St Mary's Center·Emeryville, California
Acts as the primary assessment and triage specialist for Senior Housing Services, managing Coordinated Entry activities and housing clinic operations. Coordinates referrals to healthcare, behavioral health, and community resources to ensure participants access appropriate housing interventions.
About Us St. Mary's Center is a community of hope, healing, and justice dedicated to helping older adults age with dignity by addressing housing instability, poverty, food insecurity, and social isolation. Through our Aging with Dignity model, we provide a continuum of person-centered services, including street outreach, coordinated entry, housing navigation, transitional housing, tenancy sustaining services, aging in place supports, and a vibrant Community Center, while empowering older adults to shape solutions through leadership and advocacy.
This is an exciting time to join St. Mary's Center. We are growing our impact, strengthening our programs, modernizing our systems, and expanding affordable housing opportunities for older adults in partnership with community organizations. We are seeking passionate, collaborative professionals who are energized by innovation, committed to excellence, and inspired to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults every day.
The Housing Social Worker serves as the primary assessment and triage specialist for Senior Housing Services. This position is responsible for Housing Clinic assessments, Coordinated Entry activities, participant prioritization, care coordination, crisis screening, and recommendations regarding housing interventions and supportive services. The Social Worker serves as the primary entry point into housing services and ensures participants are appropriately connected to Housing Navigation, Transitional Housing, Tenancy Sustaining Services, healthcare, behavioral health, and community resources. The position does not typically carry an ongoing housing case management caseload and instead focuses on assessment, triage, care coordination, and participant access. Essential
Coordinated Entry & Housing Assessments (35%) Conduct Coordinated Entry assessments and reassessments. Complete housing needs assessments. Evaluate participant eligibility for housing programs. Assess barriers to housing stability. Determine housing intervention recommendations. Support participant prioritization and referral activities. Ensure compliance with Alameda County Coordinated Entry requirements and contractual obligations.
Case Conferencing & Clinical Consultation (10%) Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences. Consult with Housing Services staff regarding participant needs. Collaborate with the external partners regarding high-risk participants. Assist with complex participant situations and service planning to ensure closed loop referrals and quality follow-up
Community Partnerships & Systems Coordination (5%) Participate in Coordinated Entry and regional meetings. Maintain relationships with referral partners. Coordinate participant referrals across systems of care.
Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) or related field. Registration as an ASW or eligibility for registration preferred. Three years of experience in homelessness services, housing services, behavioral health, healthcare, or supportive services. Experience conducting assessments and care coordination. Experience working with vulnerable populations. Valid California Driver’s License.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Experience with Coordinated Entry, HMIS, Housing First, and CalAIM. Experience serving older adults experiencing homelessness. Bilingual or multilingual skills.
General Staff Expectations Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. Support the mission and values of St. Mary’s Center. Maintain professionalism and confidentiality. Follow agency policies and procedures.
Requires a Master's Degree in Social Work or a related field and at least three years of experience in homelessness, housing, or behavioral health services. A valid California Driver's License is required, and LCSW licensure is preferred.
Market context
In California, behavioral-health roles tied to substance use disorder counseling and case management are typically supported by ongoing community and treatment-program demand. These positions are competitive because employers often look for a high school diploma, at least 2 years of SUD counseling or case management experience, and current Registered or Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor status. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to quickly compare fit and note that professional development and paid continuing education are listed as benefits.