Housing Navigator

Job ID and other metadata omitted for brevity.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Pay

Pay range: $28.48 - $35.02 per hour. Initial compensation depends on experience, location, and internal equity considerations. A 7.5% bilingual differential is available for qualified positions.

Benefits

• Benefits eligibility starts on day one.
• Robust benefits package including medical, dental, and vision.
• 401K employer match up to 4%.
• Competitive time off plans.

About the Role

Works within the vision, mission, and philosophy of the agency. The Cal-AIM Housing Navigator reports to the Cal-AIM Program Manager of Housing and is responsible for ensuring members authorized by the Managed Care Plans receive timely and quality housing transitional navigation services, housing deposits, and housing tenancy and sustaining services throughout the county. The Cal-AIM Housing Navigator provides and delivers Community Supports housing services, collaborates with the local Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless services systems, Managed Care Plans (MCPs), and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) providers to deliver quality services to members.

Responsibilities

• Works actively with the program's team members to develop strategies for outreach to consumers who tend to isolate themselves.
• Demonstrates a commitment to consumer choice and empowerment.
• Develops respectful interpersonal relationships with consumers while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Assists and supports consumers with identifying, linking to, and appropriately utilizing healthcare resources, including primary care physicians, specialty care providers, dental care, and vision care.
• Assists and supports members with linking to education and employment services.
• Increases awareness and provides linkage to self-help programs and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
• Encourages and supports members' skills and talents.
• Participates in off-site presentations introducing the program to community partners and potential new consumers.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings and scheduled supervision to provide or receive input towards program development and staff training.
• Exhibits a non-judgmental approach to effective listening, maintaining respectful eye contact and an appropriate level of engagement.
• Reports to work on time and maintains reliable and regular attendance.
• Models the agency's mission and core values in all communication and correspondence.
• Communicates effectively in a culturally competent manner with a diverse member population and promotes favorable interaction with managers, co-workers, and others.
• Provides caregivers or other support systems with information about the agency, processes, procedures, and various roles to assist them.
• Participates in continuous learning related to engaging consumers.
• Completes intakes and assessments to determine clients' housing needs and identifies clients requiring completion of HMIS CES Surveys.
• Meets with clients on a weekly basis to monitor and evaluate housing progression.
• Assists clients with developing an individualized housing support plan based on the housing assessment.
• Identifies and secures available resources to assist with subsidizing rent and identifying affordable housing options, including:
  • Evaluating the rental market.
  • Networking with potential landlords to develop relationships and build housing stock.
  • Assisting with housing applications, including gathering and compiling supporting documents.
  • Assisting with applications for supportive and subsidized housing.
• Conducts pre-inspections of identified units to ensure they meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
• Assists clients with requesting security deposit assistance and setting up fees (e.g., utility arrearages and deposits).
• Assists with obtaining necessary household goods that ensure the access and safety of each individual client (e.g., hospital beds, hoyer lifts, HVAC, and pest control services).
• Provides landlord/tenant mediation services to address issues and concerns and helps clients maintain their permanent housing.
• Educates clients on landlord/tenant rights.
• Maintains documentation of services provided as required by the program contract and agency standards by completing service notes, documentation in HMIS and Salesforce, and all required documents in accordance with HUD and funding source.
• Maintains housing charts in accordance with agency and contractual requirements and guidelines.
• Conducts health and safety home visits, including unit habitability inspections.
• Provides early intervention services that identify potential behaviors jeopardizing a client's housing, such as late rental payments, hoarding, substance use, and other lease violations.
• Collaborates and provides linkage to community resources to prevent eviction when clients' housing is potentially jeopardized.
• Assists with benefits advocacy, including obtaining identification and documentation for SSI eligibility and supporting the SSI application process.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED and four (4) or more years of relevant experience required; or equivalent combination of education and experience (two years of relevant experience equals one year of education).
• Knowledge of housing rights pertaining to homelessness and low- and moderate-income housing.
• Knowledge of Coordinated Entry Systems (CES), local Continuum of Care system, local housing authorities, and ability to create partnerships with local landlords, realtors, and property management companies to build housing stock.
• Training in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, Harm Reduction, and other related trainings.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and professionally with diverse communities.
• High level of tolerance and understanding for individuals with urgent and multiple case management and health needs.
• Ability to work independently as well as on a team.
• Mature judgment, highly motivated, self-starting, and proactive.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong sense of prioritization and ability to coordinate multiple demands in a high-pressure environment.
• Valid California driver's license and maintain an insurable driving record under the agency's liability policy (if driving two or more times per week on company business) OR demonstrated ability to use public transportation, if applicable.
• Extensive knowledge of local community resources or the ability to quickly acquire it.

Skills

• Conflict Resolution
• Documents Clearly and Accurately
• Encouraging Customer Focus
• Learning on the Fly
• Time Management

Physical Requirements

• Frequently required to stand or sit.
• Required to use hands to produce records and/or documentation in manual or electronic format.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 5 pounds and occasionally move or lift up to 10 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.