17 Housing Case Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Do you have experience working with people who are homeless or living in poverty? Are you patient, organized, and able to stay calm under pressure? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you may be a good candidate for a housing case manager job.

Housing case managers are responsible for helping people who are homeless or living in poverty find and maintain housing. They work with clients to develop housing plans, connect them with resources, and provide support to help them stay in their homes.

Before you can interview for a housing case manager job, you’ll need to know how to answer housing case manager interview questions. In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of questions and answers that you can use to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the process of applying for public housing?

Case managers often work with clients who are applying for public housing. Interviewers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with the process and can help your client through it if needed. In your answer, explain that you’ve worked with clients who applied for public housing in the past and give an example of how you helped them through the application process.

Example: “I’ve worked with several clients who were applying for public housing. I made sure they had all the necessary documents before submitting their applications. Then, I checked in with them regularly to see how the application process was going. One of my clients was nervous about the process but felt more confident after talking with me. She ended up getting approved for public housing.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a successful housing case manager?

Case managers are responsible for managing the needs of their clients, so employers ask this question to make sure you have the qualities needed to succeed in this role. When answering this question, think about what makes a good case manager and share those traits with the employer.

Example: “I believe that empathy is one of the most important qualities for a successful housing case manager. Case managers work with people who may be going through difficult situations, so it’s important to be able to relate to them and provide support. I also think patience is an important quality because many of our clients may not understand how the system works or why they’re waiting for certain things. Having patience can help us explain these processes more clearly.”

How would you handle a situation where a client is refusing to comply with your recommendations?

Case managers often work with clients who may not always agree with their recommendations. An employer wants to know that you can handle these situations professionally and help the client understand why your recommendations are in their best interest. In your answer, explain how you would approach this situation and what steps you would take to ensure the client understands your reasoning.

Example: “I have encountered this situation before when working with a client who was refusing to comply with my recommendation for them to move into an apartment instead of continuing to live with family members. I explained to the client that our goal is to get them independent as quickly as possible so they can start building up their credit and saving money. I also told them that living with family members could delay their progress toward independence. After explaining my reasoning, the client agreed to follow my recommendation.”

What is your process for keeping track of all of your clients and their individual needs?

Case managers often have a lot of clients to keep track of, so the interviewer wants to know how you plan your schedule and organize your tasks. Showcase your organizational skills by describing your process for keeping track of all your clients’ information and schedules.

Example: “I use an online calendar system that allows me to create individual appointments with my clients. I also use this calendar to set reminders for important dates like when rent is due or when utility bills are due. This helps me stay organized and ensure that I am meeting all of my client’s needs on time.”

Provide an example of a time when you successfully helped a client overcome a major obstacle.

Case managers often work with clients who have unique challenges. Employers ask this question to learn more about your experience helping others overcome their obstacles and achieve success. In your answer, share a specific example of how you helped someone overcome an obstacle. Explain what steps you took to help them succeed.

Example: “In my last role as a case manager, I worked with a client who was struggling to find housing because they had a criminal record. The client was very motivated to find housing but didn’t know where to start. I explained the process of expunging their record so that they could apply for housing again. We then researched the requirements for each state and applied for an expungement. After several months, we were able to successfully expunge their record. They were then able to find safe and affordable housing.”

If a client is actively struggling with addiction, what would be your approach to helping them?

Case managers often work with clients who are struggling with addiction. This question helps the interviewer assess your experience and skills in working with this population. In your answer, describe how you would help a client overcome their addiction while also helping them maintain stable housing.

Example: “I have worked with many clients who struggle with addiction, including those who were actively using drugs or alcohol at the time of our initial meeting. I believe that it is important to be empathetic toward these individuals because they are going through a difficult time. However, I am firm about my expectations for them as well. If a client was still actively using drugs or alcohol when we met, I would tell them that I could not help them until they completed an appropriate treatment program.”

What would you do if you were assigned a client you didn’t feel comfortable working with?

Case managers often work with clients who have unique needs and challenges. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle working with people from all walks of life. In your answer, explain that you would try to find a different case manager to take over the client’s case. Explain that you would do everything in your power to ensure they found someone else to help them.

Example: “I once worked with a client who was very difficult to communicate with. He didn’t always understand what I said to him, so it was hard for me to get his input on certain things. After talking with my supervisor about the situation, we decided to assign another case manager to his case. She had experience working with people who were developmentally disabled, so she was able to better communicate with him.”

How well do you handle stress and pressure?

Case managers often work with clients who are going through difficult situations. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle the stress of the job and provide excellent customer service. In your answer, share how you manage stress in your life. Explain that you will use strategies such as exercise or meditation to help you stay calm.

