Diversion Hub Housing Navigator

Title: Diversion Hub Housing Navigator

Job Summary

The Housing Navigator is a Homeless Alliance employee who is embedded at the Diversion Hub. This position provides service activities, home-based case management, community-based resource referrals and advocacy efforts for clients who present at the Diversion Hub and are experiencing homelessness. The Housing Navigator will help connect clients to emergency housing and/or permanent housing, and will provide housing case management to ensure that clients are stable before discharge. The Housing Navigator will work with other Diversion Hub tenants and other community partners to construct a network of wrap-around services for clients.

Responsibilities

• Meets with clients in the office at the Diversion Hub to discuss housing needs and options
• Provides field based/mobile case management services using evidence-based practices such as intensive case management, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, and Housing First practices to persons experiencing long term homelessness.  Case management will pursue an engagement process seeking to build a relationship of trust and support and will involve outreach, screening, intake, assessment, individual service plan development, monitoring, linkage to appropriate community resources, follow-up, advocacy, appropriate discharge, tracking tenant outcomes.
• Is very familiar with housing resources at the Homeless Alliance and the community, and is able to quickly assess and make appropriate referrals.
• Maintains precise and accurate documentation of case management services, including client files and entries into the program database (HMIS) for every face to face or telephone contact or collateral contact by the next business day. Housing Navigator will also maintain appropriate documentation in Sales Force in accordance with the data collection standards laid forth by the Diversion Hub.
• Assists participants with completing lease agreements and obtaining other supportive documents such as identification, social security cards and so forth as required by leasing agents/property.
• Assists tenants in accessing and maintaining entitlements and benefits.
• Assists tenants in achieving goals relating to HUD grant compliance; focuses on meeting the specific needs of each individual or family through tenant-driven ISPs (Individual Service Plan).
• Participates in Coordinated Case Management with Homeless Alliance agencies.
• Facilitates groups and activities with program participants.
• Facilitates and coordinates supportive activities with Homeless Alliance partners, including employment assistance programs, job readiness training, financial education, and behavioral health services, to meet the person’s needs, preferences, and goals to build upon his/her strengths. 
• Assists tenants with obtaining services and supports to enable the person to remain stably housed and reach self-capacity. Advocates for needed services and assists tenants in meeting the obligations of tenancy.
• Transports clients as needed.
• Establishes and maintains close collaborative working relationship with community resources; attends and participates in appropriate coalition and other community resource meetings.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Dedicated to ending homelessness in Oklahoma City with a sense of urgency.
• Dedicated to criminal justice reform in Oklahoma City
• Possess a high level of tolerance and understanding for individuals who present for services with urgent multiple case management and health needs.
• Strong advocacy skills.
• Strong writing, reading, listening and speaking communications skills.
• Able to set and observe appropriate boundaries with clients
• Possess well-developed, decision making skills, attention to detail with a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to excel in a diverse, collaborative team environment.
• Possess a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential Homeless Alliance, client, donor, and employee information and situations.
• Able to multi-task and remain calm in demanding and unpredictable situations.
• Possess ability to understand various Homeless Alliance operations and procedures.
• Able to maintain a professional, customer service-oriented attitude at all times.
• Ability to meet face-to-face with homeless individuals of diverse backgrounds and disabilities, including physical, mental, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, etc.; able to develop rapport, provide information, and refer with sensitivity to cultural issues.
• Ability to work and communicate with staff, clients, donors, vendors, community agencies, etc. to meet their needs in a polite, courteous and cooperative manner, yet appropriate assertive as situation may demand.
• Display a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently.
• Possess excellent time management skills and the ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Knowledge of community resources available in Oklahoma City.
• Ability to transport individuals as needed, and travel to various sites and locations daily.
• Able to meet a flexible work schedule including evenings and weekends and available on-call for emergencies by telephone and/or cell phone.

Education and Work Experience

• Undergraduate degree in social work or behavioral science preferred
• Two plus years of previous experience in adult case management.
• Computer literate; experienced with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Outlook, Internet.

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid Oklahoma driver’s license & Proof of Insurance

Physical Requirements

• Sit and stand for long periods of time
• Lift up to 25 pounds
• Operate a vehicle

Work Environment

• Office-based with regular interaction in public service areas.
• Hectic and unpredictable situations can occur in public areas.
• Fast-paced environment with potential exposure to emotionally charged situations.
• May encounter environments with strong odors and varying levels of sanitation.

This position is contingent upon grant funding. 

This position is a safety sensitive position. 

Salary : $40,000 - $44,000