Housing Case Manager

Volunteers of America - Mid-States•Owensboro, KY

70d

About The Position

The SSVF program assists Veterans who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness end their housing crisis. The goal of the SSVF Housing Case Manager is to assist veterans in ending their housing crisis, enhance their independent living skills by providing supportive services and education, connect them with community resources, and empower them to maintain long-term housing stability and self-sufficiency. The position is responsible for navigating the multiple vulnerabilities of Veterans experiencing homelessness, in the pursuit of housing stability by building relationships with landlords, communicating to and advocating for participants, and assisting participants in obtaining legal aid to remove barriers to gaining and sustaining housing. The position requires active promotion of housing justice, creating housing security through action and advocacy, and providing culturally inclusive, trauma-informed services to all participants.

Requirements

This position requires a Bachelor's degree in social work or related field and less than five (5) years of experience in the field; at least five (5) years of experience in the field and no degree; or a Veteran with three (3) years of related work experience.
Requires a demonstrated ability to provide a reasonable combination of the following knowledge, abilities, and skills: family needs assessment, knowledge, and ability to access local resources, advocacy, counseling, and working cooperatively with local service providers.
Must have a commitment to the principles of the project
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, high degree of organization, and creative problem-solving skills
Must have personal automobile, valid driver's license, liability insurance, and be willing and able to travel between the counties we serve up to 70% of the time.
Must complete required case management and (Critical Time Intervention) CTI training within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

Build partnerships with community organizations, service providers, and government agencies to address how systemic racism affects housing access for people of color experiencing homelessness.
Work effectively with Veteran families from diverse backgrounds, demonstrating sensitivity to their housing needs.
Actively help remove barriers to housing-such as income, affordability, legal issues, and behavioral health-especially for Veterans of color.
Explain and assist Veterans in applying for HUD-VASH and Section 8 housing programs.
Advocate for Veterans and serve as a liaison with landlords, rental agencies, and service partners.
Review and explain rental contracts to ensure fairness and understanding.
Provide case management services, including assessments, case plans, and referrals to supportive services.
Participate in Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) activities.
Collaborate with SSVF staff and participate in case consultations.
Partner with government agencies and community organizations to expand housing options for homeless families.
Accompany Veterans during housing searches and assist with landlord communication.
Conduct housing inspections for eligible units.
Connect Veterans with legal services to remove justice-related housing barriers.
Serve as a resource for housing education tailored to each Veteran's needs.
Reassess and update housing plans regularly.
Integrate the Veteran's goals and preferences into their case plan.
Conduct housing education sessions for Veterans and community partners about the SSVF program and fair housing guidelines.
Negotiate rental rates, review leases, and provide feedback to the case consultation team.
Mediate disputes between Veterans and landlords or property managers.
Maintain knowledge of HUD, HUD-VASH, Section 8, and related housing programs.
Maintain a list of landlords and develop new housing partnerships.
Build relationships with VA staff, Housing Authorities, and community partners.
Serve as liaison between local HUD-VASH teams and SSVF, attending case conferences and coordinating services.
Understand and address challenges faced by clients in both urban and rural areas.
Advocate with public housing authorities to improve access to housing.
Conduct outreach to identify and expand housing resources.
Follow all program policies, procedures, and Council on Accreditation standards.