Empowerment Coach- Supportive Housing

Housing Empowerment Coach

SENDCAA is seeking a Housing Empowerment Coach to provide person-centered, housing-focused case management to individuals and families living in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) throughout Region 5 of North Dakota. The Housing Empowerment Coach helps individuals maintain housing, increase stability, connect with community resources, and work toward their personal goals. Services are provided through Medicaid Care Coordination, Housing Supports, and other supportive service programs.

This position works with individuals who may have experienced chronic or long-term homelessness and may face complex barriers related to mental health, substance use, physical health, disability, trauma, poverty, criminal-legal involvement, or limited social supports. SENDCAA uses a Housing First, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and progressive engagement approach.

The Housing Empowerment Coach builds trusting relationships and provides flexible, persistent support to help participants remain housed and successfully live in the community.

Support Housing Stability

• Help participants develop individualized housing stability plans.
• Support participants in understanding and meeting lease requirements and tenant responsibilities.
• Identify and address housing concerns before they result in eviction or loss of housing.
• Help participants resolve issues involving landlords, property management, neighbors, or other tenants.
• Assist with rent, utilities, lease concerns, and other housing-related needs.
• Conduct home visits and provide support in participants' homes and community settings.
• Help participants maintain a safe and healthy living environment.
• Respond to housing concerns using a problem-solving, Housing First approach.
• Advocate for participants when systems or circumstances create barriers to maintaining housing.

Provide Person-Centered Case Management

• Build trusting, respectful, and consistent relationships with participants.
• Complete assessments and develop individualized service plans based on participant goals, strengths, needs, and preferences.
• Use motivational interviewing, active listening, and trauma-informed approaches.
• Provide services based on the participant's needs and level of support.
• Help participants identify and work toward meaningful personal goals.
• Provide persistent engagement when participants have difficulty connecting with traditional services.
• Adjust services as participant needs and circumstances change.
• Coordinate services across multiple systems to provide consistent, comprehensive support.

Provide Whole-Person Support

• Help participants access and maintain benefits such as SSI/SSDI, Medicaid, SNAP, and other available resources.
• Connect participants with primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, recovery supports, and other healthcare services.
• Assist with transportation, food access, identification, budgeting, household needs, and other barriers to stability.
• Help participants develop natural supports and meaningful community connections.
• Connect participants with employment, education, and vocational opportunities when appropriate and desired.
• Support participants in developing independent living skills based on their individual goals.
• Provide warm handoffs to community resources rather than simply giving participants a list of phone numbers.
• Help participants navigate complex service systems and advocate for their needs.

Respond to Crises

• Recognize early warning signs of housing instability or behavioral health crises.
• Work with participants to develop crisis and safety plans when appropriate.
• Respond to crises calmly, respectfully, and using trauma-informed practices.
• Coordinate with behavioral health providers, healthcare providers, emergency services, shelters, hospitals, law enforcement, and other systems when necessary.
• Participate in team consultation and case conferencing for participants with complex or high needs.
• Follow organizational policies related to safety, mandated reporting, confidentiality, and emergency situations.

Collaborate with Other Providers

• Participate in shared case management and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Coordinate with SENDCAA programs and external agencies to provide holistic support.
• Build strong working relationships with landlords and housing providers.
• Coordinate with healthcare, behavioral health, substance use, employment, and other community providers.
• Build and strengthen community connections to help participants access culturally appropriate services.
• Participate in case conferencing for participants experiencing complex or persistent barriers.
• Obtain appropriate releases of information and maintain participant confidentiality.
• Promote coordinated, participant-centered services rather than fragmented care.

Complete Assessments and Documentation

• Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify barriers to housing stability, employment, services, and self-sufficiency.
• Develop and maintain individualized service plans.
• Document participant…