Here’s what Churches United case managers do

From the moment someone enters the shelter, case managers set them on a path toward stable housing and a new chapter in their lives

Case managers are a critical component of Churches United’s mission of providing safe shelter, stable housing, nutritious food and a path toward healing, but what exactly do they do?

No day looks the same, that’s for certain, and that’s because everyone’s needs are different. But striving to get community members and shelter guests to a place of safety and stability remains consistent day in and day out.

“Ultimately, our end goal is to get people into housing and set them up for success when they move into housing,” says Harrison LaPorte Lewis, lead case manager at Churches United.

From the moment someone enters Micah’s Mission shelter, they’re assigned a case manager who will walk alongside them as they begin their journey into stability.

The first steps, more often than not, are obtaining critical documents such as birth certificates and getting on waiting lists for housing.

“We like to do that (get on waiting lists) pretty soon because that wait list can be long — six months to a couple of years,” Harrison said.

During that first meeting, shelter guests and case managers work on individual service plans, getting an idea of the guest’s specific needs and creating a roadmap to meet those needs.

Following that first meeting, guests meet with case managers weekly to help stay on track and begin working on other tasks, such as applying for SNAP or military benefits if the guest is a veteran.

For Harrison, it’s the completion of each hard-fought journey that keeps him coming back every day.

“I would definitely say the most rewarding part is when they (shelter guests) move into housing,” Harrison said. “The looks on their faces, their expressions, their gratitude.”

Case managers’ goal is to get shelter guests housed within 90 days. It’s possible for guests to stay at the shelter for longer or shorter periods of time, depending on their situation.

Mental health and substance use disorders are two of the greatest barriers to finding long-term housing, and can inhibit a person’s ability to maintain housing, let alone find it in the first place. That’s why case managers work diligently to connect shelter guests with services to keep them housed after leaving Micah’s Mission.

Another barrier to stable housing right now is a lack of funds to assist with rental deposits. It’s no secret that the cost of living is on the rise, and as anyone looking for an apartment can tell you, they feel the squeeze in soaring rent.

 Clay County has a fund to help cover deposits for low-income individuals moving into housing, but that fund dried up some months ago and won’t replenish until the state’s new fiscal year begins in July.

 That leaves many low-income Clay County residents in the lurch until then and has slowed down the housing process. But with some creative thinking, case managers have been able to get people out of the shelter and into their own homes.

“It’s not just as simple as getting a person an apartment,” Harrison said of the housing process. “A lot of times, there are mental health issues or substance use issues. So if we just got them an apartment, they likely couldn’t keep that apartment if we’re not addressing those issues. So we try to set them up with service providers, mental health (support) for when they move into housing, so they can keep their housing.”