Housing Navigator I

EXEMPT: Non-exempt, full-time
REPORTS TO: Program Director
COMPENSATION: $27.00/hour, medical/dental/vision, holidays, sick leave

POSITION SUMMARY

The Housing Navigator will work directly with homeless individuals to prepare for and secure stable housing. The Housing Navigator is expected to assist the client in a kind, caring and trauma-informed way to assess, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate actions required to meet the client’s housing, health, and human service needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following as well as other duties that may be assigned:

Understand Community Support (CS) Services and its core features (Housing Transition Navigation, Housing Deposit/Rent, and Housing Tenancy).
Participate in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Activate Care trainings, which will be used to input housing goals and outcomes.
Orienting consumers and conducting intake interviews to collect information and assess the needs and strength of each consumer and/or family.
Work closely with prospective Landlords/Property Managers to promote permanent housing opportunities for households that are experiencing homelessness and those that are at-risk of homelessness.
Collaborate with FWJS Social Workers ensuring notification of housing opportunities and coordinating individualized housing plans with consumer in a timely manner.
Assist consumer complete a Tenant Resume and/or Housing Readiness Assessment (if applicable).
Coordinate with Landlords/Property Managers, FWJS Social Workers, and consumers in the housing process; sometimes including the application process and financial commitments related to housing.
Be present when consumer meets with Landlords/Property Managers. Be prepare to advocate on behalf of consumer. Prepare to be at lease signings (if applicable to circumstances). Assisting consumers in reviewing leases, acclimating to housing and meeting the financial requirements of security and rent.
Support the philosophy of consumer empowerment and respect for individual choices.
Conduct routine property updates, ensure Landlord/Property Manager is receiving rent payments, discuss any issues or potential issues, and address program non-compliance issues and evictions as required by Fair Housing standards.
Work with consumer to ensure maintenance issues are handled in a timely manner by the Landlord/Property Manager.
Stay informed of community housing issues by building and maintaining relationships with housing and social service agencies in and throughout the county.
Develop key reporting measures and tracking methods. Maintain monthly reporting on outcomes, successes and barriers.
Respond to inquiries from community residents – Provide and coordinate referrals, emergency services, and crisis intervention to residents as needed.
Establish updates and maintain list of available housing opportunities.
Serve as Landlord/Property Manager liaison including monitoring Landlord adherence to Fair Housing guidelines.
Providing general information about housing, screening of consumers for acceptance into various housing programs as well as verifying eligibility for such opportunities.
Orienting consumers and conducting intake interviews to collect information and assess the needs and strengths of each consumer and/or family.
Providing an appropriate level of guidance and support to assist consumers in meeting basic needs, addressing their action plan goals, and overcoming challenges.
Assist consumer complete a Tenant Resume and/or Housing Readiness Assessment.
Facilitating referrals and serves as advocate on behalf of consumers to assist them in securing services, entitlements, and support to reach their goals. Collaborating with outside providers to coordinate client services.
Actively recruiting Landlords/Property Managers willing to work in conjunction with the agency and locating
affordable housing opportunities to meet the needs of the consumer.
Participating in weekly consumer meetings, case reviews, weekly staff meetings, training sessions, supervisory
meetings, committee meetings, agency events, and other activities as directed
Obtaining ongoing training as required and as necessary to effectively perform duties and provide professional growth.
Maintaining up to date knowledge of regulations and requirements related to housing programs and consumers eligibility.
Must complete the free HUD Certified Housing Counselor Knowledge Assessment and the HUD Housing
Counselor Certificate within 3 months of hire through www.hudhousingcounselors.
Continue education and remain knowledgeable of policies within HUD (The Housing Urban Development), HCD
(California Department of Housing and Community Development), DFEH (The Department of Fair Employment
and Housing), and our local public housing authority.

GENERAL JOB PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Knowledge of Work: Possesses and utilizes organizational skills and knowledge of people struggling with homelessness. Has knowledge of local resources.

Professional Boundaries: Has ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with residents, clients, and guests.

Quantity of Service: Accomplishes an appropriate volume of satisfactory work under normal conditions.

Quality of Service: Consistently demonstrates accuracy, thoroughness, maturity, and dependability with minimum supervision.

Workplace Relationships: Establishes and maintains cooperative and respectful workplace relationships. Serve as a team member.

Timeliness: Completes assignments on or ahead of schedule.

Ability to Learn New Duties: Interprets, analyzes, and responds appropriately in new situations.

Training: Keeps core competencies current by participating in skills training. Trains staff and Community Members.

Judgment and Common Sense: Decisions/actions are sound, including safety and risk management.

Cooperation: Willing to work with others toward common goals.

Respect for Diversity: Interacts courteously and tactfully with people of diverse backgrounds and interests.

Respect for Staff and Guests: Maintains respect and support of fellow staff members and volunteers in support of staff. Sensitive to inappropriate remarks or actions that make staff, volunteers or guests uncomfortable, and demands proactive correction of those behaviors on the spot. Zero tolerance for harassment of staff, volunteers, or guests

Communications: Demonstrates relevance and clarity of written and oral expression. Effectiveness in exchanging ideas and information.

Initiative: Ability to originate, develop and create new ideas or take steps to get things done.

Problem Solving: Identifies and evaluates alternative solutions and selects the most appropriate course of action.

Attendance and Punctuality: Shows daily ability to reliably meet scheduled appointments, arrives on time and prepared to work, respects others’ time, and sets an example for others.

Service Environments: Noise level is moderate.

If Driving During Service Hours: Must possess a valid California Driver License; must maintain vehicle liability
insurance; must maintain a good driving record.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in social work, counseling, or psychology or equivalent
combination of education and experience.
Previous experience in working with people transitioning out of homelessness is preferred.
Experience living in and/or coordinating in communities with a diverse population.
Previous management, administrative and/or supervisory experience is preferred.

Language and Communications Skills:

Ability to effectively present information both orally and in written format and respond to questions from staff,
guests, residents, government entities, accountancy authorities, service partners and the general public.
Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to quickly learn additional applications if required.
Well organized, self-starter.
Possesses excellent telephone, computer (MS Office), written, and verbal communications skills.
Speaking and writing both English and Spanish is preferred.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define and solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables. Ability to interpret a
variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Other Skills and Abilities:

A deep sense of compassion and understanding for homeless and marginalized individuals.
A dedication to and practice of social justice.
Must be mature, even-tempered and team spirited, respectful of the challenges of others, and have tempered
judgment of others.
Possess passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra.
Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and make sound independent decisions.
Comfortable and knowledgeable in consensus-based decision making and practice of non-violent communication.
Acts ethically, responsibly, and with utmost integrity.

PHYSICAL & SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to easily climb stairs to a second story.
- Ability to easily bend and lift 20 lb. overhead.
- Ability to read and comprehend administrative documents as well as data on a computer screen.
- Ability to hear normal conversations and answer phones.
- Hand, finger, and body coordination sufficient to fulfill requirements of the position.
- Ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time.

TRAVEL:

This job requires routine travel (driving) within the Salinas Valley area and occasional driving and other travel to
perform advocacy tasks and attend training

Please submit resume to Roman Perez, Program Director, roman.perez@dorothysplace.org