How to hire a shelter case manager

How to hire a shelter case manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step shelter case manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a shelter case manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new shelter case manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your shelter case manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a shelter case manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect shelter case manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of shelter case manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Shelter Case Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Shelter Case Manager	Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise social service programs and community organizations. They manage staff who provide social services to the public.	$14-22
   Corps Member	Corps members are selected college students from top universities in the United States. They are enlisted by TFA (Teach for America), a nonprofit organization... Show more	$7-26
   Director Of Social Services	A director of social services or social services director is an individual who works with the community to identify the suitable programs and services. Social services directors provide overall leadership for certain departments within organizations... Show more	$19-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Social Work
   • Crisis Intervention
   • HMIS
   • Substance Abuse
   • Community Resources
   • Social Security
   • Intake Interviews
   • Safety Planning
   • Support Services
   • Emergency Shelter
   • Community Agencies
   • Mental Health
   • Community Services
   • Affordable Housing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
   • Perform concurrent review to assure appropriateness of admission, inpatient/acute care, rehabilitation/SNF status, and discharge using establish InterQual guidelines.
   • Purchase services from outside vendors for staff development training which offer transferable skills.
   • Prepare documentation for HOPWA applications.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your shelter case manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A shelter case manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, shelter case managers' average salary in kansas is 32% less than in arizona.
   • Seniority. Entry-level shelter case managers 33% less than senior-level shelter case managers.
   • Certifications. A shelter case manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a shelter case manager's salary.

   Average shelter case manager salary

   $37,930yearly

   $18.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level shelter case manager salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

4. Writing a shelter case manager job description

   A job description for a shelter case manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a shelter case manager job description:

   Shelter case manager job description example

   The Case Manager assesses clients’ needs, plans a course of action, links client to services and monitors progress for a 140 bed men’s homeless shelter. S/he must assure clients receive appropriate information and referrals to obtain and maintain housing. Proof of COVID-19 vaccine is required.

   DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

   • Conduct intake and assessment process to orient client to the program and develop individual service plan reflecting assessment needs and goals.
   • Meet weekly with client to assist with the achievement of individual service plan goals.
   • Coordinate services with Housing Specialist, other staff and external partners
   • Provide advocacy for individual clients around entitlements and services.
   • Provide crisis intervention, aggressive and supportive counseling to strengthen clients’ ability to make appropriate life decisions.
   • Document case management activities in accordance with agency and funding source guidelines and procedures.
   • Complete Housing applications (both written and computer generated) for clients based on their individual needs and functioning.
   • Achieve monthly placement quota, as assigned.
   • Facilitate workshops, groups and escort clients as applicable.
   • Attend staff meetings and trainings to enhance skills that are related to job function.
   • Must be able to work flexible, alternate schedules which may include evening and weekend shifts.
   • Perform other related duties.

   EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

   Bachelor Degree in Social Work or Human Services Field considered with 5 years of case management experience working with the homeless, mentally ill, substance abuse and/or low income populations. Bilingual a plus. Strong relationship building skills required. Ability to work independently but know when to raise issues to supervisor. Excellent organizational and time management skills necessary. Ability to effectively multi-task and follow-up on a timely basis. Strong PC skills required including Word and Excel.

   AGENCY PROFILE & EMPLOYEE EXPECTATIONS:

   Westhab is a prominent community development organization, providing housing and supportive services for more than 10,000 of the most vulnerable members of our community each year. We are staffed by an extraordinary group of hard working professionals that are fully committed to our mission - Building Communities. Changing Lives. Working at Westhab is not easy. Our expectations for all staff are high. We believe that the people and the communities that we have the privilege to serve deserve our very best every day. We are a results-driven organization that focuses on empowerment and impact. If you want to apply for this opportunity, it should only be because you feel ready for the challenges and expectations that come with joining this kind of team. (EOE)

   OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA):

   The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ensures safe and healthful working conditions to workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. Westhab complies with all applicable OSHA standards, rules and regulations in addition to keeping our workplaces free of serious recognized hazards.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right shelter case manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with shelter case managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit shelter case managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your shelter case manager job on Zippia to find and recruit shelter case manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit shelter case managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new shelter case manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect shelter case manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new shelter case manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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