What are the responsibilities and job description for the Housing Navigator - Family System position at Just Compassion?
Housing Navigator - Family Shelter - Temporary
Program: Family Emergency Motel Voucher Program
Location: Tigard Office (Hybrid – community-based with field work)
Schedule: Full-Time (Temporary / Grant-Funded through June 30, 2026)
Reports to: Administrative Director
Position Summary
Just Compassion is seeking a Housing Navigator - Family Shelter (Housing Navigator) to support families experiencing homelessness through the Family Emergency Motel Voucher Program, a short-term, bridge-to-shelter initiative funded through the Homelessness Response and Action Plan (HRAP).
This position plays a critical role in ensuring families experiencing unsheltered homelessness, domestic violence, or other immediate safety concerns have access to temporary emergency motel stays while awaiting placement into year-round shelter. The Housing Navigator will work closely with families, internal teams, and system partners to coordinate motel stays, provide stabilization support, and ensure smooth transitions into shelter when units become available.
This role is ideal for someone who is highly organized, compassionate, and comfortable navigating fast-paced, crisis-oriented environments while maintaining strong documentation and coordination practices.
Program Overview
The Family Emergency Motel Voucher Program provides short-term motel placements for families currently enrolled in the Family Shelter Waitlist (FSWL) who are experiencing immediate safety risks. Motel stays serve as a temporary bridge to shelter, not long-term housing. The position is temporary and grant-funded, supporting the Family Emergency Motel Voucher Program, which operates from January through June 2026 as part of the broader Homeless Family System of Care (HFSC). This position is expected to run through the end of the program period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon continued funding and program needs. The role supports families transitioning from shelter or temporary motel placements into stable, permanent housing and plays a critical role in advancing system-wide housing stability efforts.
Key Responsibilities
Family Engagement & Navigation
- Collaborate with the existing Family Shelter Waitlist Navigator to ensure smooth and equitable access to motel placements.
- Contact families on the FSWL to assess eligibility, interest, and readiness for motel placement.
- Support families through motel check-in and clearly communicate program expectations, timelines, and available supports.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for families during their motel stay.
- Provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive support aligned with Housing First and low-barrier principles.
Coordination & Transitions
- Support families in transitioning from motel placement into year-round shelter when space becomes available.
- Participate in warm handoffs with shelter staff and maintain continuity of care.
- Collaborate with Outreach & Housing Navigation (O&HN) staff, supervisors, and partners to problem-solve barriers and coordinate care.
- Support waitlist navigation during staff absences as needed.
Client Assistance & Resource Support
- Utilize approved voucher funds for client assistance related to motel stays (e.g., food, clothing, transportation).
- Ensure all expenditures align with program guidelines and funding restrictions.
- Coordinate with internal teams to ensure families receive appropriate services outside of motel-related needs.
Program Coordination & Documentation
- Work collaboratively with the Emergency Motel Voucher Coordinator (EMVC) on logistics such as:
- Booking motel rooms (as needed)
- Supporting documentation and invoicing coordination
- Tracking family stays, locations, and duration
- Enter and maintain accurate client data in WellSky Community Services HMIS.
- Participate in regular team meetings, case conferencing, and program improvement efforts.
Professional Responsibilities
- Attend required meetings and trainings, including Outreach & Housing Navigation meetings.
- Communicate clearly with supervisors regarding workflow, challenges, and emerging needs.
- Uphold agency policies, confidentiality requirements, and trauma-informed best practices.
- Maintain professional boundaries; this role does not include after-hours case management.
Qualifications
Required
- Experience working with families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or crisis situations
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and partner organizations
- Comfort working in dynamic environments with competing priorities
- Basic computer skills and ability to learn HMIS systems
- Commitment to equity, cultural responsiveness, and trauma-informed care
Preferred
- Experience with coordinated entry, shelter navigation, or housing-focused programs
- Familiarity with Multnomah County’s Homeless Family System of Care
- Experience working with families experiencing domestic violence or complex trauma
- Knowledge of HMIS or similar data systems
Additional Requirements
- Ability to travel regularly between Tigard and Gresham
- Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across departments
- Commitment to Just Compassion’s mission, values, and housing-first approach
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Generous paid time off and paid holidays
- Professional development and training opportunities
Just Compassion of East Washington County is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity with respect to all employees and applicants for employment. This policy prohibits discrimination on all legally recognized bases including, but not limited to, race, creed, color, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, national origin or service in the uniformed services.