Summary
The Youth Case Manager/Housing Specialist works in tandem with Employment Specialist in Assessing referrals received from community agencies and the city of Oakland to implement career planning and housing placement services with young adults. The Youth Housing Specialist secures permanent, affordable housing for young adults as well as any supportive services they may need within two months of entry into the program. This position follows Housing First and Rapid Rehousing principles and utilizes Motivational Interviewing (Ml) as a client engagement tool.
The Youth Case Manager/Housing Specialist is responsible for assessing client housing needs, developing a housing stability with providing support in researching low-income and other housing resources, assisting in coordinating and searching for permanent housing, and maintaining relationships with housing property managers, owners and organizations to facilitate placement of homeless singles in stable housing situations and mediate between landlords and tenants if needed. This position also ensures that permanent housing opportunities are habitable and safe for clients. Case management duties also include close collaboration with the Employment Specialist to support youth with educational and employment opportunities and outlets for growth.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General Operations
- Attend and participate in all required staff meetings, weekly supervision meetings and in-service trainings and off-site meetings and trainings.
- Ensure the timely collection and inputting of client data (intake and ongoing) into HMIS.
Client Support
- Maintain confidentiality in all matters pertaining to clients.
- Schedule and maintain regular meetings with youth, including in-home support.
- Conduct an immediate housing needs assessment on all clients.
- Set up and maintain client case files and progress notes and collect income verification.
- Use Motivational Interviewing techniques and other problem-solving skills to assess client housing issues and needs.
- Develop and monitor and adjust housing stability plans with clients that identify specific actions needed to successfully stabilize youth including formal re-assessment on clients after 30 to 90 days, depending on the need.
- Refers youth to all appropriate public benefit programs. Assists with collecting documentation and provides transportation to appointments as necessary.
- Assist clients with budgeting plans including support with filing tax returns, banking and credit repair and provides life skills workshops and individual follow-up to ensure that young adults achieve housing stability.
- Escort clients to various housing and service appointment as needed.
- Provide support to clients in filling out housing applications and other relevant materials.
- Assist clients in contacting and negotiating with potential landlords.
- Inspect apartment or other permanent housing alternatives with clients prior to signing a lease to determine habitability and fairness of the lease requirements.
- Identify/provide monetary and non-monetary support including furniture, appliances and start-up household items for clients moving into permanent housing so they can acquire the necessary skills for independent living.
- Perform other duties, as assigned.
Programmatic Activities
- Meet with Case Management Supervisor for weekly supervision.
- Coordinate housing information and services to ensure a comprehensive approach to client needs.
- Set-up and maintain well-organized client files including information on housing providers, application materials, repair request and requisition forms, etc.
- Compile and maintain program/housing resource files and/or a database containing current listings of market-rate and subsidized permanent housing resources in Alameda and surrounding Bay Area counties as well as out-of-area housing options.
- Work closely with the Case Management Supervisor to ensure landlord information is tracked in organization database.
Community Outreach
- Conduct ongoing outreach to client referral sources (e.g. community agencies serving young adults and the City of Oakland).
- Establish working relationships with local landlord/real estate associations to access market rate housing resources.
- Works closely with Case Management Supervisor and other Housing Specialist to recruit new property owners/manager.
- Conduct outreach to local public housing authorities and other subsidized housing entities in the Bay Area to maintain up-to-date information on vacancies and application requirements.
- Develop contacts with local church groups and other nonprofit organizations who offer alternative affordable housing options in the local real estate market as well as employment options.
- Establish relationships with other housing advocates in Oakland and the Bay Area.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- A.A. or B.A. preferred or relevant work experience with homeless transition age youth.
- At least three to four years' experience working as an outreach worker or housing advocate with high risk, low income, homeless individuals.
- One-year of preferred experience working with landlords or assisting low-income individuals in getting housing.
- Experience working with individuals from diverse ethnic background.
- Knowledge of local market rate and subsidized housing resources in the Bay Area and other areas in California and adjacent states.
- Basic counseling and interviewing techniques. Motivational Interviewing preferred.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain organized files.
- Ability to produce well-written reports, memos and other correspondence in a timely fashion.
- Ability to work effectively with a team of other professionals and coordinate services/activities with each member, as needed.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
