Low Threshold Housing Case Manager

Description

The Low Threshold Housing Case Manager is responsible for the coordination and delivery of case management services to identified individuals living at Willows. The Low Threshold Housing Case Manager reports to the Program Director for support and supervision.

Location: Willows is a harm reduction, low threshold transitional shelter program in Boston for women experiencing homelessness, substance use/opioid overdose risk and health/mental health conditions, who may also face multiple barriers to housing.

Essential Functions:

• Act in accordance with Victory Programs, Inc.’s Standards of Excellence, including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality.
• Ensure that policies and procedures of the programs are followed.
• Identify housing support needs; coordinate and advocate for appropriate support services and resources that will assist clients in optimizing health outcomes and housing stabilization, moving towards self- sufficiency.
• Provide housing search, advocacy and stabilization services to clients including eviction prevention, recertifications, accessing funding and benefit sources.
• Accompany clients to resource and housing related appointments, appeals, and following up on submitted client applications.
• Formulate and document individualized plans for clients for support services coordination. Goals need to be achievable, concrete, measurable and time limited.
• Develop a wide-ranging resource network for people living with HIV and other chronic health issues in the Greater Boston area.
• Develop and maintain service linkages to support clients/residents and their families, including developing relationships with local service providers.
• Continue to assess and provide referrals and other community-based recovery, health, nutritional and other support services for individuals receiving stabilization services as required.
• Act as a liaison between clients, property management companies, medical personnel, volunteers and families; navigate and identify different components of a client’s support system at large.
• Develop and coordinate a system for follow-up/outcome measurement for post discharge as required.
• Maintain clear, concise, timely and accurate client files and data-based records.
• Attend weekly team meetings, weekly supervision, monthly clinical supervision meetings. Attend All Staff meetings, monthly staff trainings, program collaborative meetings, attend staff trainings when offered.
• Obtain signed consent to support and empower clients with the coordination of referrals and housing search, services that may include direct advocacy and support to coordinate with other aspects of the client’s needs.
• Provide CSP-HI (Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals) services to eligible residents, including documenting services in both VPI's & Eliot Community Human Services EHR as required..
• Facilitate a monthly aftercare group to assist in the maintenance of housing stability as required.
• Complete any additional agency or funder reports as requested by your immediate supervisor or other designated person.
• Maintain contact with other internal and external client providers, including, but not limited to counselors, case managers, and housing providers.
• Implement best practices in compliance with Victory Programs’ Philosophy of Care and our Housing First philosophy.
• Meet with clients where they are permanently housed or in the community as needed, providing weekly case management unless otherwise noted as required.
• Promote access to and participation in the community and neighborhood, including the gathering and distribution of information regarding community meetings, events, and resources.

Non-Essential Functions:

• Participate and support the agency in program holiday events, State House rallies, fundraising and advocacy events, HIV/AIDS rally and walk, and any additional functions.
• Attend additional training as requested by your supervisor to enhance skills.
• Perform any other duty or task that may be requested by a supervisor or the Program Director.
• Represent Victory Programs, Inc. in external meetings, as requested.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 1-2 years’ experience preferred, or High school diploma with 3 or more years of client advocacy experience. Relevant experience may include: 
• Housing search.
• Housing retention.
• Case management.
• HIV services.
• Experience advocating for clients with government assistance agencies, housing authorities, private landlords or realtors preferred.
• At least 25 years old with a valid Massachusetts driver’s license with a safety driving points of 00, 99, 01, 02, or 03.
• Openness to harm reduction philosophy.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively as a member of a professional team.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer skills, including Google office suites and Internet use.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully in multicultural settings with diverse client groups, including people with mental health concerns and substance use disorder.
• Must be CPR certified (may be obtained upon hire)
• Complete TB screening (may be obtained upon hire)
• Three strong work-related professional references; at least 2 from manager or supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish, Haitian Creole) preferred.

Rate: $26.00/hr

Position Type: Full-time (40 hours / week) Sunday - Thursday 9am-5pm. Case Managers are an essential part of program coverage and as such are paid a 30 minute lunch break that they are required to remain onsite for.

Victory Programs values a diverse workforce, as we collectively seek to create welcoming, inclusive and accessible environments for our employees and the people we serve. We strive to sustain healthy, functioning communities that respect and celebrate different experiences, identities, cultures and ideas. Victory Programs has helped individuals and families in crisis for over 45 years. Thousands turn to us yearly for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and professional, compassionate support. Most struggle withhomelessness, substance use and mental health, and many live with HIV/AIDS. Our team of more than 300 staff across over 30+ programs work with people to develop and execute creative, safe solutions to the very real challenges our clients face.

Our benefit program includes a 75% health and 25% dental employer premium contribution, 100% employer paid disability and life insurance. Victory Programs offers a generous paid time off package to employees working 20+ hours a week including vacation, sick, and personal time as well as holidays. Upon hire, employees working 20+ hours a week are entitled to up to: 4 personal days, 160 sick hours, 10 holidays and 3 1/2 weeks of vacation. These figures adjust based on full time or part time status and allocated vacation time increases with length of employment.