Prevention & Diversion Navigator

Description

Turn housing crises into housing solutions.

Location: Waypoint Services - 318 5th St SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Organizational Overview

For over 130 years, Waypoint has been dedicated to inspiring people to move forward. We continuously evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of individuals, children, and families in our community through a variety of services and resources. Through this work, we remain devoted to improving lives and strengthening our community.

Waypoint Values

· Having Compassion

· Instilling Ownership

· Empowering People

· Embracing Diversity

Position Summary

Passionate about helping people stay housed? The Prevention & Diversion Navigator serves as the primary point of support for individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis, using problem-solving, housing stabilization strategies, and community resources to prevent homelessness whenever possible. This role combines homelessness prevention, diversion follow-up, and system coordination to help households achieve safe, stable housing while advancing the community’s goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Schedule

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours per week

Why You’ll Love This Job 

· Make a real difference every day

· Enjoy a varied and dynamic workday

· Build meaningful relationships with clients, landlords, and community partners

· No nights or weekends

What You’ll Do 

As a Prevention & Diversion Navigator, you will help individuals and families facing housing crises find safe, stable alternatives to homelessness through problem-solving, resource coordination, and ongoing housing support.

In this role, you will: 

· Meet with individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis

· Develop housing stabilization plans

· Track client outcomes and maintain case records

· Coordinate financial assistance, community resources, and referrals

What You’ll Bring 

We are looking for a compassionate, resourceful problem-solver who builds trust quickly, remains calm in crisis situations, and works collaboratively.

You’ll thrive in this role if you are: 

· Empathetic and compassionate, with a genuine commitment to supporting people experiencing housing instability

· A strong relationship-builder who can quickly establish trust and rapport

· A skilled problem-solver who can identify solutions and navigate barriers

· Calm, patient, and resilient when responding to crisis situations

· A collaborative team player 

· Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities

· Culturally responsive and respectful, demonstrating sensitivity to the impacts of poverty and trauma

· Aligned to Waypoint’s values: Have Compassion, Instill Ownership, Empower People, and Embrace Diversity

Requirements

What You’ll Need 

To be successful in this role, it is preferred that you have:

· A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field; equivalent education, work experience, or lived experience will be considered

· Experience using HMIS, Neighborly, or other case management systems

It is required that you have:

· Experience working with individuals or families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, or other complex social service needs

· Knowledge of Housing First principles, homelessness prevention strategies, coordinated entry systems, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and progressive engagement

· The ability to work effectively and respectfully with individuals and families from diverse racial, cultural, socioeconomic, and lived-experience backgrounds

· An understanding of the impacts of poverty, systemic barriers, oppression, and trauma on housing stability and access to services

· Ability to de-escalate crises, build rapport quickly, and effectively problem-solve with individuals experiencing housing instability

· Strong organizational, documentation, communication, and time-management skills

· The ability to analyze information, identify barriers, and connect households to appropriate resources

· Successful completion of required background checks and Neighborly certification