Housing & Community Services Manager

Job Summary:

Cathedral Center’s Housing and Community Services program is structured to assist women and families with children to avoid literal homelessness and resolve housing crises as quickly as possible. The Program Manager is focused on two primary components of service:

1. Establish relationships with property owners and property management companies, supporting them as partners while ensuring the effective and compassionate provision of services to women and families experiencing homelessness or housing crisis in our community. This position will be responsible for cultivating relationships with area property owners and managers in order to increase housing options for clients served through CCI programs. CCI will focus on property owners of all means and sizes and build partnership with Milwaukee’s Continuum of Care and broader provider community.
2. Oversee the hiring and supervision of our Community Case Management team, ensuring they are trained and supported to provide effective and comprehensive assessments, utilizing a strength based and Flexible Housing approach. Case managers establish clear and realistic plans for independence, assisting women and families with referrals, support and follow through to ensure success. This is a relationships focused position and will ensure necessary reports are completed, while also assuming a leadership role in collaborative community services.

All staff and volunteers at Cathedral Center are expected to communicate professionally and respectfully with vendors, guests, partners, donors, and co-workers. This position is primarily first shift hours but may be required outside of first shift for staff meetings and trainings. Specific schedules (such as on-call calendars) are determined by the program directors.

Specific Job Duties: Cathedral Center seeks a mission driven program leader, ideally with experience in serving individuals facing homelessness and housing crises.

1. Property owner/manager relationships:

• Recruit and approve property owners interested in partnering with CCI to provide stable housing opportunities for housing insecure unaccompanied women and families with children.
• Work collaboratively, effectively, and professionally with Cathedral Center’s partner agencies, always representing the Cathedral Center and all partner agencies in a professional and dignified manner.
• Collaborate with team to ensure a broad list of rental options for clients of various incomes.
• Negotiate with vendors and property owners/managers.
• Problem solving with property owners to ensure timeliness of cleaning and repairs to move in new tenants, as well as support for clients we refer as needed.

1. Case management oversight:

• Provide selection, training, and support/supervision  of (2) Community Case Managers.
• Provide leadership during weekly staff meetings and client reviews, representing the Community Case Management team.
• Supervise the effective provision of comprehensive assessments, case planning, and follow up services to women and families experiencing housing crises and homelessness, in a compassionate and dignified manner.
• Maintain accurate, confidential, professional, and up-to-date documentation of all supervisory and client-oriented services, including HMIS leadership and data collection.
• Ensure smooth service flow, taking initiative to fill gaps when needed.
• Supervise and support Volunteers as appropriate.

1. Management and Administrative duties:

• Actively participate in community meetings and consortiums relative to services provided, federal and local plans to end homelessness and the homeless provider network.
• Work closely with agency program and management leadership to ensure strategic and effective program development, assessment of services and development of policies and procedures.
• Lead program development through collaboration with program leadership, thoughtful client and partner input and research into effective strategies.
• Join program leadership in development and facilitation of staff orientations and continuous improvement.
• Maintain budget expectations of the program.
• Assist with program evaluation, reporting and planning.
• Oversee the effective and accurate collection of data and outcomes, facilitating timely and effective reporting to the program team and fund sources.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Program & Services and/or Executive Director

Skills and Qualifications:

Required:

1. Bachelor degree in social services or related field
2. At least 2 years of supervisory experience
3. At least 2 years of direct client service/case management experience.
4. Access to a reliable, insured vehicle
5. Must be able to communicate effectively and professionally via written word, phone, email and in person.
6. Attention to detail and ability to work effectively with the public as well as diverse, vulnerable populations in a respectful and dignified manner are critical qualities.

The ideal candidate will have earned a master’s degree in social services or related field, as well as possess working knowledge of property management. Someone who remains confident and level-headed in times of crisis and is an effective, unsupervised multi-tasker is ideal for this position. Background in mental health services and trauma-informed care practices and/or education preferred. Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) a plus.

This position is open to all qualified internal and external candidates. Candidates must be able to sit, stand, stoop, and walk for extended periods of time and be able to lift thirty pounds. All staff at the Cathedral Center are expected to work effectively both independently and in a team environment and to become familiar with and utilize a trauma-informed approach.

Benefits: 8 paid holidays, paid sick/vacation/personal time, health/dental/vision, LTD/LIFE, retirement, EAP and tuition reimbursement.