JOB SUMMARY:

To provide outreach and case management services to veterans and their families through the Operation Military Assistance Program (OMAP), coordinating the provision of VA benefits and other public benefits, temporary financial assistance, and supportive services needed to enable clients to obtain and/or maintain housing stability.

• Maintain contact with established outreach sources and locations, including local veterans’ organizations, to identify potential program participants.

• Work with OMAP Peer Mentors and the Housing Specialists to access local, hard-to-reach homeless camps to identify and bring veterans into the program.

• Receive referrals of potential clients, screen applicants for eligibility, and determine and document program eligibility based on SSVF criteria for admission to OMAP (veteran status, family status, income status, and housing stability status).

• Recertify the eligibility of program participants on a periodic basis as required by SSVF regulations.

• Conduct assessments of the needs of eligible applicants, assist clients to set goals, develop together with client’s individualized housing stability plans, and monitor progress made on the plans.

• Work with regional, state, and local VA programs, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, VET centers, and Veterans Benefit Units, to coordinate the provision of VA benefits identified in the client’s housing stability plan.

• Work with state and local not-for-profit agencies and other community-based organizations to coordinate the provision of other public benefits and services identified in the client’s housing stability plan.

• Coordinate the provision of other supportive services and temporary financial assistance (including rental assistance, utility fee and deposit payment assistance, moving costs, emergency supplies, and transportation and child care assistance) identified in the client’s housing stability plan.

• Act as a client advocate to resolve emergency problems and assist clients in crisis situations.

• Maintain case records on all program participants in accordance with professional standards and enter client-specific information into the Homeless Management Information System as required by the VA.

QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of higher education. At least two years of experience working with veterans/families.

At least two years of experience working with very low-income individuals/families.

The ability to establish positive relationships with potential program participants and their families.

The ability to establish and maintain relationships with local collaborative partners outside the agency in a professional manner, with full use and practice of confidentiality of case material and Agency practice.

Knowledge of the resources available in the community to serve veterans and their families. The ability to work independently and to take directions.

The ability to express and communicate ideas and knowledge clearly with reasonable organization and conciseness.

The ability to organize one’s time and effort to meet assigned situations and work demands. The ability to recognize, understand, and control one’s biases.

PHYSICAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF POSITION

This position requires the ability to perform a broad range of activities. The position requires full range of motion, including manual and digital dexterity and hand-and-eye coordination. The position requires vision, speech and hearing capacity which is corrected to normal range, or special accommodations made which are sufficient for the completion of assigned tasks.

The position requires work while seated at a desk, including the use of a computer. The position requires the ability to lift 30 pounds. The position requires occasional work under stressful conditions and during irregular hours.

Outreach duties require extended periods of working outdoors. Must have the ability to stand and walk for extended periods.

The position requires the ability to drive and regular access to a reliable automobile.