Victim Services Housing Navigator

Position Title:  Victim Services Housing Navigator 

Reports To:  Property & Rental Assistance Program Manager

Location:  Providence and Woonsocket, RI

Schedule: Full-time, 37.50 hours per week

Compensation: $25 an hour, with benefits that include health/dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, accrued vacation/sick/personal time, an Employee Assistance Plan, and a 401(k) plan.

 ABOUT US: Sojourner House is a comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault agency that provides residential, educational, and community-based interventions to families and individuals impacted by abuse.  We have offices in Providence and Woonsocket, and programs that operate statewide.  Our goal is to help our clients rebuild their lives, piece by piece, through a variety of services. All of our programs work from the premise that violence is an unacceptable means to solving interpersonal conflict, and we encourage only non-violent methods of working out conflicts.

Position Overview: Responsibilities of the Victim Services Housing Navigator ("Housing Navigator") include researching and identifying available affordable housing options and establishing strong relationships with potential landlords, housing authorities and management companies. Assist with resolving housing issues for tenants as well as landlords we partner with.  In addition, the Housing Navigator will assist with the following tasks:  move-in/out, lease up, recertification paperwork, tracking of rent payments, and inspections. As needed, the Housing Navigator will assist housing leadership with Medicaid Home Stabilization prior authorizations.

 Principal Job Duties:

• Research and locate area landlords for properties and leasing opportunities of units for Sojourner House Housing programs.
• Meet with landlords, obtain documentation as needed, complete inspection of units.  Obtain lease, keys and contact information for units.
• Work with landlords and Operations staff to follow up on issues with rental payments, delinquencies, maintenance and renewals for units.
• Complete Move-In process – application processing, lease preparation, renter’s education and attending the lease signing.  
• Complete new client intake paperwork and annual recertifications as necessary.
• Conduct routine property inspections in accordance with appropriate funding requirements, lease-ups, ensure the landlord is receiving rent payments from both client and Sojourner House, and address program non-compliance issues and evictions as required by Fair Housing standards.
• Conduct quarterly file reviews for rental assistance compliance.
• Communicate with housing advocates and landlords to navigate client crisis situations for continuity of care.
• Work with Housing Leadership to track and submit Medicaid Housing Stabilization prior authorizations as needed.
• Attend, prepare and actively participate in all Sojourner House required training and/or staff meetings within the building or other training facility. This may include an assignment, preparing an agenda or engaging in problem solving and procedures.
• Monitor and implement housing policies, and ensure that residents follow these rules and procedures by creating an environment of trust and community.
• Complete data entry and submit necessary reports as required for grant compliance.
• Stay abreast of RI community housing issues by building and maintaining relationships with housing and social service agencies throughout the state.
• Support Sojourner House’s philosophy of client empowerment and respect for individual choices.
• Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor and/or the Sojourner House management team. 

Salary : $25