Journey Case Manager

Work with families in crisis to rapidly obtain rental assistance and stabilize housing. Job Summary

The Journey Home Case Manager supports families of two programs, Rapid Rehousing and Keep King County Housed (KKCH), who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability who reside throughout the Seattle and King County area. This position is part of a team that works with families in crisis to rapidly obtain rental assistance and stabilize housing. The JH Case Manager provides housing‑focused supportive services to participants facing a wide variety of challenges, including history of trauma, poverty, domestic violence, justice system involvement, child custody issues, mental health challenges, and substance use.

Most of the time is spent out of the office, working with participants and connecting with landlords to collect documentation, support with housing placement or rental assistance application processing, housing search, goal planning and budgeting, providing advocacy, information and referrals to services with the goal to help families exit homelessness and establish and maintain a permanent home. Maintain a caseload of at least 10 families for Rapid Rehousing Program and process rental assistance referrals from KKCH.

50% Case Management: Provide consistent, intensive, community and home‑based case management, referral processing and follow‑up assistance to homeless families in King County who are addressing a variety of issues and barriers to obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Support families in advocating for their needs and accessing services and resources, such as employment programs, mental and physical healthcare, parenting supports, immigration, furniture, domestic violence advocacy, childcare, and legal aid.

Assist participants in applying for public benefits, partner with Benefits Legal Assistance to mitigate legal issues if needed. Act as a liaison between participant families and community agencies involved with their case and maintain ongoing communication with other providers as needed. Travel throughout King County and occasionally adjacent counties to meet with participants where they are residing;
Provide regular home and community based individualized support to families before and after they are permanently housed, utilizing a harm reduction, trauma‑informed, whole person approach to care. Utilize crisis intervention and de‑escalation techniques as needed to support safety and stability. Conduct financial coaching sessions with participants focused on helping them to create and follow a realistic budget, build a plan to increase and maintain income, and leverage resources to minimize financial burdens, including linkage to programs focused on credit repair, debt reduction and employment search support.

10%

Collaboration:

Partner with Landlord Engagement Specialist to obtain eligible documentation for rental assistance along with housing search, secure, and maintain permanent housing for families. Conduct strengths‑based assessment of housing placement barriers and work in partnership with participants to develop plans for obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Provide guidance, assistance with the application process, direct housing linkages, and landlord advocacy throughout the housing search process in collaboration with participants and the Landlord Engagement Specialist.

Negotiate with creditors of past rental housing debt, on behalf of participants, to lower the amount due or set up a payment plan. Refer and partner with debt‑focused legal services. Assist participants in requesting legal Orders of Limited Dissemination when necessary. Collaborate with Tenant Services to support clients on understanding local, state, and federal housing law along with getting guidance to mediate tenancy and lease compliance issues as they arise with participants’ landlords.

Partner with Landlord Engagement Specialist and landlords to ensure a positive working relationship and stable tenancy for program participants. Proactively plan for program graduation with participants to prepare for successful program exit.

15%…