Case Manager - Permanent Supportive Housing

LifeWorks Austin•Austin, TX

5h•Onsite

About The Position

LifeWorks of Austin, TX is seeking a Case Manager to join their Permanent Supportive Housing team. This role involves providing community-based case management services, leveraging client strengths for service planning, advocating for clients, collaborating with other service providers, offering resource referrals, monitoring client progress, and managing crisis situations. The Case Manager also handles administrative tasks such as maintaining client files, data entry, and completing required documentation in compliance with program and funder requirements. Specifically, a Case Manager in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) focuses on housing navigation and stabilization services for individuals and their households experiencing homelessness who have secured permanent housing. LifeWorks, with over 50 years of experience, is dedicated to addressing youth homelessness through comprehensive housing, mental health, education, and workforce services. Their mission is to ensure every young person in Central Texas has a home, a sense of belonging, and the necessary support to pursue a fulfilling life. The organization provides a full spectrum of support services for vulnerable youth, including those experiencing homelessness, aging out of foster care, young adults, and young parents, focusing on safe housing, healing, learning, and employment opportunities. LifeWorks emphasizes innovative problem-solving, shared accountability, and evidence-based solutions to achieve sustainable and measurable results for its clients. A career at LifeWorks offers professional growth and the chance to make a significant, lasting impact on youth and families in the community.

Requirements

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in social or behavior sciences or administrative field
Requires a minimum 2 years related experience
Equivalent combination of education and experience
Proficient in HMIS, Microsoft Office, Outlook, and agency database

Nice To Haves

Lived experience of homelessness is a plus and may count towards related qualifications

Responsibilities

Provide client-centered, healing-centered case management services to diverse individuals who may have experienced chronic homelessness, systems involvement, mental health challenges, substance use challenges, a history of trauma, early pregnancy/parenthood, etc.
Identify and leverage clients’ strengths as part of service planning to help clients achieve their self-defined goals.
Work with teammates and other support staff to ensure fidelity of the Strengths Model of Case Management is adhered to and considered in interaction with and documentation of client-case manager engagement.
Assist clients with their day-to-day needs and development of life skills, which may include (but is not limited to) grocery shopping, meal preparation, cleaning activities, budgeting, navigating public transportation, and job search activities.
Assess clients’ mental and physical wellness, needs, preferences, and abilities, and utilize this information to develop tailored wraparound supports and referrals that are aligned with client preferences.
Regularly and effectively assess and manage incidents and crisis situations, with calm, care, and positive regard for client, using de-escalation and safety planning techniques as appropriate.
Analyze barriers and challenges as they arise and deliver safe, effective, and client-focused solutions.
Actively engage in the community alongside clients to support the achievement of client’s self-defined goals, including collaborating with internal and external partners to advocate for client needs, coordinate services, and provide referrals.
Assist clients in building a network of support and (re)building relationships with family and friends.
Comply with all requirements outlined by funding sources, licensure and accrediting bodies, the program, and the agency. These requirements may pertain to data, paperwork, philosophies, processes, and procedures, among other things.
Maintain timely, complete, and accurate case records and documentation, including (but is not limited to) service plans, assessments, progress notes, intake reports, and incident reports.
Perform heavy data entry into agency/funder databases and ensure timeliness and accuracy of data entry.
Discern how and when to provide approved financial assistance to support the client in meeting their basic needs and ensure proper utilization of the funds.
Assist clients in obtaining necessary documents to secure employment or housing (e.g., State ID, birth certificate, Social Security card).
Assist clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid) and how they will be affected by employment in order for clients to make good decisions about employment opportunities, referring clients to benefits counseling, as needed.
Ensure required client consents are collected and documented and that clients have a thorough understanding of the program prior to consenting to participate.
Provide timely interventions and outreach services to clients when they appear to disengage from services.
Transport clients to agencies and services.
Prepare for and actively participate in supervision meetings and all other required meetings or trainings.
Perform targeted, community-based outreach when a client is pulled for housing.
Support and guide clients and their self-defined household members from homelessness to housing by navigating potential housing options, addressing barriers to housing, and ensuring clients understand their rights as tenants.
Set up utility accounts in client’s name, review previous rental and utility arrears, and negotiate late fees on behalf of clients.
Support the move-in process by attending lease signings, arranging furniture deliveries, and transporting client’s personal effects.
Support the long-term housing stability of clients to minimize returns to homelessness by collaborating closely with clients on lease re-signings, lease ends and move-outs.
Work closely with Housing Intake & Placement Specialists to identify housing placement options based on individual housing preferences and barriers, coordinate follow-up regarding housing stability issues, and to assist with unit transfers for clients.
Adapt quickly to the critical needs of clients and landlords that might involve mutual recission, VAWA, and other high-risk situations.
Help clients apply for Social Security Income/Social Security Disability Income (SSI/SSDI), complete SOAR applications, and assist with appeals when applicable.
Coordinate and/or accompany clients to appointments at the Social Security Administration, medical doctors, psychiatrist, and other specialists to obtain medical documentation for application.
Complete SOAR applications on behalf of client, when client is unavailable.
Research, prepare reports, and negotiate with the office of Social Security and/or judicial staff to resolve cases as needed.