PositionOverview

Housing Navigation is a fast-paced and very hands-on job requiring high levels of nuanced people skills, creativity with solutions, focus, and extreme flexibility as well as self-management by those who are comfortable in a wide variety of unconventional situations working with student populations 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 Manager of College Student Housing, provides participant advocacy, case management, benefits 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. As part of the plan, the Navigator will identify each area in which participants will need assistance to accomplish the outlined goals and objectives (i.e. scheduling appointments, applying for public benefits, identifying subsidized housing, etc.) and the Navigator will take full responsibility for their participants’ success. Additionally, this role includes filling in gaps for other navigators in the program when they are unavailable or out of the office. They will also provide support for the Manager when they are unavailable to respond to participant urgencies, file quality control, and assist with creating and providing monthly, quarterly, and annual grant reports as needed for compliance and audit reporting.

Responsibilities:

SupportiveServices forHousing

• Provide social work 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 if needed assisting in finding property management companies that are willing to accept housing programs.

• Provide onsite case management services in the 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 towards resources that help to increase participant income, including connecting them with our Employment Pipeline services, Social Security resources, and other mainstream resources that may be available to them.

• Perform comprehensive case management assessments and develop a plan of intervention that addresses the need for housing, services, crisis intervention, and continuity of care planning and coordination.

• Respond to referrals and participant requests for case management assessment and intervention within the 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.

• Work with participants to assist them in the temporary units they reside in.

• Other duties as assigned

Outreachand RelationshipManagement

• 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 the support of the Chief Solutions Officer.

• Maintain an “On Call” status to respond to emergencies as assigned.

• Otherdutiesasassigned

CoreCompetencies

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.

• Two years of related experience with case management services, housing, and 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 who are chronically displaced and/or displaced veterans.

• Knowledge of Public Housing Authority and Housing subsidies is ideal (ie, Section 8, Shelter Plus Care, VASH).

• 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 and 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.

PhysicalRequirements:

• Walking extensive distances

• Walking on unlevelled terrain

• Carrying up to 30lbs for extensive distances

• Navigators are also required to work for many hours out of their vehicles making many stops throughout the day.