Advocate Homeless

Overview

Shelter Care is seeking a compassionate Housing Advocate to support individuals transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. Using a Housing First approach, you'll work with people living with mental illness in our Permanent Supportive and Transitional Housing programs, helping them achieve their personal goals and maintain independent living.

This is challenging, rewarding work where every day brings something different. You'll have the flexibility to schedule your time around what clients need most, building meaningful relationships as you help transform lives.

Client Support & Case Management

• Manage a caseload of approximately 16 single-person households
• Conduct intakes and create participant-directed goal plans
• Meet regularly with residents to provide ongoing support and advocacy
• Assist clients in accessing benefits, household items, and furnishings
• Transport residents to appointments using company vehicles

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate, confidential participant files
• Ensure record-keeping meets grant funding requirements

Community Engagement

• Represent Shelter Care at community events
• Participate in collaborative committees working to end homelessness in Winnebago and Boone Counties

• Experience with homelessness (through employment, personal lived experience, or education)
• Coursework or degree in human services, social work, sociology, psychology, or related field preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to learn new software

• Experience supporting individuals living with mental illness
• Understanding of Housing First principles
• Fundamental belief that people can direct their own lives and make positive choices
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Strong time management and self-motivation
• Comfort with variety and unpredictability

• Ability to walk frequently, climb stairs, stand, and reach
• Frequent lifting up to 25 pounds
• Frequent communication (talking/

• Health, vision, and dental insurance (75% employer-paid for employees)
• Employer-paid life insurance and short/long-term disability
• Retirement plan with up to 3% employer match
• Generous paid time off: 15 PTO days (20 in year two) plus 14 paid holidays
• Aflac supplemental insurance is available

Submit both acover letterandresumeto (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). your cover letter, please share what draws you to this work and how your experience has prepared you to support people on their housing journey.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay:$23.08 per hour

Shelter Care is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of homelessness.