Organization Background:
Briarpatch Youth Services has an exciting job opportunity for a skilled professional. The agency is a dynamic non-profit community organization that has served Dane County since 1971. Briarpatch provides a broad array of services to more than 2,000 youth annually who have runaway, are experiencing homelessness, are justice involved, or facing other challenges.

Days/Hours:
This is a full-time 40 hours per week position. Work hours will vary depending on program need, with most required hours being in the afternoon and evening. A small amount of weekend time each month is required.

Starting pay $21.50 per hour - dependent on professional experience, bilingual abilities, and education level. Please note, this is a grant funded position running from date of hire through 12/31/2024.

Benefits:
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance (after 6 months of employment)
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Generous paid time off
• 401k Retirement Savings Plan (must meet eligibility requirements)

Position Summary:
The Housing Advocate (Case Manager) works to provide case management services for program participants in Madison/Dane County. Housing Advocates collaborate with other departments internal and external to Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program in assisting youth and young adults at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness with building skills, improving mental health and functional barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing, and strengthening community social service linkages necessary for the participants to fully integrate into the community, with the ultimate goal of supporting the young person to thrive socially, emotionally and physically!

Position Responsibilities and Essential Function
To perform this job successfully, individuals must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

Duties
➔ Meet with program participants in home/in community on a regular basis
➔ Provide support and resources to empower participants to reach goals related to housing, employment and other self-identified needs
➔ Facilitate referrals to and from community organizations
➔ Regularly evaluate progress on case goals
➔ Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on the client’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and/or maintain housing; serve as an ongoing liaison between property managers, neighbors, and participants
➔ Attend regular positive youth development, trauma informed care, supervision, case management meetings, and relevant trainings
➔ Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice
➔ Assess housing strengths and barriers of participants experiencing homelessness to determine housing and service needs, and provide support in assessed areas
➔ Provide information and referral assistance regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs
➔ Apply knowledge of residential lease contracts to educate clients of their rights and responsibilities.
➔ Attend regular meetings with other service providers to share information and resources
➔ Work with colleagues from other agencies on joint projects as approved by supervisor

Reporting
➔ Note all client interactions in client files in a timely manner
➔ Record all hours on Time and Activity report
➔ Maintain case notes of participant meetings and record participant services in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
➔ Ensure program compliance with client documentation/reporting standards with agency policy/procedures
➔ Ensure confidentiality of all client records and information
➔ Report monthly, quarterly and annual statistics to appropriate funding sources

Competencies
➔ Teamwork orientation, detail-oriented, time management, client focus, good oral and written communication, flexibility, organizational skills, strong professional boundaries, cultural awareness, Housing First, Trauma Informed Care and Harm Reduction philosophy, ability to network and build relationships with various social service agencies and/or community programs.
Experience Qualifications:
➔ Those with Lived Experience of homelessness prioritized.
➔ A Social Work or related degree and/or previous experience working with people experiencing homelessness required.
➔ Experience engaging with a diverse population
➔ Computer experience, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel)
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
➔ Driver’s License - Must have and maintain a valid state driver’s license, maintain automobile insurance coverage and have access to an automobile, Or have the ability to obtain and maintain reliable transportation. May be required to use a personal vehicle to transport clients.
➔ Spanish speakers strongly encouraged to apply

Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Travel:
Travel is primarily local

Physical Demand/Work Environment:
Physical Demands: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative to those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to use hand, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. The employee will also walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch and lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Vision requirements including close vision, distant vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus.

This position will also be in outside weather conditions, as well as, in a professional office environment. This role may use standard office equipment such as computers, phones and copier, filing cabinets.

This employee is exposed to a variety of conditions at client sites. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This position requires frequent exposure to outside weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.

AA/EEO Statement:
Briarpatch recognizes the value, potential, and contributions of the most marginalized people in society — as such we are an equal opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To reflect the clients we serve, we encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.