Housing Case Manager (Swing Shift)

About the Organization

Lifelong is a community health entity dedicated to eliminating barriers to health through compassionate support, ensuring no one confronts illness or social injustice alone. With four decades of commitment to combating health disparities, Lifelong offers comprehensive services including food and nutrition assistance, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connections to housing and essential resources.

Position Overview

The Housing Case Manager will manage a caseload of clients receiving housing support from KCRHA. This role involves delivering supportive services that promote clients' housing stability and address challenges threatening their housing retention. Responsibilities include engagement, rapport building, and goal setting aimed at housing, financial, and health stability alongside personal development.

This position requires acceptance and experience working with clients presenting varying autonomy levels, mental health statuses, and active substance use, employing harm reduction and Housing First frameworks to enable low-barrier access to housing and services. The Case Manager also assists clients in obtaining resources for household needs and connects them to healthcare, financial, and employment support to foster overall well-being and independence.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop strong client relationships to identify strengths and encourage self-sufficiency and resilience in securing stable housing.
• Understand regional housing challenges and their effects on clients' health and wellbeing; knowledge of Seattle/King County landlord-tenant laws is advantageous.
• Support clients from diverse backgrounds in housing placement processes, including application assistance and paperwork completion.
• Provide sustained assistance for clients transitioning from chronic homelessness to housing stability.
• Advocate and support clients facing housing integration and retention issues through consultations, behavioral agreements, and managing potential housing exits.
• Communicate with property management to address complaints and inquiries ensuring successful tenancy.
• Facilitate client access to resources addressing physical health, mental health, substance use, and other support services.
• Maintain culturally competent, high-quality client service standards and ensure confidentiality of client data and compliance documentation.
• Participate actively in supervision, team meetings, and agency initiatives aligned with organizational priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Knowledge and application of Harm Reduction and Housing First principles within trauma-informed care.
• Effective organization, prioritization, and timely completion of multiple projects.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Flexibility and adaptability in dynamic environments.
• Understanding of professional boundaries.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs including Excel, Access, and Word.
• Experience with electronic case management systems; Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) experience is beneficial.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with professional telephone etiquette.
• Capability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Ability to manage stress, apply crisis management, and perform de-escalation techniques effectively.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a social services discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of direct social services or advocacy work assessing client needs and eligibility.
• Two years' experience working with marginalized populations, including those facing chronic homelessness, substance use issues, and mental health instability.

Work Environment

• Work occurs mostly within leased apartments and motels, with some outreach to scattered sites across King County.
• Job duties require office-based tasks combined with client interactions onsite and in community settings, including client homes.
• Physical demands include sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, and occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds.
• Exposure to diverse environmental conditions including some moderate noise levels and outdoor settings.
• TB testing within 30 days of hire and annually is required for in-person client work.
• Employment offers depend on successful criminal background checks; additional checks may be required for particular programs.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, non-exempt, union position located onsite in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, with work hours from 2:30PM to 11PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lifelong is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competence, providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on legally protected characteristics.

Disclaimer

Job descriptions do not constitute employment contracts; Lifelong maintains at-will employment status. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as appropriate by supervisors.