Housing Solutions Case Manager

MERCY HOUSE • Santa Ana, CA

4d • $23 - $24 • Onsite

About The Position

The Housing Solutions Case Manager participates in all stages of client service for individuals in the Mercy House Permanent Supportive Housing Program, including ongoing needs assessments, individualized housing plans, support, information, referrals, and advocacy. The role screens prospective clients for eligible services and provides residential services, including life skills workshops and community-building events. As a member of the Permanent Housing Team, the Case Manager reports directly to the Permanent Housing Supervisor and builds working relationships with residents to support self-reliance and housing stability. The position promotes positive behavior change, identifies threats to residents’ stability, maintains clear and accurate records, and ensures trauma-informed, client-focused service strategies.

The Case Manager maintains a caseload of 17–30 individuals, regularly engages residents, and coordinates housing, community, and employment-related support. The role also works with property management, landlords, caretakers, volunteers, community organizations, staff, and program partners to support residents and create a supportive community environment.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field; the posting also welcomes applicants without a bachelor’s degree who have at least two years of direct life experience working with long-term homeless, low-income, and diverse populations and working knowledge of mental health and addiction issues.
• A valid California driver’s license, proof of insurance, and a reliable vehicle; must be comfortable using a personal vehicle for home visits and meeting clients at shelters or in the community.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and work on a computer.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in chemical health, mental health, or co-occurring disorders is preferred.
• Working knowledge of mental health and addiction issues for applicants using the experience-based alternative to the degree requirement.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of 17–30 individuals and meet with residents regularly to develop and monitor individualized housing plans with measurable short- and long-term goals.
• Use harm-reduction approaches and crisis-prevention and intervention skills to provide client-centered services and help residents remain housed.
• Practice trauma-informed care and implement eviction-prevention strategies.
• Help residents recognize their strengths and needs respectfully, establish individual and family goals, and maintain safe, stable, affordable housing.
• Visit and inspect resident apartments to ensure they are properly maintained.
• Identify community resources and provide referrals, information, advocacy, and assistance accessing services.
• Organize and facilitate social, recreational, enrichment, and community-building activities that promote involvement and peer support.
• Work with volunteers and community resources to connect residents with employment, education, tutoring, mentoring, and other services as appropriate.
• Attend trainings related to client needs, including co-occurring disorders, harm reduction, and cultural competence.
• Facilitate relationship building between landlords or caretakers and residents.
• Participate in the emergency on-call schedule to ensure resident needs are met.
• Facilitate resident participation in credit counseling, computer training, financial literacy education, and job-search assistance.
• Distribute focus group surveys and organize activities based on resident responses and project funding requirements.
• Coordinate life-skills workshops on topics including job-search skills, parenting, time and stress management, health and wellness, and interpersonal relationships and communication.
• Coordinate job-readiness workshops and support residents’ job-search and skills development.
• Help residents build support networks with other residents, family, and friends.
• Design and coordinate holiday and community-building events; create and distribute monthly activity calendars and flyers and quarterly newsletters.
• Maintain active involvement with neighbors, program partners, and community service organizations.
• Partner with property management during leasing and tenancy to promote effective communication, unified service delivery, and a supportive community.
• Collaborate with Mercy House staff and volunteers to implement the agency mission and core values; attend internal and external agency meetings and help plan and develop resident programs.
• Maintain accurate, current client documentation, including housing plans, assessments, case notes, and files.
• Complete paperwork accurately and on time to support payment to the project and agency; assist with data collection systems.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services and substance abuse treatments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Voluntary dental and vision coverage
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 3% employer matching
• Paid on-the-job training and orientation
• Mileage reimbursement
• Employee referral program
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level