Case Aide - Benefits Coordinator

The Case Aide will work with clients in the daytime Support Center, providing basic needs services and supporting the work of case management staff. Specific duties include working with participants to help them access self-sufficiency resources and facilitating their access to necessities such as clothing, personal care items and haircut vouchers. The Case Aide is responsible for maintaining and tracking individual case management logs, orienting new participants to Support Center services, and entering demographic information into appropriate client databases.

Service Activities

Administrative/Data entry:
• Greet Support Center clients at reception desk.
• Enforce Support Center expectations and ensure the safety and security of the Support Center and clients.
• Assure the Support Center entrance ramp, steps and sidewalks are clear in inclement weather.
• Sorting donations for the Support Center.
• Answer multi-line phones and pre-screening callers for services and referrals.
• Maintain tracking logs (sign-in, clothing and haircut vouchers), enter client registrations and service information into HMIS client database.
• Perform routine administrative and maintenance tasks per daily, weekly and monthly checklists.
• Accept, sort and maintain inventory of Support Center donations and supplies.

Supportive and basic service delivery:
• Pre-screen clients seeking admission to the Support Center (i.e. homeless eligibility) and provide an orientation to the Support Center.
• Assist clients with accessing basic supportive services.
• clients in obtaining ID including Social Security Cards, Driver Licenses, State ID’s, and Birth Certificates.
• Maintain a current, up-to-date knowledge of internal Housing Forward programs and external resources that apply to the community served.
• Assist in on-the-job training and supervision of Support Center volunteers
• Offsite and community travel may be required for training, outreach, and/or research

Benefits Coordination
• Assist clients for signing of for SNAP (food stamp) benefits through IDHS on-line system.
• Assist eligible clients in obtaining general assistance benefits through respective townships (as demonstrated through their last permanent residency, or documented shelter night in Oak Park shelters for OP GA assistance).
• Assist eligible case management staff as needed to assist clients in applying for and obtaining entitlements including but not limited to Medicaid (see Nurse Case Mgr), Social Security (SSI and SSDI), Unemployment and Veterans benefits.

Other duties:
• Report any safety or client problems to the Support Center staff.
• Reinforce Support Center rules.
• Attend training and in-services approved by the Supportive Services Manager.
• Enter hours on bi-weekly time sheet and submit to AmeriCorps and Supportive Services Manager in a timely manner.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with clients at all times.
• Maintain client confidentiality and treat clients with dignity and respect.
• Flexibility to perform other duties and assist other departments as needed.
• Enter hours into Paylocity and submit to Supportive Services Manager in a timely manner.

Community Need Addressed

Housing Forward and our service partners support an area in west Cook County, IL – 28 communities - and the west side of Chicago with a total population of approximately 400,000. In 2013, the Heartland Alliance's Social IMPACT Research Center reported that there now are as many individuals living in poverty in the suburbs as in the city of Chicago. The Illinois State Board of Education reported a 47.9% increase in the number of schoolchildren reported as homeless in west Cook County between the 2010/2011 and 2012/2013 school years. The suburbs' growing low-income population typically has even less access to jobs, transportation and services than those experiencing poverty in the city.

Housing Forward, in collaboration with 17 partner agencies , is accommodating the changing geography of poverty and homelessness with a powerful social services infrastructure that encompasses sustainable housing, acquisition of earned and entitlement income, education and skills training, and access to health & wellness services. The Case Aide position directly contributes to the provision of these essential services.

Position Outcomes

The Case Aide will work with clients in the daytime Support Center, providing basic needs services and supporting the work of case management staff. Specific duties include working with participants to help them access self-sufficiency resources and facilitating their access to necessities such as clothing, personal care items and haircut vouchers. The Case Aide is responsible for maintaining and tracking individual case management logs, orienting new participants to Support Center services, and entering demographic information into appropriate client databases. The desired result of these activities is clients who are transitioned from housing crisis to housing stability.

Benefits

Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Training

Education Benefits

College Degree

Skills you will gain

Time Management, counseling, project management, crisis prevention intervention

Competencies You Will Develop

• Activity Types Hands On Activities, Office Activities, Professional Activities
• Focus Areas Community & Nonprofit Development, Homelessness & Housing
• Length of Service 11 Months
• Education Requirements GED
• Placement Individual and Team Placements
• Service Setting Community-based Nonprofit, Homeless Shelter, Soup Kitchen, or Food Bank
• Weekly Training Hours 2