Conduct intake enrollment and enroll into HCMS/Service Point 
• Assist with temporary housing assistance until permanent housing can be secured 
• 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 tenants 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 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 

Secondary Functions

• This position may require some weekends or after-hours work. It will depend on a case-by-case basis. Outreach may be required as well.

Requirements

Education & Experience

MINIMUM JOB SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate's degree in a human service or related field and minimum of 2 years of experience providing related services to similar populations or bachelor's degree in a human service or related field and minimum of 1 year of experience providing related services to similar populations 
• Knowledge of or ability to learn the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) or Service Point database 
• Experience working with participants with mental illness, chronic health issues, and substance use disorders 
• Experience in the following areas: chronic homelessness, outreach and engagement strategies, housing navigation, best practice models, mental health and substance use disorder services, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, affordable housing and public benefits applications, housing and landlord/tenant rights, eviction prevention, etc. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including Word and Excel 
• Ability to effectively learn, understand, and accurately enter large amounts of information into a client database and keep timely and up to date case notes for each client 
• Organized and detailed oriented; ability to manage multiple cases efficiently and effectively 
• Passion for ending homelessness and strong people skills 
• Ability to work as a member of a team and independently 
• Ability to work effectively with people of varying racial, ethnic, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds 

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Office setting job
• Physical: Positions at this level require minimal physical effort such as light lifting, carrying or movement, etc. Physical capability involves use of office or equipment where some agility and hand eye coordination is needed.
• Mental: There is a regular need for assessment of risks, analysis of options and decisions without complete information. 
• Environment: There is a moderately low level of personal risk encountered.  Job conditions are occasionally uncomfortable relative to noise, temperature, inside/outside work, dirty conditions, or interactions with angry or hostile people.
• Schedule: The work schedule occasionally fluctuates based on organization or customer needs. This fluctuation may occur with or without prior notice.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Positions at this level are not responsible for any supervisory functions, or responsibilities, but may occasionally be asked to orient and/or train new employees or volunteers.

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit packages to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community 
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year 
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting 
• 3% match for student loans or college savings 
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance 
• Flexible spending accounts

Required Engagement 

Engage fully in recommended professional development, as well as other assigned or required training activities. This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCO's mission, vision, and values-based initiatives. 

How To Apply

1. Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.  
2. Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO Careers.  
3. For questions about this position, please email jobs@irco.org

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCO's main office, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and IRCO application. 

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any characteristics protected by State and Federal law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.