Case Manager (Shelter)

Interfaith Works • Rockville, MD

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Case Manager provides housing-focused case management and stabilization services to individuals experiencing homelessness. Using Housing First, trauma-informed, harm-reduction, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based approaches, the Case Manager works collaboratively with program participants to identify barriers, establish goals, access community resources, and obtain and maintain stable housing. The position manages a caseload of approximately 25 participants and requires consistent engagement, timely documentation, and coordination with internal programs, community providers, and Montgomery County's Continuum of Care and Coordinated Entry System.

The Case Manager supports participants with housing and resource navigation, individualized service planning, crisis intervention, and coordination of care. The role requires flexibility, sound judgment, professional boundaries, and the ability to respond effectively to behavioral health challenges, housing instability, trauma, and other barriers to stabilization. The position is on-site and includes at least one evening of work per week, plus facilitating or co-facilitating a community meeting one evening every other week.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, human services, sociology, public health, or a related behavioral health or human-services field is preferred; a combination of relevant education, training, and directly related experience may be considered instead.
• Ability to build rapport and maintain respectful, appropriate, professional relationships with participants.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to develop proficiency in, Housing First, trauma-informed care, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, and person-centered service delivery.
• Knowledge of community resources and public systems related to homelessness, housing, behavioral health, health care, public benefits, employment, and crisis services.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to behavioral health crises, including potential suicidal or homicidal ideation, in accordance with organizational protocols and training.
• Strong assessment, problem-solving, organization, time-management, and case-planning skills.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, deadlines, participant needs, and documentation requirements effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, objective, accurate, and timely case notes and reports.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively on an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and seek supervisory guidance when appropriate.
• Cultural humility and ability to work effectively with people from diverse racial, cultural, socioeconomic, religious, gender, and identity backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including occasional lifting or moving of items weighing up to 25 pounds, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience providing case management, housing navigation, behavioral health, homeless services, crisis intervention, or community-based human services.
• Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, behavioral health conditions, substance-use disorders, trauma, domestic violence, or other significant barriers to stability.
• Experience using HMIS or a comparable electronic case-management system.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken by program participants.

Responsibilities

• Build respectful, collaborative relationships with participants using strengths-based, person-centered, trauma-informed, and Housing First approaches.
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 25 participants and meet with each at least weekly, or more frequently when appropriate.
• Assess participants' housing needs, strengths, vulnerabilities, behavioral health needs, trauma history, income, benefits, and other barriers to stabilization.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized service and housing plans with participants.
• Help participants set goals, monitor progress, and adjust interventions and plans as their needs change.
• Provide immediate support and referrals for urgent or emergency needs while promoting participant choice and self-determination.
• Assist participants in identifying, obtaining, and maintaining safe, appropriate permanent housing, including navigating applications, documentation, eligibility, and landlord communication.
• Connect participants with community resources, including health care, behavioral health and substance-use services, employment, public benefits, legal services, transportation, life-skills education, and basic-needs assistance.
• Coordinate services with community providers, landlords, government agencies, health professionals, and authorized members of participants' support networks.
• Assist participants with accessing appointments and services, including coordinating transportation when appropriate.
• Advocate for participants while supporting their independent navigation of systems and resources and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Participate in Montgomery County Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry meetings, case conferences, trainings, assessments, referrals, documentation, and follow-up.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and collaborate with Interfaith Works programs and departments to coordinate care.
• Attend monthly Case Management and Vocational Services meetings, staff meetings, trainings, supervision, and other organizational activities.
• Meet regularly with the Case Management Supervisor for individual supervision and case consultation.
• Maintain accurate, complete, objective, and timely participant records, including HMIS documentation, files, reports, assessments, plans, discharge summaries, and incident reports.
• Ensure HMIS data quality, correct documentation issues promptly, and follow confidentiality, privacy, recordkeeping, and information-sharing requirements.
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, assess immediate safety concerns within the scope of training, and follow protocols for imminent risk.
• Contact mobile crisis, emergency medical services, law enforcement, supervisory staff, or other emergency resources when warranted.
• Maintain awareness of the program environment and communicate safety, behavioral, or operational concerns to supervisors.
• Work at least one evening per week based on program needs and facilitate or co-facilitate a community meeting one evening every other week.
• Maintain reliable attendance and punctuality, follow organizational policies and standards, participate in required training and professional development, and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 14 paid holidays
• 21 days of paid time off
• Subsidized medical, dental, and vision coverage for eligible full-time employees working at least 30 hours per week and their eligible dependents
• Employer-paid long-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Optional portable benefits, including short-term disability and critical-illness insurance
• Employee Assistance Program at no cost to all employees, regardless of full- or part-time status

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level