RRH Case Manager I (Seattle)

Overview Full-time (40 hours/week) position starting at $26.22 - $29.17/hr (D.O.E) with COMPETITIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account Generous PTO, paid sick time, 15 days of paid vacations, 13 days of paid holidays, plus a personal holiday CCS/CHS 403(b) Employee Saving Plan Employee assistance program Room for advancement PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program at Catholic Community Services (CCS) provides rent and utility assistance, bus passes, and essential needs products to disabled adults who are experiencing housing instability. Over 4,000 people are currently being served by HEN King County through a staff of 50, with dozens of new people added onto a rental interest list every week. The program has Rental Assistance and Homeless Services case management teams, a team of resource specialists that respond to the HEN Resource Line, an ORCA Lift program that provides free annual bus passes, and an Essential Needs team that creates hundreds of health & hygiene bags each month. The program operates out of the Randolph Carter Center (RCC) and Phoenix Center (Phoenix) in central Seattle as well as two CCS family centers in Kent and Federal Way. HEN is a statewide program, and eligibility is determined through DSHS. CCS has contracted with King County to deliver the services. POSITION DESCRIPTION HEN Case Managers work with housed and unhoused adults to help them obtain and maintain stable housing during challenging times in their lives. They are part of either the Rental Assistance or Homeless Services team and are responsible for all aspects of participant services such as intakes and goal setting, working with landlords and paying rents, and maintaining accurate records in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). They work in partnership with other HEN teams to provide overall excellent customer service and support for our shared program participants. Case Managers work with HEN program participants who often have challenges related to physical health, mental health, or substance use, and often are elderly or speak a language other than English. They also work with a diverse team of staff who are based out of four locations throughout King County. Strong candidates must have patience, and the comfort and ability to communicate effectively both in person and remotely to a variety of people. They must also be able to work well independently with little supervision. This position allows for one remote work day per week. Responsibilities Participant Services Meet with participants to conduct program intakes and assessments, obtain consents, and inform them of the program’s policies. Develop participant-led action plans for housing stability that covers the following life domains: income/employment, health, and housing. Refer to supportive housing and employment programs as relevant Gather housing and other relevant documentation and input data into the local HMIS system. Routinely verify participant eligibility through an online Benefit Verification System. Prepare rent, arrears, and utility bill payments. Distribute Essential Need items (hygiene/cleaning) and arrange for free ORCA passes. Schedule follow up meetings with participants to work on housing stability plan goals, and as necessary to help support participants with (primarily housing-related) needs. Assist participants in navigating housing-related communications with landlords as well as through an eviction process. Communicate with participants if they do not or no longer qualify for assistance. Develop relationships with in-house resources and community partners and refer participants to other services as needed, such as for legal assistance. Assist with the set up and distribution of a weekly essential needs bank. Follow guidelines on confidentiality rights of participants and respect their privacy. Engage language line assistance to support participants who speak languages other than English. General Program Responsibilities Follow program policies and procedures, and ensure data security is maintained and records are kept in accordance with agency standards. Attend required trainings such as de-escalation, trauma-informed care, diversity, equity and inclusion, and first aid/CPR. Participate as a team member in staff and supervisory meetings. Contribute to and support a positive, team-oriented, diverse, anti-racist work environment. Support teammates when others are absent or need assistance. Participate in advocacy on behalf of the program and other programs assisting disabled and low-income community members. Maintain accurate record of hours worked and turn in timesheets on schedule. Keep receipts for program-related purchases and turn in credit card reports as due. Support with training new colleagues. Conduct assigned projects to ensure data quality. Perform other job-related duties as assigned. Job Conditions This position requires the employee to work in an environment where there may be exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious material. Other exposures could include cleaning supplies, bedbugs, chemicals involved in pest control, paint and other materials used in building maintenance, building temperature fluctuations, dust, noise, and odors. Working conditions include interruptions, crisis response, and regular interactions with individuals who are dealing with issues of chemical dependency and/or mental illness, or are experiencing anger or frustration. Physical and Mental Acuity Requirements The requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Able to hear telephone rings, phone conversation and face-to-face conversation, door bells and emergency alarms. Able to speak clearly in person and on the telephone. Able to hand write legibly. Vision that enables person to read normal size print and handwritten notes; and distance and peripheral vision than enables person to monitor living spaces and identify concerns that require staff response. Able to sit for sustained periods of time. Able to walk the entire building and ascend and descend stairs quickly to move from one floor to another in order to respond to emergency situations. Mobility/dexterity of hands/arms to enable keying into a unit or other locked area as well as using computers and other office equipment. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, and to work independently and as a team member. Ability to regularly lift and carry up to 20 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds. Regularly able to perform duties as assigned. Able to make independent decisions and apply sound judgment in performing job duties. Qualifications Associate’s degree in social services or a related field, or commensurate experience in social services. At least one year of experience in direct provision of social services, preferably with people experiencing housing instability. Understanding of problems people experiencing housing instability often face, including poverty, substance use, mental health, domestic violence, and long-term homelessness. Excellent written and oral communication. Good office computer skills, with ability to maintain complex client records. Ability to set priorities and work independently as well as on a team. Commitment to social justice, anti-racism and to working within the mission, goals and objective of Catholic Community Services. Ability to pass a background check. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or higher in Social Work or a related field. Fluency in second language that is spoken by a substantial number of HEN recipients. Reliable vehicle and willingness to commute between offices. Note to Internal Candidates: HR reviews internal compensation and determines any increase based on their experience and also agency internal equity factors. Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position.