Homeless Prevention Caseworker

Since 2016, approximately 100 individuals and families annually have faced a housing crisis and sought support from the Homeless Prevention Case Worker.   Harbor Homes recognizes the importance of offering timely and informed support to residents who are facing homelessness.  It is also critical to have staff who are knowledgeable about all the resources available to Vineyard residents through the Cape and Islands Regional Network on Homelessness. 

The Homeless Prevention Caseworker is often the first contact with Harbor Homes services for residents who are homeless or facing homelessness.  The caseworker:

• meets individually with residents and assists them in completing applications for rental assistance and/or subsidized housing programs

• provides resource and referral services and support to individuals and families who are low income and who are housing insecure or homeless

• facilitates referrals to shelters on and off island. 

• screens chronically homeless individuals for the regional permanent supportive housing waitlist.  

• attends the regional CES meetings to discuss the chronically homeless waitlist

• works collaboratively with community agencies to provide support services to residents who are struggling with being homeless.

• maintains a database that tracks all intakes and disaggregates the data by multiple factors to inform community about the profile and needs of homeless residents.
  
  

The Homeless Prevention Case Worker ensures that Island residents, particularly those with low incomes, can experience compassionate concern when faced with a housing crisis.