Focused Case Manager

Reports to

Job Role:

Case Management Coordinator
FLSA: Exempt
Level: Team member

The Housing Focused Case Manager provides critical linkages to and coordination of services on behalf of individuals at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS). The Housing Focused Case Manager is responsible for utilizing a Housing First approach to rapidly exit adult only households from ERCS and will be held responsible for meeting or exceeding outcomes as well as other contractual obligations.

The Housing Focused Case Manager must possess a patient, trauma-informed approach to service delivery using an equity lens. The Housing Focused Case Manager ensures that housing focused services are equitable and delivered with integrity in accordance with the Agency Mission, Vision, and Values. The Housing Focused Case Manager works as an integral member of the 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. Housing focused case management services include, but are not limited to: assessment of social, health, emotional, and economic needs of shelter participants, development and monitoring of individualized housing stability 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, field 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.

• Manages an average caseload of 12-15 adult only households experiencing homelessness at ERCS.
• 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 shelter 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 shelter participants about and assist them with obtaining affordable appropriate housing.
• Assesses household eligibility and need for benefits and services and makes appropriate referrals, including requests for financial and/or housing assistance, and connection with county and mainstream benefits.
• Advocates for and actively assists individuals in obtaining services (e.g., behavioral health, intellectual disability, substance use disorder, housing referrals, financial assistance, employment, training, medical services, mentoring and socialization).
• Provides mediation and advocacy with landlords on the individual’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain housing.
• Creates and maintains consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e. tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors).
• Applies knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate individuals of their rights and responsibilities.
• Makes referrals for credit counseling and other services necessary to assist participants with critical skills related to budgeting, managing money, accessing a free personal credit report, and resolving personal credit problems.
• Maintains effective partnerships with OPEH, the Fairfax County Health Department, the Fairfax County Community Services Board (CSB), Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), Department of Family Services (DFS), and the Fairfax County Department…