Street Outreach Position available through ADVOCAP

 ADVOCAP has an opening for a Street Outreach Position.  This position will also be involved in the City of Appleton Motel Voucher Program.  Please see details and job description here.

 Diversion and Prevention Case Manager

Job Announcement

Position Summary

From homelessness to coming home, Pillars provides shelter, support, and solutions to address the housing needs in our community. The Diversion and Prevention Case Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing and providing case management services to clients who are residing in a temporary residence. The goal of this program is to prevent client(s) from having to enter shelter by working with the individual or family to transition them from the place they are temporarily residing directly into another form of affordable, stable housing. This will require the Diversion and Prevention Case Manager to frequently provide services to the client outside of the traditional shelter setting.  The Diversion and Prevention Case Manager reports to the Supportive Services Director.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Has passion for the mission of Pillars and displays agency values: Respect, Collaboration, Empowerment and Grit.
•  Provide primary crisis problem solving and intervention. 
•  Builds and maintains a strong connection with all clients using a strength based, trauma informed approach.
•  Acts with a sense of urgency and requires ability to problem solve while displaying mental agility to quickly support clients in finding housing to avoid entry to shelters.
•  Completes thorough assessments to mutually establish goals for a client’s tenure.
•  Serves as an advocate for participants across systems when the need arises.
•  Refers clients to appropriate community resources and serves as a broker between resources.
•  Manages records, both paper and electronic, as well as grant documentation for those that are utilizing Pillars services.
• Manages participant’s funded accommodation and services, including the preparation of correspondence and statistical data.
•  Represents agency in community or in interagency activities and other community events.
•  Other duties as assigned.

 

Core Competencies

• Building Relationships – Demonstrates exceptional relationship-building ability with volunteers, clients and consumers, tenants, agency partners, donors and potential donors, board and committee members.
• Confidentiality – Ability to maintain confidential information and safeguard the security of information of Pillars and our clients. Keep private information from unauthorized individuals, either within Pillars or others outside the organization.
• Conflict Management – Reacts and responds to complaints, solves problems.  Helps consumers and staff come to agreement; deescalates charged situations.  Reacts quickly to assess the conflict and determine appropriate steps to resolve.  Remains calm and professional during high stress situations. 
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity – to those you are serving. Is mindful or conscious of similarities and differences between people from different groups. Is respectful and accepting of the differences and strives to understand them.
• Flexibility – Ability to flex schedule to occasionally respond to needs outside of normal working hours.
• Problem-Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.  Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.  Develops alternative solutions.  Works well in group problem-solving situation; remains calm when dealing with emotional topics. 
• Self-Management – Takes initiative to seek out what needs to be done; responsible for attaining goals and following guidelines/procedures with minimal supervision or direction; strong sense of accountability and pride in work.  Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing situations/expectations. 

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services related field or five or more years of relevant experience
• Minimum two years of relevant experience is preferred
• Relevant experience could include:

o   A strong understanding of barriers specific to persons experiencing homelessness

• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence

o   Experience working with people facing mental health struggles and/or challenges with addictions

o   Knowledge of community resources available to families who are low income and/or experiencing homelessness

• Experience with the Wisconsin Homeless Management Information System, ServicePoint

·       Ability to travel locally for home visits, with access to a reliable vehicle and possess a valid Wisconsin driver’s license and automobile license

 

 

Compensation

The compensation for this position is a $35,000 annual salary.  Benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, vacation, holidays, sick leave, short & long term disability, life insurance, 401k retirement account and an Employee Assistance Plan.

To Apply                           DEADLINE TO APPLY: March 17, 2021 BY 11:00 AM             

             

Send resume and cover letter to tmelzl@pillarsinc.org or mail:

 

Tracy Melzl, Human Resources Assistant, Pillars, Inc., 605 E Hancock Street, Appleton, WI 54911

 

 

Pillars is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to achieving a diverse workforce and to maintaining a community which welcomes and values a climate supporting equal opportunity and difference among its members. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.

Rent Smart Workshops - Spring 2021

 

Rent Smart Workshops taught by Outagamie County Extension Educator, MaryBeth Wohlrabe are as follows: 

Online Workshops

March 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 from 2:00-3:00 pm 

May 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 from 9:00-10:00 am  

(One module will be covered each session date). 

To register for either of these classes, click here.  Registration due the week prior to the first class. 

More information can be found on our website here, or our brochure here, or contacting MaryBeth Wohlrabe at marybeth.wohlrabe@wisc.edu

Course materials including a participant workbook will be sent prior to the first class via USPS mail (or other option) and an email with the zoom link to participate.


