Housing Navigator Stabilization and Follow-Up Case Manager

Covenant House Illinois•Chicago, IL

About The Position

As a Housing Navigator Stabilization and Follow Up Case Manager at Covenant House Illinois, the position provides direct, compassionate support to young people in our Youth Development Center and Residential Programs. This includes the provision of case management support to YDC youth. The position provides comprehensive assessments to assigned youth and develops both short-term and long-term holistic service plans. The position works closely with Youth Engagement Staff and community partners to deliver comprehensive, youth-centered services and wholistic clinical case management services. As part of CHIL’s Housing Navigation services, the position also provides case management for 6–12 months after youth move-in to housing to support participants in maintaining tenancy and building sustainable independence. This role focuses on housing retention, life skills development, and connection to employment, education, behavioral health, and income support. The position coordinates re-engagement when needed and completes planned exits and aftercare planning, ensuring participants remain connected to resources that support long-term stability. The position ensures cross-team collaboration, functions as part of a coordinated team with shared workflows, warm handoffs, and regular care coordination to align engagement strategies and next steps.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field required.
2-4 years of youth development experience required.
Effective written, verbal, listening, and communication skills.
Ability to exercise appropriate judgment in crisis situations, with effective interpersonal skills.
Must be willing to function as an active member of an interdisciplinary team.
Willingness and ability to attain a CPR/First Aid Certification.
Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations.
Knowledge of community social service resources to assist youth with needs related to housing, employment, education, and social-emotional well-being.
Knowledge of crisis intervention and ability to address conflict between youth; able to respond quickly and safely while calmly de-escalating crisis situations and emergencies.

Nice To Haves

Licensure in Social Work, psychology, counseling or human services related field (any level) preferred.
Experience working with survivors of trauma, trafficking, or homelessness strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of trauma-informed care principles and the unique challenges faced by youth survivors of complex trauma.
Knowledge of community resources, including mental health services, legal support, education systems, and housing programs.
Bilingual (Spanish) a plus.

Responsibilities

Ensure the highest quality of delivery of services to youth in accordance with the CHIL Principles, Mission, and Core Values.
Promote a safe and healing environment by utilizing the principles and practices of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and positive youth development in all aspects of work and youth engagement, including crisis prevention, intervention, and de-escalation.
Have an understanding of and support the implementation of Trauma Informed Care, Harm Reduction, and Positive Youth Development.
Have knowledge and experience working with the LGBTQIA+ population.
Able to articulate successes and challenges experienced by youth to inform program development and effectively communicate with CHIL staff, community partners, funding sources, and others.
Willingness to advocate for the rights of all youth passionately and actively to be valued, supported, and housed.
Can maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, HIPAA, and other limits to confidentiality.
Manage a caseload of YDC youth, conducting comprehensive assessments to understand individual needs, strengths, and challenges, including trauma history, mental health, substance use, and family dynamics.
Manage the day-to-day needs of the program i.e. processing/tracking bus cards, etc.
Collaborate with youth in developing both short-term and long-term goals, empowering youth to be active participants in their own planning and decision-making processes.
Ensure that youth have sufficient and proper ID (Birth Certificate, State ID, and Social Security Card, etc.), and support them in securing public benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, or housing vouchers where applicable.
Meet with youth on a regular basis and document interactions appropriately to track progress, celebrate milestones, and adapt goals as needed.
Attend appointments and services when needed or requested by a youth.
Have the ability and willingness to advocate for youth outside of Covenant House and in the community as needed or requested, including participation in community resource meetings or job fairs.
Develop motivational tools for youth and promote positive behavior, coping strategies, and life skills through both individual sessions and facilitated groups.
Maintain healthy and supportive relationships with youth, always mindful of professional boundaries, confidentiality, and mutual respect.
Model supportive engagement and create a safe space for healing and self-expression.
Support program staff whenever possible and/or needed, contributing to a collaborative and youth-centered team environment.
Participate in all required trainings, supervision, and staff meetings to support professional growth, service quality, and alignment with best practices.
Facilitate psychoeducation and life-skills groups on a wide range of topics that support youth success, from hygiene and daily living skills to problem solving, conflict resolution, self-esteem, and personal development.
Become the primary contact after move-in and provide structured follow-up for 6–12 months to support housing stability.
Conduct regular check-ins in the home, office, and community while monitoring tenancy concerns and addressing risks early.
Provide coaching on lease compliance, tenant rights, landlord communication, budgeting, and rent payment planning.
Mediate roommate or landlord conflicts and develop safety and crisis-prevention plans to protect tenancy.
Facilitate warm referrals to the CHIL Employment & Education Program and help youth connect to employment, education, income supports, and public benefits.
Address barriers to stability, including documentation replacement, credit issues, and rental history challenges.
Coordinate with community housing providers and service partners to support youth housing connections.
Develop a detailed aftercare service plan and provide ongoing support through individual and group skill-building for long-term stability.
Conduct outreach to re-engage youth who disengage from housing navigation and maintain consistent support.
Document engagement efforts and outcomes while adjusting service strategies to promote participation and long-term community success.
Ensure that intakes and progress notes are documented accurately in all databases, including HMIS, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO), or other relevant case management systems.
Advocate on behalf of youth with external service providers to ensure timely access to essential services such as housing, employment, education, healthcare, and legal aid.
Ensure that youth files are compliant with all grant requirements and local, state, and federal regulations.
Assist with program audit and review preparation.
Apply trauma-informed care principles in all interactions with youth, providing a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment that supports healing and growth.
Recognize and respond to the effects of trauma on behavior, emotions, and decision-making, offering appropriate interventions and support to help youth overcome challenges and heal.
Integrate strengths-based, youth-centered approaches into case management, focusing on building resilience, self-esteem, and empowerment.
Collaborate with internal staff, including housing specialists, mental health professionals, and employment counselors, to provide holistic care to all YDC youth.
Support Youth Engagement Specialist and floor staff whenever possible and/or needed.
Participate in regular team meetings and case reviews, sharing updates on youth progress and identifying strategies to address any barriers to success.
Work closely with community partners, such as social service agencies, healthcare providers, and legal advocates, to ensure comprehensive support for each youth.
Research and keep current on external referral services and maintain strong professional relationships with community partners and agencies.
Work collaboratively with internal multidisciplinary teams, including housing specialists, mental health professionals, employment counselors, and medical providers to deliver holistic care.
Be willing and able to participate in a rotating holiday, weekend and on-call schedule to support 24/7 program needs and crisis response.
Participates in housing navigation case conferencing as needed.
Other duties as assigned.
Maintain positive, professional relationships with community partners, stakeholders, and service providers to expand the network of resources available to youth.
Represent the agency at community meetings, trainings, and events, advocating for youth homelessness issues and resources.
Engage in regular self-care practices to manage the emotional demands of the role.
Participate in ongoing training, workshops, and professional development opportunities to stay informed about best practices in trauma-informed care and human trafficking prevention.
Willingness to utilize training opportunities in support of personal and professional growth, competence development, and to increase overall capacity to serve youth every day.