Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager (Unit Based)

Job Title: Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager (Unit Based)

FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Department: Permanent Supportive Housing 

Reports To: Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager Supervisor

Direct Reports: None

Date Issued: February 12, 2019

Date revised: June 30, 2023

Housing Up builds thriving communities in Washington, DC by developing affordable housing and offering comprehensive support services to homeless and low-income families. In addition to being a nonprofit affordable housing developer, we provide permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing and transitional housing. We believe that people who have safe, affordable housing and genuine opportunities are empowered to transform their lives.

Over the past 33 years, our organization has grown from serving 14 families in one building in Northwest DC to serving more than 900 families throughout the city. Housing Up is now one of the city’s largest homeless services providers and is a critical partner in the District’s plan to end family homelessness. Housing Up is a Housing First organization and is proud to be a critical partner in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s plan to make homelessness “rare, brief, and nonrecurring”.

Position Summary

The Site-Based Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager is responsible for delivering intensive services to individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and have been diagnosed with a mental health or physical disability. Additionally, individuals may be economically and/or emotionally detached from their support networks. Through this work, the case manager will help individuals to improve basic life and interpersonal skills, access physical and mental health care, maintain stable housing within the assisted living placement. The case manager will also ensure that individual is linked to public benefits, such as Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF. Ultimately, these services are focused on ensuring that clients are empowered to achieve the highest level of self-sufficiency possible. While participating in this program, individuals will live at a site-based permanent supportive housing assisted living program, located in Washington, DC.

Essential Functions 

At the core of this work is a strengths-based assessment, which explores the 4 Pillars of Housing Up Case Management – Household Finances, Unit Management, Health and Mental Health, and Family Life and Social Support. The assessment will serve as the foundation for goals related to these 4 Pillars. The assessment must be updated as often as necessary, but no less frequently than quarterly.

The case manager will meet with each family weekly to discuss these goals and to collaboratively establish reasonable action steps. 

In support of these goals, the case manager will:

• Develop successful working relationships with clients that support their ability to increase their self-reliance, independent living skills, and housing stability.
• Assist clients with day-to-day living and ensure client compliance with housing and community-related regulations and rules.
• Influence and recognize positive behavior changes and identify problems and obstacles that threaten to undermine the client’s goals.
• Organize and facilitate social and recreational activities designed to promote community involvement and peer support.
• Serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers and clients.
• Successfully mediate conflict between clients.
• ­­Intervene when crises occur and combine de-escalation techniques with proactive planning to minimize reoccurrence.
• Assist in developing and encouraging adherence to a personal budget through pro-active and meaningful housing and budget counseling sessions. Provide budget counseling and education to assist clients in establishing payments plans for bills and past debts, so that clients successfully maintain their housing.
• Proactively aide clients in becoming connected to supportive services and work collaboratively as a team to advance client goals.
• Ensure the integrity and confidentiality of all client information.
• Maintain current records in Housing the Homeless (HTH) database and paper case files, documenting interactions with residents in a standardized format used by Housing Up.
• Capture program statistics and other required reports as directed.
• Participate in Housing Up special events, helping to share information about Housing Up and working, as needed, to ensure event success.
• Attend staff meetings and other meetings as required by supervisor.
• Other duties as required.

 Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field and 1 year of experience OR high school diploma or equivalent with 4 years of human services experience. Lived experience in homelessness may also be considered in lieu of these requirements.
• One (1) year of experience working with at risk populations; 
• Experience with individuals and families receiving services from the Department of Behavioral Health;
• Knowledge of substance abuse/recovery, family systems, and mental health care;
• Experienced with Microsoft Office software (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Candidate must also possess a valid driver’s license and have a vehicle, as well as proof of auto insurance;
• Must have a valid driver’s license and have a vehicle, as well as proof of auto insurance;
• Ability to provide services with empathy and with consideration of how trauma impacts the mental, physical, and psychological responses of clients.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with youth clients who have experienced mental health challenges, trauma, crisis, and community stress and successfully empower them to overcome their challenges;
• Ability to establish and maintain trusting relationships – patience & perseverance;
• Ability to de-escalates crises and prevent reoccurrence;
• Excellent verbal, written and problem-solving abilities. An upbeat demeanor is required;
• Knowledge of substance abuse/recovery, family systems, and mental health care;
• Ability to prioritize effectively while managing multiple tasks and responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experienced at a site-based environment;
• Familiarity with the Strengths-Based and Housing First approaches to case management;
• Well-versed in trauma-informed service delivery, with experience executing this approach in housing programs.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with youth clients who have experienced mental health challenges, trauma, crisis, and community stress and successfully empower them to overcome their challenges.
• Working knowledge of DC area community resources to address client needs.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.

Work Environment/Physical Effort

• The case manager will primarily work from a site-based permanent supportive housing program in Washington, DC. Employees here will require flexibility to work night and/or weekends when necessary and with advanced notice;
• Requires ability to sit up to 3-6 hours per day with intermittent occasional walking and standing;
• Ability to sit/stand for prolonged periods;
• Ability to lift 20-30 pounds;
• Must be available to participate in after hours on-call rotation, as well as be on call during inclement weather.

Salary and Benefits

Salary $50,000-$55,000 (Depending on qualifications and experience)

This position is eligible for a $2,000 sign-on bonus!

Housing Up offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan with company match, paid vacation and sick leave, commuter benefits, summer Fridays, tuition assistance, new hire/referral bonuses, professional development budgets, and a work environment aimed at a healthy work-life balance.

Vaccine Protocol

Housing Up has made the safety of our clients, staff, and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, all staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID. As a prospective and/or new employee at Housing Up, you will be required to comply with the organization’s vaccination protocol. Proof of full vaccination will be required before the start of employment in order to work at any Housing Up location. Prospective or new employees may seek a medical or religious exemption to the vaccination requirement from human resources and must have an approved exemption prior to the start of their employment. Failure to provide proof of vaccination or to obtain approval for medical or religious exemption will result in the offer of employment being rescinded.

Housing Up is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.