Bilingual Case Manager

Description

Position: Bilingual Case Manager | Classification: Non-exempt | Reports To: Case Manager Supervisor| Salary Range: $56,000-58,000

MIRIAM’S KITCHEN MISSION

Miriam’s Kitchen works to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC. We advocate for permanent supportive housing as a long-term solution, while meeting short-term needs by providing healthy meals and high-quality social services to individuals who are chronically homeless.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Bridge Housing program is a new non-congregate bridge housing program expected to open in 2025. Bridge Housing’s primary goal is to help residents exit to permanent housing within 3-6 months. Bridge Housing will serve up to 190 residents at full capacity. Bridge Housing is open 24/7 and residents primarily stay in semi-private, dormitory style rooms. Bridge Housing will serve adults of all genders. Target populations will include individuals who are currently matched to a permanent housing resource and individuals who can’t be served well by existing low-barrier shelters. Residents need to be referred through city systems.

The Bilingual Case Manager at Miriam’s Kitchen’s E Street Bridge Housing Program plays a key role in supporting residents experiencing homelessness as they work toward permanent housing and improved well-being. Each Case Manager will maintain a caseload of approximately 25 residents and provide comprehensive, client-centered, and Housing First-aligned services, including housing navigation, recovery supports, benefit access, and other individualized care. Services will be guided by collaboratively developed case plans that center residents' strengths, goals, and the primary outcome of exiting to stable housing. The Case Manager is also responsible for timely and accurate documentation in accordance with contractual and agency standards. Our bilingual case manager will work with both English- and Spanish-speaking clients to support them in the Bridge Housing program.

This is an in-person, on-site position.

The position is Monday-Friday primarily during business hours, but there will be a rotating (weekly) ‘late day’ for each case management team member including supervisors (eg 11am-7pm or 12pm-8pm one day per week).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver client-centered, trauma-informed case management grounded in Housing First principles, with the goal of helping residents exit to permanent, stable housing.
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 25 residents, providing consistent, individualized support to meet their goals.
• Conduct intake and needs assessments using tools such as the VI-SPDAT, SPDAT, and benefit eligibility screenings per contract and agency guidelines.
• Develop and implement individualized case plans with residents, addressing goals related to housing, health, mental health, substance use recovery, income, and social supports.
• Provide regular case management engagements and follow-up to ensure case plan progress and effective coordination of services.
• Assist residents in gathering and securing required documentation, including IDs, income verification, and medical records, to support service enrollment and housing readiness.
• Complete timely, accurate documentation of all services, assessments, and client interactions in required databases and formats.
• Facilitate referrals and warm handoffs to both internal and external providers, including medical, behavioral health, legal, employment, and housing programs.
• Collaborate with any on-site and community partners to ensure continuity of care and wraparound support for residents.
• Monitor and respond to residents’ physical and mental health needs; provide crisis de-escalation and emergency response when necessary.
• Draft participant notices and other correspondence related to program expectations, policy violations, exits, or extensions, in alignment with contract requirements.
• Actively engage in multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences, and supervisions to ensure holistic, team-based service delivery.
• Attend all required training and development sessions as outlined by Miriam’s Kitchen and contract mandates.
• Contribute to program development efforts and new initiatives that enhance resident services and outcomes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Familiarity with the homeless services and housing landscape in Washington, DC.
• Knowledge, experience, and ability to connect with individuals experiencing mental health issues and/or substance abuse.
• Proficiency in Spanish is required.
• Ability to supervise and train employees and foster a cooperative work environment.
• Strong interest in and commitment to ending chronic homelessness in DC.
• Strong communication skills and sense of boundaries.
• Flexibility, openness, and comfort working in a fast-paced environment with a diverse population of clients with a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Able to lift and/or carry up to 20 lbs.
• Comfortable operating computers, inputting information into a database, and documenting case notes.

Requirements

Experience and Education

• At least 1 year of experience working in services for homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and/or case management for vulnerable populations.
• A minimum of an Associate’s degree or two years of college. In lieu of the education requirement, the case manager may have a minimum two years of experience with homeless services programs or provision of social services. Both Associate’s degree/college and work experience will be waived if an individual has received a Peer Case Management Certification through DHS’s Peer Case Management Institute.
• Specialized experience, certification, or training in relevant fields will be strongly preferred (eg mental health, substance use, SOAR, etc).

PHYSICAL/COMMUNICATION/TIME AND LOCATION DEMANDS:

Physical Demands - Regularly required to sit; Regularly required to stand and walk in program areas during program service times to engage guests; frequently required to talk or hear; occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch; must be able to lift objects up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Communication Requirements - Ability to communicate (written and spoken) effectively in English AND Spanish is required.

Time and Location Demands – This is an in-person, on-site position. The position is Monday-Friday primarily during business hours, but there will be a rotating (weekly) ‘late day’ for each case management team member including supervisors (eg 11am-7pm or 12pm-8pm one day per week).

Travel Demands - This position occasionally requires local travel between Miriam's Kitchen and partner sites. Where the need arises for business travel, appropriate compensation will be provided.

Benefits

Miriam’s Kitchen is proud to offer comprehensive benefits that support the continued health and wellbeing of our team including: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous medical coverage for dependents; 100% employer-paid short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance; employer retirement contributions; generous annual paid leave, and annual professional development funds for all full and part-time team members.

WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE DC RESIDENTS TO APPLY

EOE STATEMENT

Miriam’s Kitchen values diversity in thought and experience and is committed to assembling a diverse workplace. People of color, people with lived experience in the issues MK works on, veterans, and LGBTQIA persons are strongly encouraged to apply.