CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Agate Housing and Services is an innovative and collaborative nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. We progress toward this goal by providing emergency services, shelter, and housing programs for individuals and families. We meet people experiencing homelessness where they are and accompany them on their journey to safe, stable housing and a healthier life. We believe that housing is a basic human right.

Agate Housing and Services values are:

Integrity: Consistently doing the right thing even if it isn't the popular thing.

Equity: Fighting the status quo by actively examining and changing the way things are done to better represent the people who are most impacted by homelessness and hunger.

Humanity: Understanding how these issues impact us- the community, our staff, and the people we work with- as a collective and developing relationships by establishing trust when we put in work to understand the needs of people experiencing homelessness and hunger.

POSITION DESCRIPTION & OVERVIEW

Position Overview:

Agate's Housing Programs Department serves households who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Hennepin County. Our programs include Prevention, Coordinated Entry Assessments, Rapid Rehousing, and Long-term Supportive Housing for households with children and adults without children. By offering a variety of programs, we hope to be able to provide the level of service each household needs to be successful. The goal in all our housing programs is to end homelessness by assisting households in stabilizing their housing and achieving self-sufficiency.  

The primary objective of the Rapid ReHousing Case Manager is to move families from shelter or other settings qualifying as "literally homeless," into permanent housing as quickly as possible and to provide case management services to ensure they remain stably housed after exiting homelessness. 

The Rapid ReHousing Case Manager is primarily responsible for working with families experiencing homelessness who are referred through Hennepin County's Coordinated Entry System. This involves intensive housing search assistance, and stabilization case management services in the home once housing has been secured. Rapid ReHousing clients are eligible to receive case management services for six to nine months after moving into housing. In addition, this case management role will maintain regular contact with landlords working with our program, cultivate relationships with new landlords, and assist with housing search for program participants. 

Position Responsibilities:

• Work with families experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County to assist them with transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. 

• Search for housing and negotiate with landlords on behalf of participants. 

• Provide structured case management services for families with a focus on housing stability through regular home visits once housing has been secured. 

• Support families in addressing barriers to housing stability, with a focus on increasing income. 

• Connect families to mainstream resources that continue after the termination of our services.  

• Build relationships with landlords to help participants find and maintain housing.

• Mediate landlord-tenant issues. 

• Educate participants about tenant responsibilities and rights, financial management, and affordable housing opportunities. 

• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other agency staff and Hennepin County shelter staff to meet the participants' needs. 

• Manage multiple sources of funds to assist participants, maintain accurate records of expenditures. 

• Complete accurate case notes, data collection, and documentation for assigned clients in a timely manner. 

• Must be able to attend home visits and apartment showings with clients, including units that may only be accessible by climbing stairs. 

• Performs all other duties as assigned. 

Position consists of approximately 50% direct client contact, and 50% indirect client-related work (i.e. documentation, communicating with collateral partners, preparing for client meetings, attending trainings and community events).  

Required Qualifications:

• Must have valid Driver's License and pass a DHS Net Study 2.0 background check and a driving record background check.  

In addition, successful applicants will embrace the following perspective, skills and abilities: 

• Commitment to Agate Housing and Services' values and mission of ending homelessness and relieving hunger through action and advocacy. 

• Commitment to working towards an anti-racist culture both within Agate Housing and Services and the broader community. 

• Hold the belief that every household can achieve housing stability. 

• Commitment to harm reduction and housing first philosophies. 

• Work respectfully with participants, coworkers, and key stakeholders who are diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and religion. 

• Ability to establish rapport quickly with people experiencing a crisis through the use of trauma informed care, participant centered care, and strengths-based approaches. 

• Ability to meet expectations regarding paperwork and documentation through organizational skills, a strong attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently and accurately, competency and comfort using technology and computers. 

Experience that gives applicants the required skills, abilities, and perspectives listed above are commonly gained through one or more of the following: 

• Personal experience with homelessness,

• Experience working, interning, or volunteering with people experiencing homelessness,

• An Associates, Bachelor's, or Master's degree in a relevant field such as Social Work (with accompanying licensure), Human Services, or Family Studies. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• One year casework experience

• Two years' experience working with people experiencing homelessness

• Licensed Social Worker

• Fluency in languages used by our clients (Spanish, Amharic, Oromo, Somali, ASL) 

• Community resources relevant to our participant's needs

We encourage applicants with lived experience to apply. However, those that have received services from Agate Housing and Services within the last two years are ineligible for employment.  

This position requires use of your own personal vehicle and will require insurance liability coverage of at least one hundred thousand dollars per person and three hundred thousand dollars per occurrence and must have a valid Driver's License and pass a driving record background check.

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this role. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications required for the position. The organization reserves the right to modify, add, or remove job duties as business needs evolve.

This document does not constitute an employment contract and should not be interpreted as creating contractual obligations of any kind. Employment with Agate Housing and Services is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the employer may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable Minnesota state laws.