Housing Case Manager

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California•San Bernardino, CA

About The Position

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC) is seeking a Housing Case Manager (HCM) to provide supportive services and rental assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The HCM will assist clients in finding housing through the Rapid Rehousing (RRH) program and prevent or end homelessness through Homeless Prevention (HP) services, focusing on financial assistance. The role involves addressing barriers to housing stability such as employment, income, health, transportation, and childcare. The HCM will manage multiple cases, build on participant strengths, develop person-centered service plans, and connect clients with resources. Key aspects of the role include creative problem-solving, meticulous record-keeping, and fostering strong community and landlord relationships.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in social services, human services, counseling, or related field.
Minimum two years of experience providing case management with vulnerable and/or disabled population specifically the chronically homeless, mental health and/or substance abuse population.
Proven experience as a program supervision or relevant position.
Knowledge of program management and development policies and procedures.
Knowledge of Housing First and Trauma Informed Practices.
Knowledge of budgeting, bookkeeping, and reporting.
Tech savvy, proficient in MS Office.
Must read, speak and write fluent English.
Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and staff.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Knowledge of Word Processing software and Spreadsheet software.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Experience with HMIS and Coordinated Entry in San Bernardino County.
Street outreach experience, including engagement in encampments and unsheltered settings.
Knowledge of Housing First, Rapid Re-Housing, and Homeless Prevention models.

Responsibilities

Screen, assess eligibility, verify client needs, and conduct intakes for prospective participants.
Complete Reverse Referral and Community Que Referrals in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) system for all RRH participants.
Conduct street and community-based outreach to find and engage individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including in encampments, shelters, vehicles, motels, and other places not meant for human habitation.
Assess program participants at program entry to jointly develop a strength-based, goal-driven action plan, progress monitoring, money management, tenant education, and referrals that promote permanent housing and self-sufficiency in the future.
Identifying participant strengths and barriers to stability to help ensure proper housing options or maintain their current housing.
Conduct landlord outreach to recruit and maintain relationships with landlords and property managers and expand available housing units.
Advocate with landlords on behalf of prospective tenants and mediate landlord-tenant conflicts to prevent eviction.
Conduct or coordinate housing habitability inspections and rent reasonableness determinations as required by funders.
Collaborate with participants to locate, secure, and keep proper housing; assist with housing applications, landlord negotiations, and lease review.
Coordinate outreach efforts with the San Bernardino County Coordinated Entry System (CES), 211, law enforcement homeless outreach teams, health and behavioral health providers, and other outreach partners.
Work with participants to locate, secure or maintain appropriate housing; assist with landlord negotiations, housing applications, and leases when needed; advocate with landlords for prospective tenants.
Maintain professional rapport with clients, peers and other community service providers.
Identifying and provide outreach to landlords and community organizations to educate them about RRH and HP related services.
Locate suitable RRH housing options.
Locate landlords with residents in need of HP services.
Build relationships and connections with landlords.
Serve as a landlord liaison to help mitigate any issues that arise with tenants.
Work with tenants and landlords to solve issues and prevent evictions.
Develop a referral network of services and supports that assist with housing retention, including linkages for warm handoffs to specialists in employment, transportation, childcare, social service benefits, substance use issues, mental health, medical care, HIV specialized care, etc.
Decide and document participant eligibility for rental aid, security deposits, utility assistance, and arrears payments.
Develop transition plans with participants as they are near program exit.
Prepare and submit financial assistance requests accurately and on time, in line with program policies and funding limits.
Reassess participant eligibility and level of financial assistance at required intervals.
Build relationships with program participants to learn their needs, goals, strengths, and barriers to maintaining stable housing; keep the channels of communication open and be proactive about problem-solving.
Participate in case conferencing, Continuum of Care meetings, and community partner meetings.
Attend staff meetings, supervision, and required training.
Fulfill mandated reporting obligations for suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse.
Conduct follow-up contacts after exit to support long-term housing retention, as required by the program.
Provide comprehensive case management support to program participants and ensure services are individualized, culturally competent, family-focused, goal-driven, strength-based, and appropriate.
Provide supportive services to increase access to health care, benefit entitlement services, immigration, employment and vocational services.
Match program participants to appropriate housing options, always taking their needs and ability to generate income into account.
Build connections with potential employers and training programs.
Prepare participants for job interviews; assist with building a resume.
Teach participants budgeting and financial literacy skills.
Ensure participants possess basic life and home care skills; provide training, if needed.
Conduct visits in participant’s homes once housed to ensure compliance with lease and program agreements.
Conduct crisis management and home interventions as well as follow-ups.
Perform benefits and housing maintenance counseling.
Ensure the client has regular contact with their primary care provider and can access and maintain medical insurance/assistance.
Document program activity, including prescreens, eligibility, intakes, financial assistance, housing search, applications, landlord mediations and case management.
Organize and maintain case files in a timely manner and in accordance with professional practice and HIPAA.
Maintain Internal databases and client rosters.
Provide monthly program reports to the supervisors.
Attending meetings and trainings.
Other duties may be assigned.