Housing Placement Housing Navigator

Description

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Hourly Range: Low $23.76 per hour High $26.14 per hour

Schedule: In person, Monday – Friday, any 8 hours between 7AM - 5PM

Job Summary

The Housing Navigator serves as a key member of the Housing Department. The Navigator supports individuals who are experiencing homelessness with increasing housing motivation, overcoming financial barriers, housing search, and housing placement. The Housing Navigator works collaboratively with other departments to identify traditional and non-traditional housing opportunities as well as behavioral health resources and income maximization. The Housing Navigator is resilient and resourceful in advocating for guests, building relationships with government and community housing agencies and navigating the housing subsidy programs and process.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Triages guests to determine their immediate needs in order to ensure housing readiness including support with obtaining vital documents, benefits and entitlement eligibility, substance use, medical and mental health needs, etc.
• Works closely with Housing Assessor and CoC partners to ensure on-going communication about referrals, case assignments, and housing plans.
• Provides individualized support by helping each guest develop a plan to address their barriers to housing, increase their income, maintain, and sustain permanent housing.
• Networks and collaborates with area housing resources and maintains a presence at community housing resource meetings.
• Build strong relationships with community partners to broaden housing search opportunities.
• Maintains a relationship with existing property managers/owners and establishes new relationships with those willing to house SFH guests.
• Establishes, updates, maintains and communicates a list of available housing opportunities on a regular basis.
• Acts as mediator with landlords, advocating on behalf of clients as needed to ensure successful partnership and lease compliance.
• Assists guests in their search for housing, filling out rental applications, interpreting leases, understanding tenant rights and responsibilities and supporting throughout lease up process including coordination of moving arrangements and establishing utilities.
• Hosts workshops for guests on topics such as roommate share, weekly rentals, sober housing, maintaining a unit, community integration, etc.
• Hosts information sessions for landlords regarding supportive services, incentive programs, and community partnership.
• Maintains timely and accurate documentation within the HMIS guest database system. Prepares related reports including but not limited to outcomes, successes, etc.
• Remains up to date on landlord /tenant rights and all relevant local, state, and federal laws in order to appropriately advocate and intervene on behalf of clients.
• Consistently meets all agency and CoC assigned outcome goals with respect to housing efforts, number of people served, and exited to permanent housing.
• Works closely with guests, internal staff, as well as community providers, to ensure a realistic and manageable housing plan.
• Attend all required meetings with providers, potential guests and potential landlords both on-site at SFH and in the community.
• Adheres to agency code of conduct.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to maintain a non-judgmental attitude and positive regard when working with individuals with complex needs.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and effectively within a team setting.
• Strong communication and advocacy skills: both verbal and written.
• Proficiency in English.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced and stressful environment.
• Basic understanding of and commitment to taking a person-centered, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed approach.
• Working knowledge of Social Security disability programs and other public benefits’ eligibility criteria, application processes and documentation requirements.??
  
  

Education And Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent with 2 years of experience in human services required. Bachelor’s degree in human services field preferred.
• Experience in a Social Services setting with working knowledge of coordinated care planning/ housing case management service delivery required.
• Knowledge of housing resources, subsidy programs, and the Continuum of Care for homeless persons in Boston.
• Familiarity with the homeless population and desire to work with vulnerable populations.
• Tech savvy around internet search, online applications, databases, online documentation.
• Experience providing direct service to homeless individuals, Preferred:
• Lived experience of homelessness and/or recovery a plus.
• Bilingual (Spanish), preferred.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Up to 75% of time spent working in the community, traveling within the greater Boston area to engage with clients, landlords and attend meetings.
• Occasional standing and moving throughout multi-level building.
• Workweek: Monday – Friday, any 8 hours between 7AM-5PM.
  
  

SFH is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where all staff can reach their fullest potential. We welcome – everyone who have lived experience of homelessness and/or recovery, and those who have faced historic barriers to competitive employment, in particular Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and those who are multi-lingual or multi-cultural and members of the LGBTQ community.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these duties.