POSITION TITLE: Housing Navigator/Locator

DEPARTMENT: Rapid Rehousing Program (RRH)

REPORTS TO: Program Director/Program Manager

FLSA: Full-time, Non-Exempt

BENEFITS: Alpha Project offers a generous benefits package, including 14 paid holidays, paid vacation, sick leave, and 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision premium, and group life insurance.

PAY RANGE: $18- $23 hourly, commensurate with experience

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Rapid Rehousing, Housing Navigator/Locator, under the supervision of the Program Director, provides services to households referred through the Coordinated Entry System. The Housing Navigator/Locator is responsible for assisting individuals/households with permanent housing placements within 30 days of intake. Other core services include mitigating housing barriers, mediating tenant/landlord issues, relocating households who are unable to maintain placements, identifying potential vacancies and building a landlord network.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Performs intake interviews, and housing assessments and refers clients to appropriate community resources, as needed.
• Work with clients to identify and overcome barriers to securing housing and advocate to landlords and brokers to overcome any issues or challenges to securing suitable housing.
• Assist households with filling out and submitting rental applications, paying application fees, following up with application status, as well as submitting appeals if rental application is denied.
• Assist clients with obtaining and completing necessary documents to access housing, benefits, or increasing income.
• Educate households on housing market, housing search options, fair housing laws, and tenant rights.
• Ensure housing placements meet all HUD requirements: habitability inspection, fair market rent, reasonable lease terms, etc.
• Maintains prompt documentation using HMIS, following agency and best standard practices.
• Assesses the client's needs, and arranges, coordinates, monitors, evaluates, and advocates for a variety of services to meet those complex needs, including unanticipated client/resident needs/issues as they arise.
• Assists with transportation and moving clients into their residence, securing furniture, supplies, and other housing essentials.
• Participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary team that reviews client cases and develops action plans that meet the individual needs of each client.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two (2) years experience in case management working with vulnerable populations and/or in mental health settings preferred.
• Have reliable transportation, position travels countywide.
• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related field, preferred.
• Individuals with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Bilingual speaker preferred.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands/conditions described below represent those that must be met/tolerated by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Sitting at a desk for sometimes long and continuous periods of time;
• Answering or making calls on the telephone for sometimes long and continuous periods of time;
• Using a keyboard to perform research and to communicate through written means for sometimes long and continuous periods of time;
• Looking at a computer monitor for sometimes long and continuous periods of time;
• Frequent standing, walking, reaching, lifting, and stooping;

QUALIFICATIONS

Team Members must demonstrate the ability to follow policies and procedures established in the Company's Employee Handbook. Team Members will also contribute to a positive work environment by behaving and communicating in a manner such that they get along with all constituent groups, co-workers, and management.

In addition, the education, experience, and other skills listed below represent the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.

EDUCATION

• Two (2) years experience in case management working with vulnerable populations and/or in mental health settings, preferred.
• Have reliable transportation, position travels countywide.
• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or a related field, preferred.
• Individuals with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Bilingual speaker preferred.

KEY SKILLS SET

• Ability to communicate in person and over the phone, required;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required;
• Bilingual skills of any language preferred;
• The ability to adhere to policies and procedures is required.
• Understanding confidentiality protocols and protecting personal information is required.
• Ability to organize and prioritize projects and multiple tasks effectively and timely required.
• Effectively problem-solve and maintain composure in high-pressure situations required.
• Act as a liaison with partner agencies.
• Ability to work independently with minimal daily supervision required.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative, technical, and analytical data in an effective manner;
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive personal information of applicants, current and former clients, landlords, and other matters affecting tenant relations;
• Knowledge of utilized practices and principles, including Housing First, Trauma-Informed Care, Conflict Resolution, Motivational Interviewing, Low Barrier Operations, and Prevention and Diversion, preferred;
• Experience with principles and practices of data collection and report preparation, HMIS experience preferred;
• The employee may lift and move up to 25 pounds, and standing and walking are routine elements of the position.

EQUIPMENT AND APPLICATIONS

• High proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Clarity;
• Working knowledge of all standard office equipment;