Housing Retention Case Manager

Position Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Reports To: CES Manager

Position Summary

The Housing Retention Case Manager is responsible for ensuring that formerly homeless households placed in permanent housing remain stably housed. The position provides regular follow-up, including home visits, and utilizes Critical Time Intervention and other case management strategies to support housing stability.

The Housing Retention Case Manager assists participants with all aspects of permanent housing, including housing retention, tenancy stabilization, lease compliance, housing-related documentation, landlord and tenant communication, and connection to supportive services and community resources.

The position works with highly vulnerable formerly homeless individuals and families to help them overcome barriers related to extreme poverty, chronic homelessness, behavioral health, substance use, and other factors that may impact housing stability. The Housing Retention Case Manager is part of the larger comprehensive Case Management team within Ascencia's Access Center.

Duties and Responsibilities

Housing Retention

• Assist participants with all aspects of permanent housing, including the transition from housing placement to ongoing housing retention services.
• Develop and implement case management service plans with participants, emphasizing coordinated strategies related to mental health, substance use, relapse prevention, medication management, and other risk factors that may affect housing stability.
• Provide ongoing case management services to ensure successful permanent housing retention and decrease isolation, relapse, and other risks to housing stability.
• Provide eviction prevention and advocacy services and assist participants with lease compliance and other housing-related concerns.
• Link and refer participants to appropriate community resources, including medical and dental services, mental health services, substance use services, life skills programs, self-help resources, money management services, community activities, volunteer opportunities, employment services, and other supportive resources.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and adhere to professional and ethical standards.
• Assist participants with housing applications, supportive and subsidized housing paperwork, surveys of the rental market for affordable housing opportunities, and other housing-related documentation.
• Advocate with landlords and property owners on behalf of participants as appropriate.

Maintain Client Records

• Maintain accurate documentation of service objectives, outcomes, and services provided in accordance with federal, state, county, and Ascencia requirements and guidelines.
• Maintain accurate client information within applicable data systems, including case notes and HMIS entries.
• Prepare case management reports, including participant outcomes and successes.

Home Visits/Client Follow-Up

• Conduct regular home visits and monitor and evaluate participant progress through the housing case management plan.
• Monitor participant progress at least monthly and revise case management plans or implement corrective strategies as necessary.
• Provide ongoing follow-up and support to identify and address barriers that may affect housing retention.

Property Owner/Tenant Relations and Recruitment

• Develop and maintain appropriate professional relationships with property owners, landlords, and tenants.
• Attend community, coalition, committee, and other meetings as assigned.
• Conduct crisis intervention as needed.
• Support housing recruitment and landlord engagement activities as assigned.

Case Conferencing

• Coordinate service delivery with other case managers and service providers assigned to participants.
• Participate in case conferencing and collaborate with internal and external partners to support participant housing stability.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Four-year degree in human services or a related field, or a comparable combination of education and work-related experience, and experience in a social service setting with working knowledge of case management systems and planning techniques; preferred.

OR

• Four years of experience in a social service setting with working knowledge of case management systems and planning techniques.
• Knowledge of housing resources, housing rights, and the Continuum of Care system.
• Experience working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Must have reliable transportation for job-related travel and be able to drive agency vehicles.
• Must meet agency insurance requirements for driving.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• If driving a vehicle not owned by Ascencia, must maintain active and adequate automobile insurance.

Physical Requirements

• Some field travel and regular home visits are required.
• Ability to sit and/or stand for prolonged periods.
• Ability to frequently bend, stoop, stretch, and move throughout the workday.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or carry up to 25 pounds.
• Frequent and prolonged use of a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other office equipment.

Other Conditions

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive listing of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position. Duties and responsibilities may be modified, added, or removed as necessary, with or without notice, based on the needs of the organization.

Ascencia is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants and employees are considered without regard to legally protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position.