Example: “I am a very organized person, so I find it easy to keep my stress levels low. However, I do understand that sometimes things happen that we cannot control. When I feel stressed, I take deep breaths and remind myself that everything is okay. If I need to, I will step away from my desk for five minutes to get some fresh air. I also have a few friends at work that I can talk to if I need advice.”

Do you have any experience working with clients who have mental health issues?

Case managers often work with clients who have mental health issues. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working with people who may be experiencing a crisis or are in need of support. In your answer, share an example of how you helped someone overcome a mental health issue. Explain what steps you took and the results you achieved.

Example: “I once worked with a client who was struggling with depression. I met with her every week for six months to help her develop coping strategies and find ways to manage her symptoms. After three months, she reported that she felt more positive about life and had started exercising regularly. By the end of our sessions, she no longer needed my services.”

When working with clients who are struggling financially, how do you decide which services to prioritize?

Case managers often have to make decisions about how best to help their clients. This question helps the interviewer understand your decision-making process and how you prioritize tasks. Use examples from previous experience to show that you can think critically and use logic to solve problems.

Example: “When working with a client who is struggling financially, I first ask them what they need most. Sometimes it’s food or utilities, but sometimes it’s transportation or childcare. Once I know what they need, I look at our available resources to see which ones we can provide. If there are no resources for transportation, for example, then I would try to find another organization that could help.”

We want to improve our outreach efforts. How would you go about doing that?

Case managers often need to reach out to clients and other stakeholders in the community. This question helps employers understand how you plan outreach efforts and what your strategies are for success. In your answer, explain how you would develop a strategy for reaching more people and increasing engagement with the organization’s services.

Example: “I think it is important to have an outreach plan that outlines who we want to reach and when we want to reach them. I would start by identifying our target audience and determining which methods of communication work best for this group. For example, if we know our target audience is low-income families, then I would focus on developing resources that help us communicate with these families through social media channels or newsletters.”

Describe your experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Case managers often work with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with a diverse group of people. Use your answer to explain how you’ve worked with people who are different than you in the past. Explain that you’re willing to learn about their culture and respect their background.

Example: “I’ve always been passionate about learning about other cultures. I grew up in a small town, so I didn’t get to meet many people from different backgrounds until college. In my first semester, I took a cultural diversity class where we learned about various cultures around the world. Since then, I’ve made it a point to try new foods and visit places where I can interact with people from different backgrounds.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. Before you answer, think about what makes you a good fit for this position. Consider highlighting any relevant experience or skills that make you an excellent candidate.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others and providing them with support. I have worked in customer service for many years, so I understand how important it is to help people solve their problems. In my previous housing case manager role, I helped clients find affordable housing solutions by connecting them with resources and advocating on their behalf. This made me feel like I was making a difference in someone’s life.”

Which software programs are you most comfortable using?

Case managers often use a variety of software programs to complete their work. The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your computer skills and determine which programs you’re most comfortable using in the role. Before your interview, review the job description to see if any specific programs are mentioned. If so, make sure you have experience with those programs. If not, consider listing several popular programs that you feel confident using.

Example: “I am proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Drive. I also have some experience with Salesforce CRM and Zoho Projects. These programs allow me to organize my work and collaborate with other case managers.”

What do you think is the most important thing a housing case manager can do for their clients?

This question can help the interviewer understand your values and how you approach your work. Your answer should reflect a commitment to helping others, as well as an understanding of what case managers do in their role.

Example: “I think that the most important thing a housing case manager can do for their clients is listen. I know from my experience working with other case managers that it’s easy to get caught up in all the paperwork and deadlines, but we need to make sure our clients feel like they’re being heard. When I worked at my previous job, I noticed that some of my colleagues were more focused on meeting their quotas than listening to their clients. I made it a point to always make time to hear out my clients so that they felt comfortable coming to me with any questions or concerns.”

How often do you think a case manager should meet with their clients?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your approach to case management. They want to know how often you plan to meet with clients and what you hope to accomplish during these meetings. In your answer, try to explain that you will meet with clients as much as they need while also emphasizing the importance of regular communication.

Example: “I think it’s important for a case manager to regularly communicate with their clients. I would like to meet with my clients at least once every two weeks. During our meetings, we can discuss any changes in their situation or concerns they have. This helps me ensure that I am providing them with the best care possible.”

There is a conflict between two of your clients. How would you handle it?

Case managers often have to resolve conflicts between their clients. An interviewer may ask you this question to learn how you would handle a conflict in the workplace. In your answer, try to show that you can be empathetic and use problem-solving skills to help two parties come to an agreement.

Example: “I once had a client who was late on his rent payment every month. He always had a good reason for being late, but I knew he could afford to pay his rent on time. One day, I asked him why he was so late with his rent payments. He told me that another tenant in his building was causing problems. I called the landlord and explained the situation. The landlord agreed to give my client a discount on his rent until the other tenant moved out.”