Housing Case Manager

Jewish Family Services Of Washtenaw County•Ann Arbor, MI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Works actively to increase housing opportunities for refugee services clients, coordinates move‑ins, financial literacy, cultural orientation, and interpretation services. Applies strong critical‑thinking, anticipatory problem‑solving, and early‑intervention skills to prevent issues from escalating and to ensure housing stability. ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPETENCIES Work closely with Refugee Resettlement, Employment and Economic Empowerment, Transportation, and Volunteer Departments coordinating activities with Directors, Managers, and other staff and volunteers. Respond to referrals of new clients in a timely manner and keep client case files up to date and organized. Identify housing options for clients that fulfill their specific location, size, and affordability requirements, using analytical thinking to compare options and anticipate potential barriers such as waitlist delays, transportation challenges, and rental requirements. Assist clients in completing applications and providing necessary documents, ensuring accuracy and proactively identifying missing information that could delay approval. Based on disability and medical needs, assist clients in requesting reasonable accommodations from lease requirements. Help clients budget and plan for move‑in expenses, learn rights and responsibilities as tenants, and coordinate cultural orientation and financial literacy training, including supporting clients in evaluating risks, understanding consequences of late rent, and planning ahead to prevent crises. Facilitate all aspects of the application process once the client becomes a potential qualified applicant, including assistance in understanding and signing the lease agreement, while helping clients foresee and address common issues such as utility setup, security deposits, rental insurance, or lease restrictions. Ensure that clients maintain housing by responding to requests for assistance in lease renewals, lease violations, or re‑certifications, using critical thinking to identify root causes early and prevent small issues from becoming larger eviction‑risk problems. Be professional in representing JFS to landlords/property managers with the intention of expanding the network of properties available for refugee services clients, using sound judgment and situational analysis when navigating complex or sensitive landlord concerns. Regularly communicate with property managers/affordable housing developers in order to maintain a current and accurate list of affordable housing/rental properties which are accepting applications, identifying trends or changes that may impact future client placements. Identify opportunities for housing advocacy and collaborate with Refugee Resource Development Manager and Refugee Services Manager in pursuing them, using evidence‑based assessments to highlight systemic challenges. Coordinate interpretation needs, communicating directly with interpreters and organizations, and maintaining reports, ensuring clear, accurate communication to avoid misunderstandings that could escalate into housing conflicts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a human services field.
Minimum 2 years of experience in a related field or in housing.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.
Ability to organize and prioritize work and to work independently with little supervision.
Ability to work effectively among large teams.
Demonstrated critical‑thinking skills, including problem analysis, anticipatory planning, and the ability to prevent small issues from becoming major barriers.
Ability to evaluate information objectively and make sound, timely decisions in complex housing situations.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, consider multiple possible solutions, and draw valid conclusions.
Skill in identifying potential challenges early and taking proactive steps to mitigate them.
Ability to express oneself in an articulate and effective manner both verbally and in written communication.

Responsibilities

Work closely with Refugee Resettlement, Employment and Economic Empowerment, Transportation, and Volunteer Departments coordinating activities with Directors, Managers, and other staff and volunteers.
Respond to referrals of new clients in a timely manner and keep client case files up to date and organized.
Identify housing options for clients that fulfill their specific location, size, and affordability requirements, using analytical thinking to compare options and anticipate potential barriers such as waitlist delays, transportation challenges, and rental requirements.
Assist clients in completing applications and providing necessary documents, ensuring accuracy and proactively identifying missing information that could delay approval.
Based on disability and medical needs, assist clients in requesting reasonable accommodations from lease requirements.
Help clients budget and plan for move‑in expenses, learn rights and responsibilities as tenants, and coordinate cultural orientation and financial literacy training, including supporting clients in evaluating risks, understanding consequences of late rent, and planning ahead to prevent crises.
Facilitate all aspects of the application process once the client becomes a potential qualified applicant, including assistance in understanding and signing the lease agreement, while helping clients foresee and address common issues such as utility setup, security deposits, rental insurance, or lease restrictions.
Ensure that clients maintain housing by responding to requests for assistance in lease renewals, lease violations, or re‑certifications, using critical thinking to identify root causes early and prevent small issues from becoming larger eviction‑risk problems.
Be professional in representing JFS to landlords/property managers with the intention of expanding the network of properties available for refugee services clients, using sound judgment and situational analysis when navigating complex or sensitive landlord concerns.
Regularly communicate with property managers/affordable housing developers in order to maintain a current and accurate list of affordable housing/rental properties which are accepting applications, identifying trends or changes that may impact future client placements.
Identify opportunities for housing advocacy and collaborate with Refugee Resource Development Manager and Refugee Services Manager in pursuing them, using evidence‑based assessments to highlight systemic challenges.
Coordinate interpretation needs, communicating directly with interpreters and organizations, and maintaining reports, ensuring clear, accurate communication to avoid misunderstandings that could escalate into housing conflicts.