Homeless Services Case Manager

Affordable Housing Alliance Inc•Toms River, NJ

17h•$0 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

The Homeless Services Case Manager serves as a frontline point of contact for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, guiding each household from initial engagement through housing placement. Working across AHA's Coordinated Entry and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) functions, this position assesses needs and connects households to appropriate housing resources, and administers rental and move-in financial assistance in accordance with each program's funding requirements. This role is funded in part through a Medicaid-funded initiative that supports pre-tenancy and tenancy-sustaining services for eligible members. As a provider, staff frequently manage sensitive, HIPAA-protected participant records and are required to exercise absolute discretion and strict compliance within AHA's Electronic Health Record (EHR) and case management systems. The position works closely with community and housing providers, managed healthcare organizations to support movement toward permanent housing. Services are delivered using Housing First, trauma-informed, person-centered, culturally responsive, and low-barrier practices, consistent with AHA's core values.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least two years of relevant experience in housing, homelessness, case management, social services, human services, or a related community-based setting.
Ability to work effectively and respectfully with individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, financial hardship, or other significant barriers.
Strong interpersonal, interviewing, assessment, advocacy, written, verbal, organizational, and time-management skills.
Ability to apply program requirements, maintain accurate records, use Microsoft Office and electronic case-management systems, and work independently as part of a team.
Ability to establish rapport, maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality, and communicate clearly with people experiencing significant housing barriers.
Working knowledge of Housing First, trauma-informed, person-centered, culturally responsive, and low-barrier service practices.
Successfully complete all required pre-employment screenings, including drug screening (excluding THC), criminal background checks, and fingerprinting.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AWARDS, HMIS, or a comparable case-management database.
Experience with housing navigation, Coordinated Entry, housing assessments and referrals, landlord engagement, Rapid Rehousing, or housing-focused case management.
Experience with NJ FamilyCare, managed care organizations, Medicaid-supporting documentation, or Ocean County housing and community resources.
Bilingual or multilingual skills are a plus.
Have lived experience with homelessness or housing insecurity, with insight into both the barriers and opportunities that come from these circumstances.
Demonstrate a passion for using personal experience to support others and advocate for meaningful change.
Offer a firsthand understanding of systemic challenges connected to poverty and economic insecurity.

Responsibilities

Serve as an accessible point of contact for individuals and families experiencing homelessness; complete intake, screening, and standardized assessments in accordance with local Coordinated Entry procedures; identify immediate safety, shelter, or crisis needs and determine appropriate next steps.
Determine and document program and income eligibility, including HUD homeless status categories.
Recruit and negotiate with landlords and property managers to identify and secure housing options and maintain relationships that support current and future placements.
Support households with housing search, rental applications, and lease-up, including coordinate Housing Quality Standards inspections and rent reasonableness and applicable program requirements.
Develop an individualized, client-driven Housing Stability Plan with each household and deliver housing-focused case management using a progressive engagement approach, connecting households to mainstream resources (benefits, healthcare, employment, legal, and related services) and monitoring progress toward housing stability and program exit.
Prepare documentation and process eligible financial assistance including rental assistance, security and utility deposits, moving in supports, and landlord incentives.
Maintain complete, accurate, and timely recording of client status and progress using internal applications and, AWARDS, uphold HIPAA-compliant confidentiality in all client communications and data handling.
Prepare required written notices and documentation when terminating or denying an extension of assistance, and participate in case conferencing with community and CoC-funded partners to identify housing options for households not yet matched to an opening.

Benefits

13 full paid holidays
5 half-day paid holidays
Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued every pay period for vacations and personal time
2 floating holidays for your discretionary use
Up to 40 sick hours per year, accrued pay period by pay period
3 days of paid bereavement leave for immediate family or close relationships
Health insurance through Aetna (Eligible from the first of the month after 30 days of employment)
Significant discount on premiums
Choice of 4 plan options
HSA plan with a generous company contribution
Coverage available for employee, family, and dependents with options that are fully paid by the AHA (For full-time employees working at least 30 hours a week)
Dental insurance via Guardian Dental
Vision care from VSP Vision Care
Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance provided by MetLife and paid by AHA
Voluntary buy-up option available
Long-Term Disability insurance through MetLife
401(k) plan administered by Mutual of America
Company base contribution of 3.5% of your base salary after 1 year
Company match up to 3.5% of your contributions after 1 year
Automatic 1% enrollment if no action taken within 30 days of hire
Safe Harbor plan: 3.5% base contribution is immediately vested upon eligibility; no employee deferral required
Opportunities for training, certification, and continuing education
Costs covered by AHA for pre-approved programs
Tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per year (Courses must relate to current position and be pre-approved)
Employee Assistance Program through Preferred Behavioral Health (Counseling for various personal and family issues, support for domestic violence, parenting, family disputes, substance abuse, relationship concerns, and more)