About Us: Volunteers of America (VOA) is a national, faith-based nonprofit organization founded over 125 years ago. VOA Illinois is one of the oldest affiliates of the VOA family delivering strength-based, trauma-informed, gender-responsive and culturally sensitive programs and services at the highest standards of excellence to our clients. We have never stopped reinventing our services and we continue to innovate based on our communities’ evolving needs. VOA Illinois, a certified “Great Place to Work,” fosters an organizational culture focused on faith, innovation and collaboration. Year after year VOA Illinois expands and promotes from within, holding a workforce with over 50% having experienced promotion. Check out our careers page to find more opportunities at PAYCOMONLINE.NET.

Program Overview:

VOA Illinois' Rapid Rehousing Program provides short term rental assistance and services. The goals are to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self-sufficiency, and stay housed. It is offered without preconditions such as employment, income, absence of criminal record or sobriety, and the resources and services provided are typically tailored to the needs of the participant.

Referrals are generated by All Chicago staff through Accelerated Moving Events (AME) in shelters throughout the city and targets:

• Single Men (18 and older)
• Single Women (18 and older)
• Families (with or without children)
• Sheltered and Unsheltered

Services provided are:

• Case Management
• Lease Review
• Assist clients with obtaining income (expecting them to contribute as early as the 3rd month.)
• Wrap- around services
• Substance abuse referrals
• Housing pathways
• Financial support with rent/utilities
• Promote Financial accountability

Summary of Position:The Rapid Rehousing Client Service and Support Coordinator is responsible for providing strength-based, client-centered, relationship-driven, and family-focused services and interventions to individuals or families served by VOA Illinois. Duties for this position; providing intense case management, which includes; intake and assessment with new residents, collaborative development of individual service plans with residents, crisis intervention and linkages to resources/referrals. Additionally, he/she will work to assist residents in goal attainment, including but not limited to: maintaining their housing, obtaining and maintaining sustainable income, and achieving health and wellness goals with the objective of residents being prepared to take on full responsibility for market-based rent and leases within a 12-month period. Development of contacts with service providers and agencies for resident referrals, educating clients on available services, and monitoring the provision of services by VOA Illinois is also expected.

Position Type: This position is typically nonexempt and reports to the Rapid Rehousing Manager.

Base Salary Range: $44,000-$48,000 (commensurate to degree and relevant experience)

Environment:Physical demands include sedentary work, operating a computer and other office productivity machinery with frequent communication with clients and colleagues of VOA Illinois and others involved in the care and custody of clients. The individual hired must be able to move, traverse and travel in the community in a vehicle, assist clients in and out of a vehicle if necessary and transport clients in the community.

Core Competencies: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to meet or exceed the following;

• Drive engagement and communication with clients that embodies empathy, patience and emotional intelligence.
• Advocate for clients using active listening to determine resources and meet various needs.
• Collaborate with VOA Illinois colleagues, outside organizations or vendors, etc. to connect clients and obtain necessary resources.
• Display discipline in managing time and attention to assigned caseload, tasks or projects.
• Exercise prudent stewardship of agency resources.
• Exhibit cultural competence while serving clients of diverse backgrounds and commit to expanding knowledge and understanding of different communities and people groups.
• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior at all times.
• Engage with trauma-informed care approach and practice principles.
• Recognize and display ability to de-escalate and resolve conflict as necessary.

Essential Functions: To perform this job successfully, an individual must perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The functions listed below represent the position's knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Provides general case management, (i.e. evaluation of social, psychological and physical needs, and the development of a service plan) for a client when such service is not being provided by the general service community.
• Meets with program participants to provide support, monitor progress on the service plan and assist clients as advocates for benefits, housing needs (including evictions), landlord negotiations and access to community resources. This includes public benefits such as SNAP, SOAR, or employment readiness programs.
• Acts as a liaison between community agencies, service providers, and clients.
• Delivers services with sensitivity to the clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Uses the least intrusive intervention necessary to alleviate a problem situation.
• Performs crisis prevention and interventions as needed using Harm Reduction & Trauma informed philosophies. Documents in case notes and reports to agency supervisor critical client issues to maximize retention
• Utilize a strength-based, trauma informed approach to empower participants through employment training and financial stability while developing and/or strengthen their goal plan according to individual goals and objectives
• Facilitates and monitors the delivery of services to clients to ensure they are appropriate, timely, and satisfactory.
• Educates clients on service availability, application procedures, client rights, etc., both individually and as a group.
• Advocates and may negotiate on behalf of clients for adequate, timely, and cost effective provision of services.
• Meets with service providers as needed and appropriate.
• Pursues avenues for additional services through private local, state, and federal sources.
• Documents contact with clients, providers, and families.
• Uses databases such as EchoVantage and HMIS for data entry.
• Represents the agency's interests, the program, and the program participants in all networking and public relations opportunities.
• Accepts responsibility for appraisal of own work and own professional development.
• Delivers services with sensitivity to the clients' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Upholds the mission and values of the agency and serves as a role model to others.

Other Duties: As assigned by supervisor.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Business Management, or other related industries.
• Minimum of 2 years of direct work in the areas of employment, case management and working with homeless populations.
• Basic understanding of the Trauma-Informed Care and Harm-Reduction service approaches.
• Demonstrated ability in communication, collaboration, conflict resolution human services working with highly vulnerable clients.
• Excellent interpersonal, critical thinking, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Must have a valid driver’s license as the job requires significant travel in the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Experience and demonstrated proficiency/success in leveraging and working with community resources.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, with especially spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools.

Compensation and Benefits: Base Salary Range: $44,000 - $48,000 (commensurate with education and experience).

• BCBS IL Medical Dental, Vision
• 403b/403b Matching
• Paid-Time Off
• Life Insurance
• PSLF
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Referral program
• AFLAC Supplemental Insurance options

EEOC Statement

VOA Illinois understands that it takes diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective to create a truly impactful organization and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents and veterans to apply. Candidates interested in working with VOA Illinois should feel motivated to apply even if they do not match every requirement, as we understand the value of transferrable skills and passion for service.

VOA Illinois provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state, federal or local law. Reasonable accommodations provided to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities upon request.