Case Managers work as part of a multi-disciplinary service team with culturally diverse homeless young people ages 16-25.  This position will utilize a strengths-based approach in assessing needs and developing a plan to achieve each youth’s desired goals and supporting youth in accomplishing their goals. This position will operate using a housing-first approach, supporting homeless youth to secure safe and stable housing.  Building positive, supportive relationships with clients is central to the effectiveness of this position. This position will assist with housing stabilization, including building and maintaining relationships with landlords and coordinating rental assistance subsidies in accordance with inter-agency agreements.

Essential Duties

• Provide Assessment and homeless youth resource orientation, meeting requirements for paperwork and timelines for completion.

• Educate about resources. Provide advocacy for youth and coordinate with community resources.

• Provide ongoing assessment and data collection.

• Involve and empower youth participants in generating community, community norms, and a sense of ownership within activities, programs, housing, and neighborhood.

• Assist youth in identifying housing interests, locating housing, building income, and stabilization.

• Assist with youth move-ins, move-outs, and housing transitions.

• Educate youth about available resources and provide support to access and navigate the resources they need.

• Meet with youth individually on a regular basis and support them in building community support, including frequently meeting with youth in the community and conducting home visits. Be available to meet with youth on a flexible schedule.

• Participate in outreach to offer services and engage participation.

• Develop relationships with landlords and property managers to support participants in obtaining and maintaining housing.

• Monitor youth participation in other services (employment, education, basic needs and activity services, and shelter) and youth progress on action steps towards their goals.

• Access flexible funding to assist in meeting needs and removing barriers to success.

• Participate in crisis planning and crisis intervention, which may include after-hours contact.

• Provide independent living and life skills training to youth that builds skills to maintain housing and supports accessing community resources.

• Support the operational functioning of the Youth Department.

• Commitment to continual learning and quality performance.

• Perform all required documentation and information input in a professional, thorough, and timely manner.

• Maintain professional boundaries and performance at all times.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge

• Awareness of resources, particularly housing resources applicable to our clients and participants.

• Knowledge of referrals for resources and with community partners

Skills

• interpersonal and communication skills

• ability to work with others in a trauma-informed way

Education / Experience

• BSW/BA in counseling preferred.

• At least 2 years case management experience preferred. 

• Experience working with homeless populations, adolescents, and/or people with mental health and substance use concerns.

• Current valid driver’s license required.

• Spanish language skills preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This work is performed in transitional housing, low barrier participant and client spaces, including day center drop-in spaces and other places. There is access to a typical office space for administrative work as well. Some exposure to the elements may occur when traveling to nearby sites or to visit or support clients.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This job requires operating phones, computers, and other office equipment. Communicating is required on a regular basis. Moving inside the building to other offices and program delivery spaces, as well as moving to surrounding sites, is expected. Sporadically moves boxes and/or items weighing up to 15 pounds.