Homeless System Entry Coordinator at New Opportunities, Inc.

Description

Full-Time, Non-Exempt Position

$25.00 per hour;40 hours per week

8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Basic Function

Coordinated Access Network (CAN) Assistant Coordinator (Youth and Housing) will coordinate services and engage providers for MMW Youth . Coordinator will coordinate with landlords and find housing options in Middlesex/ Meriden/ Wallingford area. Coordinator will provide client education on CAN process and encourage clients to utilize their Housing Stabilization Plans. Coordinator will collaborate with Middletown hub to coordinate services for clients and assist in housing location.

Responsibilities

• Update and maintain the shelter waitlist and ensure shelters are reporting shelter vacancies daily (by 9:30am). Communicate with emergency shelter staff to transition an unsheltered client into the vacant bed within 24 business hours.
• Ensure all self-reported unsheltered clients are referred to outreach..
• Respond to 2-1-1 emails same day and provide the necessary follow up to partner agencies. Report back to your supervisor any trends regarding agencies and system challenges.
• Review clients in Warming Center have entered into the CAN system, support navigators with due diligence, and the document ready process.
• Pull monthly HMIS CAN outcome reports that show ‘referred status’ and follow up with the appropriate agencies. This will be done the first week of every month.
• Facilitate regular communication with outreach workers
• Coordinate with the CAN Director to oversee the referral process to outreach and emergency shelter, troubleshoot challenges, and continually improve the referral process.
• Provide training and ongoing technical assistance to all navigators in the region on CAN processes, diversion techniques, and data collection standards.
• Other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

Education:

Bachelors Degree preferred

Experience

Two years’ experience working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness, preferably with lived experience. Lived experience refers to having first-hand experience with homelessness and is meant to differentiate from others who may have experience of working with households experiencing homelessness but have not personally lived through those challenges;

Familiarity of the CT Homelessness Management Information System (CT HMIS);

Previous experience working families and individuals experiencing homeless;

Knowledge of the various CT housing programs (i.e. Rapid Rehousing, Shelter Plus Care, Permanent Supportive Housing, Rental Assistance Program);

Experience in direct housing assistance services and building/managing relationships with community partners

Job Skills

Highly motivated, creative problem solver;

Knowledge of, or ability to quickly develop an understanding of street homelessness, effective intervention techniques, and mental health and substance use issues and interventions;

Ability to work effectively with populations that have experienced trauma, deep poverty, incarceration, substance use, developmental delays, compromised mental wellness, brain injuries, literacy and numeracy issues, and other conditions that negatively impact individuals;

Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

Strong computer skills, including Office suite, Google suite, Zoom, and Smartsheet;

Bilingual strongly preferred.

Licenses /Certifications

Driver’s license and daily use of a reliable and properly registered and insured motor vehicle.

EOE AA M/F/Vets/Disability

Benefits Include

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) with matching contributions
• Vacation Time
• Personal Time
• Sick Time
• Holiday Pay
  
  

New Opportunities' mission is to improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals by providing the necessary resources to increase their standard of living, foster self-improvement, and maximize self-empowerment.

New Opportunities Inc. is the community action agency that serves Waterbury, Meriden, Torrington and 27 surrounding Connecticut towns. We offer a variety of social service programs designed to eliminate poverty and assist people in need.

Headquartered in Waterbury and the cities fourth largest employer, New Opportunities has additional offices in Meriden, Torrington, Danbury and Thomaston for the convenience of those they serve. Annually, more than 61,000 individuals benefit from programs offered at this agency, guided by the New Opportunities staff who helped them find the way to meet their needs.

In accordance with the mission of New Opportunities, the Agency aims to increase the self-sufficiency of its customers and support their move out of poverty toward a more middle-class lifestyle.

In 1964, the Agency incorporated as a private non-profit corporation in the State of Connecticut and is a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization. With an annual budget for 2014 in excess of $41 million dollars, New Opportunities administers more than 50 social service programs targeted to the low-income, elderly and disabled communities.

While the range of programs is broad, they fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Energy Assistance
• Fatherhood Initiative
• Employment Education and Training
• Child Welfare and Family Development Services
• Early Childhood Education Programs
• Elderly Services
• Homeless Shelter and Transitional Housing
• Ex-Offender Programs and Re-entry Services