Co-Location Case Manager

SALARY: $46,027-$52,000 per year. 

This is a non-exempt, full-time position.

ORGANIZATION:

Metro Housing|Boston is a leading nonprofit dedicated to connecting the residents of Greater Boston with safe, decent homes they can afford. Metro Housing empowers families and individuals to move from homelessness to housing stability. Serving more than 25,000 households annually, we work seamlessly to bridge the gaps among government, nonprofits, and corporations to continually increase our impact. With more than 30 years’ experience piloting and implementing housing programs, we have solidified our position as an industry-leading expert on navigating the affordable housing field.

MISSION:

“We mobilize wide-ranging resources to provide innovative and personalized services that lead families and individuals to housing stability, economic security and an improved quality of life.”

 OVERVIEW:

Metro Housing|Boston has developed a model of co-location services that has been implemented throughout our region. Colocations provide benefits to residents and communities by making Metro Housing|Boston services available where people live. Within Boston proper, Metro Housing operates five colocations with service partners in areas with high proportions of households receiving or qualified to receive housing assistance. At six other colocation sites outside of Boston, we focus on supplying vital housing support services to residents who have low and moderate incomes. Metro Housing staff travel to these sites offer the full complement of services available through our Boston office, including access to flexible funds. Current locations include; the Boston EA office, Community Colleges, Georgetowne Homes, Chelsea Connect, Somerville Homeless Coalition, Waltham WATCH, Salem Heights Apartments and other community development agencies and partner providers.

In addition, colocations benefit from Metro Housing’s singular capacity to deliver Mobile Rapid Response (MRR) for families and individuals referred to Metro Housing because they are experiencing crises with their housing. MRR is Metro Housing’s unique ability to bring the full weight of Metro Housing’s resources to bear on behalf of the client, including an extensive network of providers and property owners, experienced in-house staff, and emergency funding. Members of our team travel to meet face-to-face with individuals and families in crisis, address the immediate need for safe housing, and lay the groundwork for devising solutions for long-term stabilization. Staff travel to emergency rooms, court houses, legislative offices, agencies, and homes throughout our service area to respond quickly to complicated, emotionally charged and seemingly unsolvable situations. Colocations help Metro Housing provide MRR to households in these communities.

The Case Manager will assist clients on the full spectrum of need: from offering basic information and referral services, to providing brief counseling services and, in many cases, providing financial assistance through RAFT. The Case Manager will collect initial intake information, assess the client’s presenting and surrounding needs, and work with the client to determine an appropriate course of action. The Case Manager will work closely with other RAFT, Co-location, and HCEC Case Managers and will, on a limited basis, provide ongoing case management services. 

The Case Manager will co-locate at (at least) two hospitals located in the City of Boston, receive direct referrals from the City of Boston’s Office of Housing Stability and/or other divisions within the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, and assist with walk-ins and resource line referrals at Metro Housing|Boston’s main office as well as at co-location sites within the City of Boston.

REPORTS TO: Co-location Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:

The statements below are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned. 

• Administer homelessness prevention funds, including Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), by conducting intakes, screening families for program eligibility, and meeting with heads of household directly to complete paperwork and determine an appropriate course of action: either administering funding or providing counseling and referral services, or both;
• Provide information and referral services, and brief counseling around immediate client concerns and/or barriers to housing, including but not limited to: financial instability, legal issues, mental health issues, substance abuse, un- or under-employment, health care, and housekeeping; Obtain resources and services as requested and/or needed to address clients’ needs, including but not limited to: housing applications, negotiation and mediation with property owners and utility companies, fuel assistance, and shelter information; 
• Complete and maintain client files by reviewing paperwork; collecting documentation from clients, property owners, and advocates; and maintaining a caseload of program participants;
• Accept referrals for financial assistance and/or housing counseling from the City of Boston’s Office of Housing Stability, or other divisions within the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, as well as from co-location partners within the City of Boston.   Track all interactions with clients and/or their files by entering outcomes from phone and in-person interactions into appropriate data collection tools, such as Tracker, New Client Log, CounselorMax, and FileBound; and
• Other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Access to a vehicle, license and willingness to drive to various co-location sites
• Experience in case management or intake and assessment with homeless households or households at risk of homelessness; 
• Familiarity with affordable housing and housing subsidies;
• Experience with crisis intervention regarding issues such as homelessness and affordable housing access; 
• Knowledge and experience with service agencies and resources for low-income and/or homeless individuals and families; 
• Willingness to work as part of a team to promote the goals of the program and organization; 
• Sensitivity to the needs of the homeless, low-income, and diverse populations; 
• Ability to work in a busy, diverse team setting; 
• Excellent time management, organizational, communication, and writing skills;

PREFERENCE GIVEN TO:

• Candidates with multilingual skills (verbal and written). We are seeking candidates that speak and write English and at least one of the following languages (for interpreting and translation): Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Toisanese, and Spanish.

Most benefits are available on your first day of work with Metro Housing | Boston. These benefits currently include:

Your and your family’s health

• Health and dental coverage on a pre-tax basis;
• Eye Med Vision plan on a pre-tax basis;
• Medical and dependent care reimbursement account;
• Company paid life and AD&D insurance and long-term disability;
• Free, confidential Employee Assistance Program;
• Voluntary life, accident, critical illness and cancer insurance.

Work/life balance

• Generous vacation, sick, and personal time;
• 13 paid holidays per year;
• Paid new parent leave;
• Flexible schedules (when available).

Retirement plan

• 403(b) plan with a company match.

Career growth

• Tuition reimbursement program;
• Internal promotions encouraged.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER