Supportive Housing Case Planner

Alternatives For Girls is looking to add two Case Planners to their Supportive Housing facility, Dr. Maya Angelou Village, team in Detroit, MI. 

Job Summary:

Using a Housing First approach, the Supportive Housing Case Planner for Dr. Maya Angelou Village (DMAV) will provide in-home, intensive case management and support services to residents living in subsidized units onsite. The individuals we serve face many challenges, including mental health, substance use disorders, and/or chronic medical conditions in addition to chronic homelessness. This position will work as part of a services team to provide support to the 45 households at DMAV.  

The Supportive Housing Case Planner supports AFG’s mission. The objective is to connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to permanent sustainable housing and supportive services with the goal of participants maintaining housing by addressing barriers and permanency. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide case management and mentoring services to program participants and their household to help them obtain and sustain permanent housing
• Maintain a caseload of 20-25 DMAV households 
• Conduct intakes, recertifications and new tenant orientation to ensure continued eligibility for the program
• Work with the Detroit Continuum of Care to fill vacant PSH units and assist participants through the housing process and continuing case management once housed at DMAV
• Provide assistance in obtaining and maintaining eligibility for MSHDA Project Based Vouchers (PBV) and MSHDA Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV).
• Identify and disseminate community resources to help serve the needs of DMAV residents; assist residents with accessing resources, including providing transportation to participant’s appointments
• Provide resources and supports that link participants to employment and educational opportunities
• Assist participants in accessing needed medical, mental health, substance use and psychosocial supportive services
• Help participants develop life skills necessary to sustain permanent housing, such as: obtaining employment, obtaining and maintaining governmental benefits programs, participation in educational opportunities, developing housekeeping skills, money management etc.
• Assist participants with conflict resolution among neighbors and with any landlord/tenant issues
• Design and lead recreational and social events, occasions, and trips
• Assist DMAV team in maintaining the on-site resident pantry & conducting pantry distribution 
• Educate participants on tenant’s rights and responsibilities
• Compile statistics that contribute to monthly, annual and ad hoc reports
• Ensure completion of required documentation, files, and data entry for all program activities
• Perform other duties, as assigned

Demonstrated Abilities: 

• Solid organizational and case management skills
• Ability to set priorities, take initiative and meet deadlines
• Good communication skills, diplomacy and tact
• Ability to work and effectively communicate in a team atmosphere 
• Interest and experience working with individuals who may be difficult to engage; experience with harm reduction and trauma-informed care
• Ability to work with diverse populations in a non-judgmental way
• Good decision-making, conflict-resolution and effective listening skills
• Ability to handle crisis, cope with job stress and maintain confidentiality
• This position will require being on a rotating on-call schedule with the employee having the flexibility to work evening/weekend hours as programmatic needs dictate. 

Requirements and Desired Skills/Knowledge 

• Requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, sociology, criminal justice or a related field and a minimum of 1-3 years of related experience
• Experience or lived experience working with youth (18-24 years of age) who are homeless, diagnosed with a mental illness and/or aging out of foster care is strongly preferred
• Trained in assertive engagement, motivational interviewing, harm reduction and trauma-informed care strongly preferred
• Experience or lived experience working with people who are homeless in a permanent supportive housing environment preferred
• Familiarity with the Detroit community and its social service resources is needed
• Requires basic computer software and internet skills
• Requires valid Michigan driver’s license, reliable transportation, good driving record and meet minimum Michigan insurance requirements

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, drive a vehicle with passengers, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems.