SSVF Carolinas Health Navigator - Raleigh (69458)

About the role

Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas empowers self‑reliance and inspires hope through personalized housing, ministry, health, and human services for vulnerable individuals, families, and the community. Founded in 1896 in Baltimore, MD, the organization serves Virginia, Maryland, DC, and the Carolinas with over 850 employees and thousands of volunteers. As a Health Navigator in the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, you will manage crises, provide in‑the‑moment support to clients with complex behavioral health issues, ensure client safety, and connect clients to high‑quality, evidence‑based providers and Veterans Administration Medical Center services. This role does not involve providing in‑person therapy; instead, it focuses on linking clients to care and housing. You will deliver day‑to‑day support for veteran households needing homelessness prevention, rapid re‑housing, and transitional supportive services, and create key linkages from intake and assessment through to the attainment or maintenance of permanent housing in their home community.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate collaborative efforts for the SSVF Program and develop a set schedule to visit the VA, shelters, and other places that homeless and low‑income veteran families are likely to congregate, and develop communication/updates with the VA and other key housing and community providers.
• Skillfully manage client crises, providing brief risk assessment, safety planning, and de‑escalation with the goal of connecting the client to a therapeutic service.
• Independently manage a caseload of complex, multi‑need clients.
• Effectively and professionally communicate with clients throughout the process of accessing care, via email, phone, and occasionally text.
• Conduct housing and comprehensive supportive services assessments for program participants and develop a comprehensive Family Services Plan.
• Provide service coordination between the local VAMC and community partners, for persons served and their families/supporters. Work with persons served, family members, collaborating housing agencies and professionals to revise service plans and to develop placement, stabilization and follow‑up plans.
• Provide or arrange support for veterans transitioning to or maintenance of permanent housing.
• Travel to housing sites to support persons served, monitor progress and address any health, behavioral or life skills issues.
• Communicate effectively (under confidentiality rules) with clients’ service team to rapidly address and correct issues with services or supports — especially living skills, employment, education, family and socialization.
• Ensure that veterans and their families receive services that support rapid re‑housing; addressing assessed needs, promoting healthy decision‑making, securing financial independence and promoting relationships at home in the community.
• Participate in program and professional supervision, attend required staff and Program Management Team meetings and trainings, and contribute to team‑based collaborative planning.
• Complete other duties as needed and requested.

Qualifications

• Clinical License preferred but not required.
• Master’s level social worker or equivalent education with experience in counseling psychology, nursing, rehabilitative counseling, or related human service field.
• Experience working with homeless individuals and families including veterans is a plus.
• Comfort in environments with constantly evolving responsibilities.
• Passion for connecting individuals with excellent care and able to provide short‑term support in person, over the phone and via email.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle to transport oneself, consumers, and program supplies as necessary.
• Physical ability to travel to assigned locations, stand, stoop, bend, reach, pull, push, lift, grasp, climb, talk, see, hear and perform basic and light home maintenance activities, and operate office equipment.
• Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements.
• Ability to remain in a sitting position for extended periods of time.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Impact

Veteran housing, employment, family, social support