Housing Case Manager

Description:

Come join a team that is making a difference in our local communities!

Westmoreland Community Action (WCA) is a non-profit organization that works to connect individuals and families to opportunities and resources throughout the community to improve their quality of life and help to reduce poverty in the community. This is accomplished through housing, counseling, support, education, intervention, collaborations, partnerships, information, referrals, and networking.

Westmoreland Community Action is currently seeking a Housing Case Manager.

Our Housing Programs works with individuals and families in Westmoreland County to help remove barriers and disparities that hinder them from maintaining self-sufficiency. Our Housing Department offers a variety of housing and supportive services interventions ranging from emergency supplies, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, systems navigation and street outreach.

WCA’s Housing Programs recognize the importance of meaningful partnerships in which participants feel respected, valued, and trusted. We believe this is important to preventing and ending homelessness because when individuals are supported on their chosen pathway, and in their development they will grow as contributing members of society. This will be integrated in all programs with the additional recognition that individuals have the inherent ability to lead, learn, make decisions and should be supported both personally and professionally to implement their ideas in their own lives and in their communities.

The Housing Coach brings a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to supporting our consumers. Their work will be built on a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, be easily accessible by our consumers and rooted in building permanent connections so all consumers exit with stable, permanent housing and the skills to continue to support their independence.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Knowledge of:

• WCA Agency programs.
• Local, state, and/or federal housing regulations.
• WCA Housing program structure and guidelines.
• Social services structure and access points.

Skills in:

• Microsoft Office software including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook, case management and CRM software and updating.
• Case management, including developing rapport, motivation building, and coaching participants to meet their goals.
• Trauma-informed care case management.
• Motivational interviewing.
• Positive youth development.
• Person centered approach and techniques.
• Housing First practices.
• Case file documentation and data collection.
• Work with Local Education Agencies and contacts to assist families with school enrollment and ensure school attendance

Ability to:

• Effectively communicate verbally with both individuals and groups, including program participants, property owners, funders and other partner agency staff, and external stakeholders.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Work occasional weekends and evenings, as needed, including a voluntary on-call schedule.
• Meet with consumers in various home, community and office settings.
• Effectively manage case dynamics and maintain open communication with supervisor.

CULTURE OF SERVICE

Successful incumbents maintain:

• A commitment to the mission and vision of WCA
• A commitment to serving and empowering individuals to have involvement in the decision making process and agency over the decisions that impact their lives.
• A commitment to WCA’s Housing Values and Truth Statements.
• Sensitivity towards individuals who are currently/formerly experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• A professional and collaborative approach to challenging situations.
• A trauma-informed approach.
• An ability to recognize and be honest about our deficits and mistakes; as individuals, a team and a system.
• An understanding that we must hold ourselves and how we serve to a higher standard than merely being well meaning.

Benefits of working at WCA:

• 100% Employer paid Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability Polices.
• Employer pays 80% of individual Medical Insurance Premium.
• 15 paid Holiday's.
• 10 days of vacation in first year of employment.
• 3.69 hours of sick time accrued per pay period.
• 8% retirement match after 1 year and 1000 hours of service.
• Mileage reimbursement.

Westmoreland Community Action (WCA) is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects our community and those that we seek to serve. If you, in good faith, believe that you are qualified to succeed in this position, we encourage you to apply. Please include a cover letter to tell us about your unique qualifications for the position. Our hiring manager will review your application and, if interested, will contact you regarding next steps.

Please include a cover letter with your resume.

Westmoreland Community Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness/housing instability.

2. Experience implementing trauma-informed care.

3. Ability to maintain accurate case documentation and records.

4. Ability to work cooperatively with other social service providers and government agencies.

5. Willingness to work a flexible schedule within a 40-hour work week as program needs dictate.

6. Computer literacy with a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.

7. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Strong organizational skills.

9. Ability to set professional boundaries.

10. A valid driver’s license and car insurance to meet agency insurance requirements.

11. Bachelor’s degree with major course work in either sociology, social work, psychology, counseling, education or other related field or two years of experience in public or private human services, of which one year must be mental health direct care experience.

a. A combination of education, training, work experience and/or lived experience will be considered. If, in good faith, you believe that you have the experience to succeed in this position, please apply!

The list of essential/key functions/duties, as outlined herein, is intended to be all inclusive of the tasks performed within this position. It is not necessarily descriptive of all functions/duties within the position. The omission of a function/duty does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein, other duties may be assigned.

12. Act 33, 34 and FBI Clearances.

REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO SAFELY PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION OF HOUSING COACH:

Strength requirements - Push/pull, lift/move up to 25 pounds.

Manual dexterity - Perform moderately difficult manipulation - typing, writing, filing.

Coordination - Perform tasks which require foot and/or hand/eye coordination - driving a car, computer data entry.

Mobility - Walk, stand, sit for prolonged periods of time, drive.

Speech - Articulate with extreme accuracy – employee/participant relations, phone contact.

Vision - Read small print, drive a car.

Hearing - Able to receive verbal information with some background noise.

Concentration - Able to concentrate on moderate to fine detail with constant interruption.

Memory - Able to remember multiple verbal and written task-assignments given at beginning of a period extending over long period of time.

Environment Conditions – Indoor/outdoor work.