Eviction Prevention Caseworker- Stable Families Program

Description

Since 1990, New Reach has been a dedicated leader in providing shelter, housing, stabilization, and support for children, families, and individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness in the Greater New Haven and Fairfield County areas. We believe in empowering those affected by homelessness and poverty to achieve lasting independence.

At New Reach, you will be part of a compassionate, innovative, and inclusive team that uses the most progressive approaches to inspire independence. You’ll play a key role in a transformative movement to end homelessness and food insecurity through prevention, support, and housing solutions that create long-term stability for those we serve.

Schedule:

Monday - Friday, 35 hours per week, including a 30-minute paid lunch.

• Medical, vision, and dental
• 401(k) Retirement plan
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• (12) Paid Holidays (1) Floating Holiday
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability

Join us and be part of a team that is charting a new path toward a world with fewer evictions, more stability, and lasting independence for all.

In partnership with community residents and stakeholders, New Reach provides housing stabilization support to households at risk of eviction and homelessness in Bridgeport, CT. Households prioritized for services include low-income families with children residing in Bridgeport’s public housing or other housing subsidized by Bridgeport Housing Authority. The eviction prevention caseworker acts as the first point of contact to provide support and advocacy, housing counseling, and community linkages with the goal of housing stabilization.

Other populations or housing support services may be assigned as secondary purposes when needed.

• Accept referrals from local and regional sources including but not limited to community residents, 211, housing authorities, landlords, legal aid entities, nonprofit organizations, and other community stakeholders.
• Initiate contact with referred households to describe program services, assess program eligibility, complete program intakes, and begin an assessment of services needed to support housing stabilization.
• Co-create person-centered goal plans with clients and other parties involved in services.
• Provide intensive home and community-based case management services to address unmet housing and health needs through direct support, coaching, mentoring, crisis intervention, life skills training, advocacy, and linkages to community resources.
• Engage with property managers/owners to provide information on service components, advocate for housing rights, and mediate housing concerns effectively.
• Assist clients with stabilizing housing, including landlord/tenant mediation, linkage to housing court legal representation, affordable housing search, tenancy skill building and responsibilities, fiscal preparedness for independent rent payment, and housing maintenance.
• Assist clients with identifying unaddressed needs and encourage an array of integrated support/services related to benefits, employment and income, education, housing, medical conditions, mental health, substance use, family and/or community-based support, and access to mainstream services. Refer and facilitate engagement in appropriate services to meet the household’s needs.
• Work collaboratively and maintain positive, professional communication with program partners including client’s household members and natural support networks, property owners/managers, housing authorities, legal entities, mediation services, diversion services, and community providers to support housing retention and stability.
• Utilize the statewide HMIS database, Google Sheets, and Smartsheet to document HUD assessments, case notes, services, financial requests, and client outcomes in compliance with standards and expectations.
• Maintain on-going client files, including assessments, housing stabilization goal plans, referrals, financial assistance requests, correspondence, and case notes.
• Participate in internal, local, regional, and statewide meetings and community outreach events as…