DVIPP Housing Case Advocate

DVIPP Housing Case Advocate

YWCA Greater Lafayette is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Our Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program provides direct support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking (DV/SA/HT) by offering crisis intervention, legal advocacy, safety planning, and resource coordination. The Housing Case Advocate plays a crucial role in empowering survivors by connecting them to essential services, with a specialized focus on rapidly securing safe and stable housing to prevent or end homelessness.

The Housing Case Advocate is responsible for providing comprehensive, survivor-centered advocacy to individuals impacted by DV/SA/HT, with a primary focus on housing-first, rapid rehousing services. This position involves case management, housing navigation, landlord engagement, and collaboration with community partners to ensure survivors receive the housing and support they need. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of trauma-informed care, experience working with marginalized populations, and the ability to work effectively in high-stress and crisis situations.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provide individualized, strengths-based rapid rehousing case management services to survivors, including safety planning, crisis intervention, and emotional support.
• Work collaboratively with clients to assess housing needs, identify potential barriers to housing stability, and develop personalized housing action plans.
• Assist survivors in locating and securing safe, affordable housing in the private rental market. This includes housing identification, application assistance, and move-in support.
• Engage and build positive relationships with local landlords and property managers, acting as a liaison between landlords and clients to mitigate tenancy issues.
• Administer and oversee client financial assistance, including security deposits, utility payments, and short-to-medium-term rental assistance, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.
• Facilitate housing inspections (e.g., habitability, lead-based paint) and negotiate leases in accordance with program standards.
• Provide trauma-informed referrals and connections to appropriate wraparound services, such as mental health support, legal aid, and financial empowerment resources.
• Maintain accurate case notes, client files, and service documentation in the DV Client Track or other required databases to ensure program accountability and compliance with funding requirements.
• Participate in 24/7 on-call rotations to provide emergency advocacy support as needed.
• Attend YWCA staff meetings, training sessions, and professional development opportunities, particularly those related to rapid rehousing, housing navigation, and trauma-informed practices.
• Provide crisis advocacy to rape or domestic abuse victims presenting to medical or law enforcement services.
• Advocate for residents and non-resident victims with legal, social services, education and medical organizations as needed.
• Participate in weekly staff meetings.
• Maintain client and program confidentiality.
• Maintain all necessary documentation and records.
• Represent organization in a professional manner at all required meetings and events.
• Be on call as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements and

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field or experience equivalent required.
• Obtain 10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) as needed.
• Knowledge of legal systems and laws relevant to domestic violence and victim rights.
• Ability to work independently on assigned responsibilities and manage stressful or crisis situations.
• Ability to multi-task and adjust priorities as needed.
• Knowledge of community resources and support organizations preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and ability to speak in public effectively.
• Familiarity with common computer software such as Word, Outlook and Excel.

Additional Requirements:

• To perform essential functions of this job, the employee is regularly required with or without reasonable accommodation to sit, stand, bend and reach with manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office machines such as computers, copiers, telephones and other office equipment. Valid driver's license required. May require lifting up to 40 pounds. Requires normal range of hearing and vision.