Manager, Northwest CT Coordinated Access Network

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Manager, Northwest Coordinated Access Network (NW CAN) will work as the support for activities to plan, facilitate, and document an efficient, effective and collaborative coordinated access system throughout the NW CAN. The Manager, NW CAN must maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with Northwest agencies and partner agencies of the CAN and must participate in Balance of State or other statewide meetings, as needed. Lastly, this position provides direct support to the partner agencies to support best outcomes and services for the people being served.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate housing solution meetings using the CAN approved process:
  • Facilitate the Housing Solution Meetings (i.e. managing invites, agendas, running meetings, etc)
  • Encourage active participation and attendance through engagement and to develop positive working relationships
  • Present an up-to-date centralized housing waitlist, known as the By-Name-List (BNL), at all housing meetings, and ensure updates are being made in a timely manner to both smartsheets and HMIS
  • Following CAN guidelines to ensure households are prioritized according to the established protocols.
• Coordinates CAN functions with staff from participating agencies
• Involvement in youth work to ensure coordination between the CAN and Youth/ Young Adult providers
• Maintains positive, collaborative relationships with Northwest CAN members and leadership, public and private partners, DOH, DMHAS, and Balance of State.
• Establishes protocols to track and analyze CAN performance and outcome data; creates reports and communicates.
• Maintains accurate recordkeeping in HMIS and smartsheets.
• Coordinate with other systems of care, including CCT, re-entry, substance use, mental health, and landlord engagement.
• Maintain an up-to-date housing inventory within Waterbury/ Litchfield.
• Keeps abreast and knowledgeable about issues and trends of homeless services and reports back to Waterbury/ Litchfield leadership team.
• Collaborate with CAN partners on data quality, as necessary.
• Submit homeless referrals to housing providers, subsidy holders, and case managers to fill vacancies in a timely manner, and provide required updates and documentation, when requested, immediately to prevent system backlog.
• Maintain data quality and ensure all updates are completed within 24 business hours in HMIS.
• Assist housing programs in improving their programmatic processes to expedite placement: troubleshoot and re-engineer programs that are failing to meet performance benchmarks and identify opportunities for efficiencies and performance improvement.

A successful applicant will have the following characteristics, skills and abilities:

Lived expertise in housing instability is valued. Experience in working with a diverse set of stakeholders is essential. Proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole is a plus.

• Highly motivated, creative problem solver
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly develop competency with, issues related to homelessness, effective intervention techniques, and basic understanding of mental health and substance abuse issues
• Project a professional demeanor and exercise mature judgment
• Knowledge of community resources
• Must be able to work effectively with populations that have experienced vulnerability, trauma, economic poverty, incarceration, substance use, developmental delays, compromised mental wellness, brain injuries, literacy and numeracy issues, and/or, other conditions or situations that have impacted housing stability.
• Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate and complete multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including telephone communication
• Ability to work independently and with a group, and maintain good working relationships with organizational staff and partners
• Driver’s license and daily use of a reliable and properly registered and insured motor vehicle
• Strong computer skills
• Must adhere to all professional standards and ethical practices, including creating and maintaining healthy boundaries and professional relationships with all people.

THE HOUSING COLLECTIVE

Opening Doors is an initiative of the Housing Collective, a nonprofit agency that applies a Collective Impact framework to deliver solutions to the region’s most pressing social problems. Focused on ending homelessness and creating housing opportunities for all community residents, the Housing Collective provides the leadership and backbone support that enables productive collaboration and drives systems change.