ABOUT US:
United Way is advancing the common good in Ventura County by providing help today in ways that strengthen tomorrow. United Way has the scope, expertise and influences to bring together human services agencies, government, businesses, private foundations and dedicated volunteers around a common vision of creating maximum impact and achieving long-lasting results. Why United Way? We all want to have the greatest possible impact on our community and the issues that we care about. Join the movement. At United Way, you unite your hopes and strengths with others to accomplish more than any of us can alone.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:
The mission of the United Way of Ventura County is: “To Mobilize and Inspire the Caring Power and Resources of our Community.” In keeping with this charge and in response to the shelter crisis in Ventura County, United Way of Ventura County launched a Homelessness Initiative to include a Landlord Engagement Program (LEP) to increase housing stock and utilize existing housing vouchers and housing subsidies provided by local jurisdictions and community partners in preventing and ending homelessness. Everyone needs a safe place to call home, yet that basic need is increasingly out of reach for many people in Ventura County. Limited affordable housing supply, extremely low vacancy rates, and prohibitive and rising rents, make home access for those with housing barriers exceedingly challenging. Advocating for these individuals and families includes recruiting, cultivating, retaining, and growing the number of landlords willing to help prevent and end homelessness.
POSITION SUMMARY:
This role supports clients through intake interviews, resource referrals, case management assistance, and community outreach. You will be responsible for working directly with the Housing Navigator and Case Management team to ensure clients’ needs are met while serving as an advocate. The job requires field work and regular engagement with community partners and clients in various locations. This is a grant-funded position and may only be temporary employment unless other grants can continue to support the position.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to:
Intake Duties:
- Conduct initial intake interviews with individuals and families seeking housing assistance to gather demographic, financial, housing, and household information.
- Explain program eligibility requirements, available services, program expectations, and client rights and responsibilities.
- Collect, verify, and organize required documentation (e.g., identification, income, housing, benefits).
- Complete intake forms and assessments, and determine program eligibility using case management criteria (e.g., HMIS and internal program guidelines) as part of rapid response services.
- Screen program eligibility and refer clients to appropriate services or resources as needed.
- Refer clients to appropriate internal programs and community resources when they are not eligible for a specific program or require additional assistance.
- Maintain organized client files and ensure all required documentation is obtained prior to program enrollment.
Enter and maintain client data in HMIS, Apricot, and other agency databases, ensuring accuracy and compliance with data quality standards.
Case Management Support Duties:
- Provide comprehensive case management services to households.
- Conduct assessments to identify housing barriers, strengths, and service needs, and develop individualized housing stability plans.
- Provide clients with referrals to community resources such as food banks, shelters, employment services, and healthcare providers.
- Conduct home visits and follow-up meetings as required by program guidelines.
- Document client progress notes and updates in case files.
- Monitor and track client participation and program compliance.
- Assist with crisis intervention and problem-solving when appropriate, escalating to case managers when necessary.
Housing Navigation & Outreach:
- Landlord outreach and engagement. Build and maintain relationships with property owners, managers, and housing partners.
- Assist with outreach to community organizations (e.g. Neighborhood Councils, Faith Based Organizations, Apartment Owners Associations, Non-profit Housing) to engage and educate the community and housing partners.
- Assist with lease-up process, as needed.
- Assist with follow-up to property owners after housing placement and continue communication with clients to ensure housing retention. Communicate with supervisor if the client has needs that you need assistance with including mental health emergency.
- Attend agency and community meetings, as directed.
- Coordinate housing and homelessness-related activities and communications with the County of Ventura, local organizations, and other homeless service providers.
- Additional tasks, projects, and responsibilities, as assigned.
- Due to the leadership role United Way is called upon to play in the community, particularly during times of crisis, it is the expectation that all United Way staff will be fully engaged in the organization's crisis plans and response efforts.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
High school diploma or equivalent (associate or bachelor's degree in social work, Human Services, or related field preferred).
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
- General knowledge and experience in Ventura County, the VA, and the local network of community-based health and human services organizations serving low-income homeless populations, or veteran families at risk of homelessness, is preferred.
- Proficiency required in MS Word, Excel and other related computer programs required, and research related software preferred.
- Commits to the organization-has the responsibility for aligning one’s own behavior, leadership and commitment with needs, priorities, goals, and culture of the UWVC.
- Embraces diversity and inclusion-creates an atmosphere that respects and embraces engagement of all people, ideas and backgrounds and aligns with United Way’s values.
- Seizes learning-able and willing to learn new skills and knowledge and accept new challenges to further United Way mission.
- Personifies teamwork-demonstrates good collaboration and communication to be effective in any team setting.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
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, talk or hear, taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perceptions, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Send Cover Letter, Resume, and list of three (3) references to:
United Way of Ventura County
702 County Square Drive, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003
[email protected]
