Company Overview
As a long-time leader in Connecticut, New Reach hopes to now chart a new path by fundamentally shifting how our community manages and responds to the homelessness and housing insecurity crises. With increased focus on preventing evictions and providing long-term stability for those who are establishing their independence, we believe a true systems change is possible. We imagine a world where the need for shelter is minimal because individuals and families are able to stay in their homes instead of being evicted and those who are struggling to make ends meet can get the help they need to maintain stability. We inspire lasting independence for all people affected by homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing and support using the most innovative, progressive, equitable, and inclusive methods.
Essential Functions
Provide ongoing support, counseling, case management, and advocacy to clients and their families with services primarily delivered in the clients home or a community-based setting. Manage an assigned caseload, ensuring person-centered strengths-based service delivery. Conduct program intakes, including initiating contact with referred households, explanation of services, and comprehensive assessments to address housing, health, and overall well-being.
Collaborate with referral sources, such as 211 Coordinated Access Network, community providers, to engage new clients. Develop and implement individualized service plans addressing housing benefits, employment, education, health, substance use, HIV care, and community supports. Provide direct support, coaching, crisis intervention, life skills training, and linkage to resources to promote long-term stability.
Assist clients with securing and maintaining housing, including housing search, landlord recruitment, lease-up assistance, tenancy education, and financial preparedness. Complete administrative tasks, such as housing inspections, income calculations, rental assistance submissions, and recertifications. Build and maintain relationships with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, legal entities, and community providers to support housing retention and mediate concerns.
Maintain timely, accurate, and confidential records in databases, HMIS, Google Sheets, Smartsheet, and hard files in compliance with confidentiality standards, including HIV/AIDS privacy requirements. Track and report on client progress, outcomes, and program performance. Participate in program development, quality assurance, supervision, and local, regional, and statewide meetings.
Represent the agency and advocate for clients within homeless services, mental health, substance use, and HIV/AIDS networks. Comply with mandated reporting requirements, including suspected child abuse or neglect. Provide occasional 24-hour on-call coverage as assigned. Attend training and community meetings to support professional growth and program objectives. Assist with special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Minimum BABS with two years related experience or Masters Degree in related field. • Bilingual/Bicultural preferred. • Experience with Motivational Interviewing is a plus. • Experience working with specific needs of a vulnerable population. • Strong advocacy skills. • Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. • High level of organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Ability and desire to work as part of a team, identify and support the mission of New Reach. • A commitment to the values of New Reach: Professionalism, Integrity, Compassion, and Initiative.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. • The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. • Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.