Housing and Benefits Coordinator

Description

We value an equitable and inclusive workplace and seek candidates with diverse backgrounds and abilities

Why work at Rocky Mountain Human Services?

You will have the opportunity to contribute to an organization that is dedicated to embracing the power of community to support individuals and families in creating their future.

RMHS provides great benefits such as:

• Employer paid medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous paid time off such as vacation, sick, personal, and holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement (full-time employees only)
• Mileage reimbursement
• 403(B) with company match
• Employee assistance program

Position Purpose

The Housing and Benefits Coordinator will aid the Rocky Mountain Human Services’ Community Transitions department with (A) outreach to and tracking of available housing and placement options throughout the state of Colorado, and disseminating this information to the department; and (B) tracking the status of benefits applications of clients as reported by the department’s Clinical Care Managers, outreach to organizations which facilitate/manage benefits and acquisition of benefits within the state of Colorado, use expertise to provide guidance to department staff or support directly with benefit eligibility screening, acquisition, denials, appeals, and maintenance. This position will not carry a caseload but may have contact with clients identified by Clinical Care Managers to support with benefits applications and processes.
 

Essential Duties  

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with local landlords, public housing providers local housing authorities, and agencies serving the homeless population in the state of Colorado.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with supportive living facilities (Assisted Care Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Host Homes, Group Homes, etc.) in the state of Colorado.
• Collaborate with RMHS Community Transitions management and Contract Specialist to identify and recruit additional housing options for RMHS Community Transitions clients.
• Develop and maintain a list of housing options and supports, including accurate contact information, availabilities, clientele served, and services provided.
• Develop knowledge of local housing laws and common practices and communicate that knowledge to Community Transitions staff.
• Coordinate with Clinical Care Manager to assist individuals to apply for appropriate housing vouchers when needed, and support them in locating, applying for, and attaining rental housing.
• Act as liaison with the Department of Housing to submit applications for state housing vouchers.
• Identify and report to supervisor any team activities and issues that influence the delivery of services under the contract.
• Complete all documentation as required according to contractual, organizational, and legal requirements.  
• Actively participate in supervision and case consultation.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with Case Management Agencies, Regional Accountable Entities, Social Security Administration, and other organizations to execute benefits coordination duties. Foster open communication with these organizations to share and obtain updates on client benefit application statuses and needed documentation/assessments to facilitate benefits acquisition.
• Assist Clinical Care Managers and, at times, clients, for obtaining and maintaining needed benefits including Social Security Disability Income / Social Security Income, Medicaid, Medicaid waivers, Medicare, SNAP, Rent Rebate, LEAP, other public benefits per client need.
• Assist with any transfer of benefits to other county/area.
• Establish and maintain a system to track status of benefits applications and related information for all indicated clients in the department.
• Serve as point of contact for contracted vendors who provide benefits acquisition services for cases with more complex needs.
• Educate department staff on the eligibility process for various benefits programs.
• Document all contacts according to industry, organization, and department standards.
• Participate in team meetings and functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of benefits system, including Medicaid, LTC Medicaid, SNAP, LEAP, CDHS's Disability Services, Employment Services, and Cash Assistances Programs.
• Excellent prioritization and organization skills; detail-oriented
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able convey complex information in a clear, concise fashion.
• Self-motivated and able to work well independently and collaborate well with others.
• Strong knowledge of housing resources and benefits organizations and processes in the state of Colorado
• Computer skills including use of electronic health record and Microsoft Office appliations and the ability to learn new tools as needed
• Maintain strict confidentiality and fulfill requirement of HIPAA and other relevant rules and regulations.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries and professional demeanor. 
• Understand and use a person-centered, culturally informed and trauma informed principles.

Essential Functions  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Actively communicate with RMHS staff, community agencies and partners, clients, caregivers, families, and stakeholders. 
• Works with clients, families and appropriate community agencies as necessary to facilitate services for staff, stakeholders or clients.
• Ability to meet/work with staff, stakeholders or clients in remote settings (phone, video conferencing platforms).
• Attends staff, team and department meetings.
• Attends in-services, staffing and other meetings with supervisor’s approval. May be appointed to committees.
• Participates in agency and community planning and education.
• Develops and maintains records, plans and reports.
• Lift and/or carry 20 lbs.
• Sit, stand and walk for reasonable periods of time.
• Maintains prompt and regular attendance.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Ability to drive personal or company vehicle

  Driving Category - Requirements

  Driving Category B:

  Employees who may drive RMHS or personal vehicles for business purposes. Category B employees may transport other employees but will not transport RMHS clients.

   

• Valid driver’s license
• Proof of motor vehicle insurance
• Personal vehicle in good operating condition for use during work, including transporting individuals
• No major violations in the past three years.
• No more than two moving violations in the past three years
• Ability to meet and maintain agency driving requirements and operate agency vehicles
• Drivers must upload proof of ongoing auto insurance every 6 months into Paycom/Relias.
• Any Accidents and/or damages while using a personal vehicle for work purposes shall be the sole responsibility of the employee. RMHS is not responsible for any damage incurred to the employee’s personal property.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications  

• Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field, including specific training in behavioral health disorders.
• 1 year of experience working with vulnerable populations, such as individuals with intellectual disabilities, individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, veterans, individuals with justice-involvement, etc.
• Prior experience working with housing/placements and benefits acquisition.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 year of experience using the SOAR process following completing the Colorado Fundamentals Training along with SOAR Online Training.

• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
  
  Physical Requirements

• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
  Never                    Occasionally                       X Constantly

• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
  Never                    X Occasionally                    Constantly
• Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds.
  Never                    X Occasionally                    Constantly
• Heavy work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more.
  X Never                Occasionally                       Constantly
• Operating motor vehicles or heavy equipment.
  Never                    X Occasionally                    Constantly
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
  Never                    X Occasionally                    Constantly

Salary : $41,241 - $46,472