Housing Navigator - Temporary

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Schedule: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

About the Role

Housing Navigation is a fast-paced and very hands-on job requiring high levels of nuanced people skills, creativity with a solutions focus, and extreme flexibility as well as self-management. This role involves working in a wide variety of unconventional situations with a very challenged population in scattered sites and in the field throughout the County of Riverside. Additionally, housing navigation requires a high level of detailed documentation and file work.

The Housing Navigator, under the direction of the Senior Housing Manager, provides participant advocacy, intensive case management, benefit establishment, linkage to Mental Health/Substance Abuse services, linkage to stable housing, and all other supportive services as needed. Housing Navigators will provide individualized participant support by helping each participant develop a plan to address their barriers, increase their income, and maintain and sustain permanent housing. The Housing Navigator will identify each area in which participants will need assistance to accomplish outlined goals and objectives (e.g., scheduling appointments, applying for public benefits, identifying subsidized housing) and take full responsibility for their participant’s success.

Responsibilities

Supportive Services

• Conduct screening interviews, complete intake documentation, and coordinate move-in and exit of all program participants.
• Provide social work intensive case management and navigation services designed to assist participants and their families exit displacement and move into permanent housing.
• Coordinate and identify appropriate resources and mainstream benefits that lead to permanent housing options for participants, such as subsidized housing (Section 8, Shelter Plus Care, VASH), permanent supportive housing, affordable and market-rate housing, and other housing opportunities.
• Provide onsite intensive case management services in areas of independent living skills, employment linkage, cooking groups, house meetings, social events, benefits establishment, and other services as needed to assist in reaching case plan and treatment plan goals.
• Provide guidance toward resources that help to increase participant income, including connecting them with employment services, Social Security resources, and other mainstream resources that may be available.
• Perform comprehensive intensive case management assessments and develop a plan of intervention that addresses need for housing, services, crisis intervention, and continuity of care planning and coordination.
• Respond to referrals and participant requests for intensive case management assessment and intervention within required response time.
• Encourage and promote an environment that is strength-based to assist participants in meeting their individual goals.
• Assist participants with housing applications, complete supportive and subsidized housing paperwork, survey rental market for affordable housing, and advocate for participants with prospective landlords.
• Use a personal vehicle to travel to scattered sites throughout Riverside County and transport participants.
• Work with, support, and help direct teams of volunteers giving direct support to participants.

Outreach and Relationship Management

• Respond to and negotiate housing solutions with housing managers and landlords.
• Mediate disputes between displaced persons and neighborhood residents.
• Attend collaborative meetings.
• Network with other agencies, coalitions, and local community meetings.
• Actively participate in staff meetings and trainings.
• Maintain participant-related data tracking systems, including case notes and complete HMIS entries with support of Chief Solutions Officer.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Two years of related experience with case management services, housing, displaced, and mentally ill populations.
• Computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, and (preferably) Access. HMIS training is a plus.
• Extensive experience working with individuals that are chronically displaced and/or displaced veterans.
• Knowledge of Public Housing Authority and housing subsidies is ideal (e.g., Section 8, Shelter Plus Care, VASH).
• Reliable personal (not public) transportation available for occasional errands. Mileage will be reimbursed.
• Must possess a valid California Driver's License, have a minimum of three (3) years of licensed driving experience, and maintain an acceptable driving record as verified by the DMV.
• Proof of automobile insurance.
• Employment eligibility verification.
• Successful completion of background screening.

Skills

• Project a professional demeanor.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Must maintain and execute confidential information.
• Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to coordinate multiple projects/tasks simultaneously in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to work with diverse communities and exercise mature judgment.
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• A working knowledge and practice of Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, and the cognitive approach to providing social services and development services.
• A working knowledge of the “hidden rules” and motivating factors and dynamics of social class and generational poverty in America.

Schedule

Work schedules are subject to change, or start and end times may vary based on business needs and operational requirements. Flexibility and adaptability are essential to meet the demands of the role and the organization.

Physical Requirements

• Navigators are often required to visit participants in non-conventional locations, sometimes while carrying supplies and needed equipment. This may include:
  • Walking extensive distances
  • Walking on unlevelled terrain
  • Carrying up to 30 lbs for extensive distances
• Navigators are also required to work for many hours out of their vehicles, making many stops throughout the day.