Housing Court Navigator, Eviction Diversion Initiative

About the role

The Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) seeks two Housing Court Navigators for the Upstate New York EDI team – one for Rochester Housing Court and one for Syracuse Landlord/Tenant Court. Reporting to the Project Manager, the Housing Court Navigator provides frontline, direct services to tenants facing eviction or displacement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes and maintain a caseload of housing court litigants with pending eviction or displacement matters;
• Provide individualized, trauma-informed case management and wraparound support, including referrals to rental assistance, subsidies, legal services, public benefits, mental health services, employment resources, and other community supports;
• Aid tenants in navigating court processes and understanding court forms;
• Serve as a point of contact for tenants, court staff, and partner organizations to help coordinate services and address barriers related to nonpayment of rent, repairs, or other eviction risks;
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with on- and off-site partners, including court administration, legal services providers, housing agencies, and social service organizations;
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local housing programs, rental assistance resources, public benefits, and community-based services;
• Represent the EDI program in court as needed;
• Accurately document client interactions, services provided, referrals, and outcomes in centralized case management systems;
• Support program data collection and reporting requirements;
• Participate in trainings, meetings, and professional development related to housing court practice and partner initiatives;
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree and two years of relevant experience or a high school diploma and 2-4 years of relevant experience is required, Bachelor's degree preferred;
• Experience providing direct services, case management, or navigation support in housing, social services, legal services, or related fields;
• Knowledge of court, eviction prevention, public benefits, rental assistance, or housing subsidies strongly preferred;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and court-based settings;
• Ability to manage a caseload, prioritize tasks, and work collaboratively with multiple partners and agencies;
• Experience with electronic case management systems and standard office software (e.g., Google Workspace, Salesforce, Microsoft Office) preferred;
• Language other than English highly desirable (Spanish, preferred);
• Commitment to EDI’s mission and to serving tenants with professionalism and empathy.

Position Type

Full-time, Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm.

Position Location

Positions available in Rochester and Syracuse.

Pay

The compensation range for this position is $28.57 - $33.35 per hour, annually equivalent to $52,000 - $60,700 based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits

• An excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA.
• We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans.
• We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law.