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Additionally, more online Rent Smart workshops are available and taught by Extension Educators throughout the state. Flyer can be viewed here. Those upcoming classes are: 

• March: 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26; 9-10 AM
• April: 5, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29; 1-2 PM
• May: 4, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27; 7-8 PM
  

To register for one of these three options, complete this online form: https://go.wisc.edu/Rentsmartregister

For more information about these specific workshops, please contact rentsmartwi@office365.wisc.edu or call 262-741-4951


Rent Smart provides practical education to help people looking for rental housing find, get, and keep suitable housing.
Completion of the course provides you with a certificate to show your commitment to being a good tenant.
Rent Smart workshops are FREE.

Crisis Relief Specialist positions available with ADVOCAP

 ADVOCAP is currently seeking part-time Crisis Relief Specialists for Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Green Lake Counties.  See here for more details.

Street Outreach Specialist position available with ADVOCAP

 ADVOCAP is currently seeking a full-time Street Outreach Specialist for
the Fox Cities area.  This position also includes working closely with
the City of Appleton's Motel Voucher program. Click here for
more details.

COVID-19 Vaccine

The Wisconsin State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC) released their recommendations for Vaccine Priority Group 1B for public comment this morning.  Following the recommendation from the ESF-6 team (Emergency Support Team, Region 6), the 4 CoCs leaders created the statement below that can be used by every homeless service provider (shelter, domestic violence provider, outreach, and housing) to provide comment.  A coordinated and strategic response demonstrating unity is key.  Unfortunately, the comment period ends at 4:00 pm on Monday, January 18^th.   So it is an incredibly quick turnaround.  The benefit of the prepared statement is that you can use it, add some personalization to it, and email it. This is one of those situations in which quantity matters.  If you review the recommendations, specifically in Appendix C, you will note that there is not overwhelming support to include emergency shelters or transitional housing programs in the prioritization.  Without your support, this important inclusion into the prioritization may not happen.  This is our one and only chance for this advocacy.  Please share this email far and wide!

 

You can review the recommendations here:  https://publicmeetings.wi.gov/view/2bd5e0b3-bf79-42dc-bae1-9de875c9addb/1/vaccine

 

Comments must be sent to:  DHSSDMAC@dhs.wisconsin.gov

 

Below is a template statement that you can use for submitting public comment. All you have to do is copy in the information between the *** lines into a blank email and replace the area that is highlighted YELLOW.   I did identify an area in the middle where you can delete and add a few sentences to personalize the message.  When personalizing, I would recommend focusing on the impact the pandemic has had on homelessness in your community, use specific examples, and include the impact on organizational operation and staff.

 

After you send your email to the SDMAC group, you can also send the same email to your elected officials in the Assembly and Senate!  To find those folks, please visit:  https://legis.wisconsin.gov/

 

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Hello members of the WI State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee,

 

Thank you so much for your work on ensuring the vaccine rollout is efficient and equitable. It is incredibly important and necessary that the Phase 1B recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine include congregate living facilities for both staff and residents. 

 

Prioritization for this critical population is imperative for the following reasons: 

• People experiencing homelessness have a disproportionately high rate of chronic health conditions that put people at higher risk of severe COVID disease. This population frequently has little access to consistent quality health care which may result in being excluded unless specifically prioritized. 
• People who have exhausted all other resources and are staying in a shelter do not have a way to mitigate their COVID risk. They cannot avoid the interaction with other people and reliance on the organization to help meet basic needs and provide a safe place to be. Emergency shelters, including domestic violence shelters, use shared living spaces and have limited opportunities to meet the social distancing requirements. 
• The homeless population is disproportionately people of color, who we know are also at greater risk of severe COVID disease.  In Wisconsin, it was estimated that 6.7% of Wisconsin’s population was Black in 2009. In November 2020, 43% of the population experiencing homelessness was Black.
• Currently in the homeless service system, an enormous amount of funding, time, and resources have been focused directly on COVID-19 prevention, screening, education, and mitigating the spread of the disease. Once the shelter system and residents have access to the vaccine, staff time and resources can be redirected to obtaining and securing permanent housing.
• We are seeing and will continue to see an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in our State. Evictions and people no longer able to stay with friends and family, the increasing economic burden of the pandemic and the limited funding and availability for motel voucher alternatives, there has been a statewide increase in people experiencing unsheltered homelessness - sleeping outside and in other places not meant for human habitation (e.g. caves, abandoned buildings, storage units, vehicles, fishing shacks). With an increased need, the risk of COVID in congregate settings, capacity reduction because of social distancing guidelines, shelters are struggling to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness.  As a result, the unsheltered population continues to be at risk for COVID and should be included in our prioritization for the vaccine. 

