SSVF Case Manager I

Ccsww•Seattle, WA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program quickly connects veteran families and individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing housing to permanent housing through tailored housing stability plans that may include the use of short-term financial assistance, supportive services, and longer-term shallow subsidies. SSVF helps veteran families and individuals living on the streets, in vehicles, or in emergency shelters resolve the immediate barriers to obtaining permanent market rate housing while reducing the amount of time they experience homelessness. SSVF also helps veteran families at risk of losing housing (within 30 days) regain housing stability through SSVF’s Homeless Prevention Program. The Case Manager is a member of the Veterans Services team within Catholic Community Services. This position maintains a caseload of households in the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. The position includes outreach activities in the community, completing thorough intakes and eligibility screening with referred clients, assessing housing needs and providing financial assistance for housing costs, and assisting clients to secure housing if they are homeless. The Case Manager uses Housing First and Progressive Engagement approaches to engage and work with Veteran households. In addition, the case manager enters client data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). In collaboration with the service team, the Case Manager is responsible for developing and implementing client-defined, goal-oriented Housing Stability Plans, assessing the needs of referred households and utilizing VA and community resources to meet identified individual needs with the main goal of stabilizing in permanent housing in the shortest time possible.

Requirements

A combination of lived experience OR 1-year experience working with households experiencing homelessness OR a bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology or a related field OR personal experience.
Valid driver’s license and ability to be approved as a CCS Driver
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Possess strong time management skills and ability to set priorities, especially when working with people in crisis
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, HMIS or other databases.
Excellent computer skills, with ability to maintain complex participant records.
Understanding of challenges participants may face, including discrimination, alcohol and drug abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, and long-term homelessness.
Understanding of specific barriers Veteran households face.
Commitment to working within the mission, goals and objectives of Catholic Community Services.
Criminal history background checks are required prior to employment

Nice To Haves

Veteran or experience providing services to veterans
Knowledge of local social services and other community resources
Experience with housing location, landlord/tenant mediation
Personal Vehicle

Responsibilities

Outreach and engage with veteran households in King County needing housing navigation support
Use the Veteran By-Name-List (VBNL) to identify Veterans that have not received an assessment or do not have a viable housing plan.
Use the VBNL to identify partner agencies that serve Veteran’s that are not connected to Veteran specific services.
The Navigator will conduct repeated and frequent attempts to engage with Veterans, knowing that many Veterans experiencing homelessness are mobile and may move often.
Offer basic need supplies, up to and including harm reduction supplies , to engage with Veterans
Attend Veteran Case Conferencing and accept housing Navigation referrals
Collaborate with CCS programs and community programs to connect with Veterans
Conduct outreach at currently established partners and expand outreach services to other organizations and locations
Use de-escalation , basic First Aid (CPR ) and suicide prevention training to handle crisis situations.
Carry and administer Narcan for opioid overdose
Assess housing related needs and preference and conduct eligibility screening with referred clients.
Use a Progressive engagement approach to understand the Veteran’s needs, preferences and housing experiences.
Use trauma-informed care and motivational interviewing techniques to inquire about their strengths, housing goals, barriers, transportation needs, and document readiness.
Use KC HMIS to complete the Coordinated Entry Assessment, the Housing Triage Tool and to update the Veteran By Name List Form.
Enter contact information.
Use Squares to determine Veteran status
Use information from Veteran Case Conferencing, KC HMIS, CCS Clarity and the CE system to offer Veteran informed option about available housing options and programs.
Develop a housing plan with the Veteran tailored to their needs.
Drive Veteran to the CRRC or other locations for additional housing screening.
Enhance access to housing resources by providing advocacy and housing navigation support
Attend Veteran Case Conferencing to advocate for and facilitate referrals to housing programs and units.
Assist Veterans in locating permanent and affordable housing to include showing them how to locate Housing Connector units and by maintaining relationships with subsidized, tax credit and market rate housing providers.
Provide practical housing search support: completing housing program applications and applications for available rental units, offer to attend housing related appointments with Veterans, drive Veterans to housing appointments as needed.
Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with programs like the VA VASH, CRRC and GPD housing programs, King County Veteran Program, Compass Housing Alliance, Salvation Army, LIHI and others providing services for the Veteran
Advocate for Veterans’ access to community resources and services, ensuring that their' needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
Participate in supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings and case conferences for clients on caseload.
Provide referrals and advocate for clients to obtain resources that will reduce barriers and assist clients in obtaining permanent housing. This includes working closely with Catholic Community Service programs and outside agencies.
Complete thorough and accurate record keeping and documentation
Enter HMIS records and case notes using the CCS program participant database and the King County database.
Maintain program participant files according to Quality Assurance standards, insuring that all necessary documentation is included and filled out appropriately.
Conduct quarterly reviews of program participant files, case notes and HMIS data quality with the Compliance Manager.
Treat program participants in a culturally sensitive manner and actively seek to become informed on issues where culturally-determined perceptions might be different.
Build awareness around systemic racism and issues of equity to reduce barriers and increase positive outcomes for Veterans who have been historically marginalized.
Expand outreach to LGBTQIA friendly shelters and housing.
Provide client-driven service delivery establishing trusting relationships.