Job Title: Housing Navigator

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Manager: Housing and Family Services Director

Date: February 2024

Summary: Families Together is a community-based non-profit dedicated to ending family homelessness in Wake and surrounding counties. We believe every family deserves a home and children should never have to wonder where they’re going to sleep at night.

The Housing Navigator is a critical part of the Families Together Housing and Family Services Team responsible for helping families experiencing homelessness obtain housing. The Housing Navigator will work closely with Housing and Family Services Director and Mentor Advocates in identifying appropriate housing opportunities for families enrolled in the program as part of their overall progress toward stability and independence. Additionally, the position is responsible for coordinating data collection and entry processes, data quality management, data reporting, and data analysis for the agency. The ideal candidate is organized, strategic, detail oriented, energetic, self-motivated, flexible and able to balance multiple assignments.

As an integral part of the Housing Navigator’s responsibilities, relationships with landlords will be developed and maintained to grow the network of landlords that partner with FT and provide housing opportunities to low-income/high barrier families.

Housing Navigation, 75% of job duties:

• Establish linkages and maintain solid working relationships with supportive housing providers, real estate brokers, property managers and landlords.
• Coordinate with and grow relationships with housing partners such as Wake County Landlord Engagement Unit, Lotus, and CASA.

• Create and maintain a Housing Directory that includes, at minimum, documentation of all contacts with housing providers including corporation name if applicable, name of contact, address, phone, date of contact and results of contact; focus is on keeping an up-to-date listing of affordable housing options.
• Provide efficient and timely housing availability status updates to the team.
• Complete property inspections and complete necessary documentation.
• Track, monitor, and report housing placement rates for clients.
• Provide/ensure access to housing counseling and budget training for clients to help prepare them for housing.
• Develop and facilitate trainings and workshops for clients including tenant rights and responsibilities, housing discrimination, communicating with landlords, etc.
• Document work in designated systems in a timely manner.

Data Coordination, 25% of job duties:

• Serve as the Agency’s HMIS data coordinator collaborating with database developer Bitfocus to ensure accuracy of data entry in HMIS system Clarity.
• Develop and generate reports/queries to monitor data quality, coordinate data updates/corrections, and report on outcomes.
• Assist on report preparation for local, state and national submissions like Annual Progress Reports (APR), Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
• Reconcile data between HMIS and Apricot databases weekly, ensuring all pertinent information is correctly in both systems when needed.
• Provide basic training/presentations as needed for Apricot and Clarity systems to team members.

Additional Duties May Include:

Delivering effective supportive services for homeless and formerly homeless families, for the purpose of helping families achieve residential stability such as:

• Serving on committees and as agency liaison with partnering and supporting agencies.
• Participate in monthly case reviews, staff meetings, training sessions, and local Continuum of Care meetings as necessary.

Position Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in a Human Services related field and/or experience working with vulnerable populations, providing crisis response services, and working from a coaching/client-valued perspective.
• Experience in the housing rental market, real estate or property management arena preferred.
• Strong computer skills in databases, word processing, and spreadsheets; 
• Experience with HMIS (Homeless Management Information System is preferred.
• Knowledge of the variety of housing funding streams available (ESG, PSH, HCV) desired.
• Knowledge of federal guidelines for public and private low-income housing a plus
• Superb written and verbal communication skills; this position will involve cold calls and program marketing, so above par verbal communication skills and a comfort level with conducting outreach are crucial.
• Organized with attention to detail.
• Clean and valid driver’s license; must maintain agency authorized driver’s status. 
• Excellent customer service skills and enjoy working within a team approach.
• Proficiency with MS Office and internet/email tools is essential.
• Strong commitment to DEI
• Passion for the Families Together mission and alignment with FT’s organizational values.

Schedule/Location:

• Full-time, salaried position
• Mon-Fri from 8:30am-5:00pm
• Some evening/weekend work may be required.

• Regular local travel is required; must have a clean driving record and ability to drive personal and agency vehicle for work related activities.
• Families Together Office: 908 Plainview Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610
• Hybrid position with minimum of two days in the office
• Shared office environment

Compensation:

The current hiring salary range is $45,000-$47,000.The position includes health benefits, paid time off, paid holidays, and a 403b retirement plan. This is a grant funded position with the opportunity for annual renewal.