Personalization

The current recommendations for DHS regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Priority Group 1b includes some concerns about feasibility in Appendix C.  While feasibility is one domain of consideration, equity and justice should be additional considerations when working to ensure this vulnerable and at risk population is prioritized. Due to the reasons above, it is imperative that people accessing shelters are prioritized for the vaccine. Collaboration between public health, those administering the vaccine, shelter and outreach staff will be essential to address the rollout concerns, distribution, education, and adherence to appropriate protocols. There will be a need for guidance on timelines, the second vaccine, and accurate education to address myths and misunderstandings. Across Wisconsin, homeless services providers have access to a shared database that can help us see what services people are accessing and possibly use to document vaccines. There are many options available to ensure success. Allowing unsheltered people experiencing homeless to access the vaccine through the emergency shelter system should be encouraged and supported. While challenging, open communication and creative solutions will overcome those potential feasibility issues and enhance trust between the homeless population, staff, and public health. We cannot wait for a single dose vaccine to ensure that this vulnerable population and the staff that are working so hard to keep them safe are vaccinated. 

Transitional housing settings often have shared living spaces as well. It is important that residents and staff of these facilities are considered in Phase 1B rollout. Again, this could be a challenging population to reach, but with clear communication and creative strategies, this can be successful. The efficacy of only prioritizing staff for the vaccine and not including the residents is a missing opportunity to develop partnership, trust, and demonstrate what we know to be true - COVID does not discriminate. Residents and staff are equally at risk. 

The COVID-19 vaccine is a critical step toward ensuring the safety and the health of this vulnerable population and will provide much needed support to those facilities and staff struggling to provide these important services.  

Thank you for your work in rolling out the vaccine and advocating for all Wisconsinites.  

Sincerely,

Your Name, Title, Organization, and Contact Information

 Winter Point in Time Count

It's that time of the year again! Planning for the winter Point in Time Count is well on it's way and the Point in Time Committee is gearing up for another successful count. As expected because of COVID-19, there will be some adjustments to ensure the safety and well-being of our volunteers who assist with this event. Please read through the e-mail and the attached sign-up to review some of the changes that are being made. 

 For those of you unfamiliar with the Point in Time Count, twice a year, the Fox Cities Housing Coalition, in conjunction with homeless and housing providers across the community, coordinate a local count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the Fox Cities called the Point in Time Count. Groups of volunteers are led by coalition staff members throughout the Fox Cities in an effort to identify persons residing on the streets, in campgrounds, under bridges and other places not meant for human habitation, in an effort to provide outreach and engagement to those in our community that are in need of housing resources.

 

For the past several years, the Fox Cities has seen a marked increase in individuals and families seeking homeless services, which has translated to more people sleeping in places not meant for human habitation. By assisting the coalition in conducting the count, not only are we able to better communicate the need for housing within our community, but more importantly it provides us with an opportunity to engage and connect with individuals on the streets so we can begin assisting them in transitioning into housing.

 

The Fox Cities Housing Coalition is reaching out to invite you to participate in this winter's Point in Time Count. After deliberation as to how we want to facilitate this count amidst the pandemic, the PIT Committee has decided to continue on as we typically would, but make adjustments to ensure the safety of our volunteers. More details will follow for those who sign-up and there are further details in the sign-up page in regards to process changes. Here are the highlights:

· The count will take place on Wednesday, January 27th and run through the early morning hours of the 28th. We will continue with having only one shift. First adjustment: we will be leaving in smaller groups in two shifts to ensure there are less people congregating at one time. The first shift will depart at 10:30pm from Salvation Army and the second shift will depart from Salvation Army at 11:00pm. The count will be over whenever your team completes their route

· We will have smaller groups for most of our routes.

· Utilization of PPE's will be requested of each person if they will be within 6 feet from another person

· We will not be convening within Salvation Army (weather permitting), but will utilize a drive-up/walk-through method for registering outside of Salvation Army when you arrive

· Folks that are staying outside that we find the evening of, will not be able to return to Salvation Army. Instead, basic bag lunches and water will be provided by each team should they connect with someone and follow-up for services will be done the following day

If you do not feel comfortable participating in this winter's Point in Time event, we completely understand and will miss you. Please do what you feel most comfortable doing and we will hope to see your friendly and kind faces at the summer count. If you are still interested in signing up for the Point in Time count, please sign up using the link below.

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080548A5A823A5FD0-january3   

 

Thank you all for your time and for all of your support, people like all of you are what makes the Fox Cities such a great place!

 Best Regards, 

The Point in Time Committee