Housing Navigator

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionWho We Are

The Road Home has been a leader in striving to end homelessness for over 100 years (1923-2024). We provide low-barrier emergency shelters, supportive services, and housing-first-minded rental assistance that helps individuals and families step out of homelessness and back into the community. We are seeking compassionate and empathetic individuals who are interested in making a difference in the lives of others and their community.

Job Summary

The Housing Navigator assists and advocates on behalf of individuals and families to locate, secure, and retain affordable permanent housing. They plan and coordinate services for prioritized households, identify appropriate housing options, and interact with property managers and other organizations on behalf of participants. The Housing Navigator uses a comprehensive knowledge of housing and other supportive services to facilitate linkages before, during, and/or after permanent housing has been established, and works with participants to enhance their skills in utilizing these various resources. This position also serves as a general housing resource for households served in other TRH programs. They work directly with clients and alongside case managers and other service providers to address clients’ needs on entry to homeless services systems, while engaging the system, and after obtaining housing. Housing Navigators are responsible for developing relationships with and between clients and community partners and ultimately with housing professionals and landlords.  

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions, so please still apply

*Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

*This is an in-person position in Salt Lake County that may require occasional local travel.

Reports to

Housing Navigation Program Manager

Position Status

Full-Time

Shift

Monday-Friday, Occasional after hours and weekends required

Grade and Starting Rate

Grade 6, $18.90

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

EEO Class

Administrative Support Workers

Eligibility Assessment and Housing Location Support

• Complete assessments with individuals and families to assess eligibility for rental assistance programs based on grant-specific criteria and requirements.  
• Refer clients who are ineligible for rental assistance to Rapid Housing Navigators for housing support.  
• Identify strategies and resources to mitigate issues with credit reports, utility arrears, criminal records, and/ or unfavorable landlord references which may impact housing eligibility.  
• Progressively engage individuals and families in locating suitable housing options that align with their unique needs and preferences, accompanying them to property viewings as needed.  
• Maintain and accurate and current housing portfolio to provide participants with listings of potential housing options in alignment with their needs and geographic preferences.  
• Assist participants with completing applications, including preparing/obtaining any needed documentation, tracking application status, and negotiating with potential property managers.  

Unit Eligibility and Moves

• Arrange for timely housing quality standard inspections and landlord corrective actions.  
• Complete and compile unit eligibility paperwork, including determining rent reasonableness for inspected units, prior to lease approval and rental assistance.  
• Oversee negotiation of the lease agreement between client and property manager and participate with the case manager and client in lease signing to ensure clients understand the parameters of the agreement and their rental assistance.  

• Coordinate moves with households and set up food and furniture vouchers and scheduling initial case management

Ongoing Support in Housing

• Maintain clear and consistent communication with clients, case managers and property to address any emerging issues related to housing and community adjustment, engaging as the point of contact and liaison with property management to improve the likelihood of housing retention.  
• Coordinate with case managers to progressively engage individuals and families on program in their housing journey, facilitating moves and adjusting rental assistance when appropriate and as needed.  
• Schedule and complete client and unit recertifications 60 days prior to expiration to ensure continued eligibility for rental assistance programs and to assist with any moves at the end of a lease term.    

Data Collection and Entry

• Ensure eligibility and recertification paperwork is completed and submitted for approval in a timely manner to ensure on-time payments and continued eligibility   
• Collect, report, and maintain accurate client and program data using approved forms and data management systems (Rise, HMIS, etc.), managing client information in accordance with agency, state, and federal guidelines. 

Team Coordination and Professional Development

• Actively participate in regular supervision, team and coordination meetings with case management and shelter teams to ensure a smooth and coordinated service delivery.    
• Attend collaborative meetings with other agencies and partners as needed.    
• Attend recommended trainings and conferences to ensure ongoing professional development.  

Other duties as assigned

Promoting Best Practice

• Demonstrates awareness and desire to understand diverse populations

• Ability to contribute to the Agency’s commitment to enhancing awareness and appreciation
• Willingness to understand that housing first, harm reduction, low barrier access to resources is best practice and essential to our mission at The Road Home.
• Ability to set and maintain good boundaries, using Trauma-Informed Care as a guideline

*Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Lived, work or volunteer experience preferred or a degree in a related field.  
• Experience working or volunteering with diverse populations.  

Required Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to diverse populations. Ability to contribute to the agency’s commitment to enhancing awareness and appreciation of diverse ethnic and cultural heritages.    

• Familiarity with Trauma-Informed Care and Housing First philosophies.   

• Self-directed and collaborative team member who can accept feedback.   

• Ability to communicate effectively and handle difficult situations with professionalism, compassion and from a trauma-informed perspective.   

• Excellent organizational and computer skills (Microsoft Suite, Calendar, Tracking, e-mail, ETC)   

• Demonstrated experience cultivating collaborative relationships with community partners.   

• Must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable to drive an agency vehicle.    

• Must pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen.

Physical and Equipment Requirements

• Ability to lift 25 pounds.   

• Ability to stand and walk for at least an hour at a time.   
• Ability to drive a vehicle and access to a personal vehicle. Staff are eligible for mileage reimbursement when using a personal vehicle. 

Benefits

The Road Home is a 501c3 non-profit social services agency whose mission is to help people step out of homelessness and back into our community.

Come be part of the solution.

We have a robust, reasonably priced, and inclusive benefits plan for full and part-time employees (25-40 hours/week)

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• HSA, FSA, HRA (We reimburse part of your deductible)
• Retirement Plan (403B with TRH contribution and match)
• FREE Life Insurance for employees
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & 12 Public Holidays)
• One Floating Holiday Per Year
• Free Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free Training & Development
• Tuition Assistance for a wide variety of classes

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is essential to The Road Home’s mission of helping people experiencing homelessness move back into housing. We know that having a more diverse team makes our organization stronger and leads to better experiences and outcomes for the people in our programs.  

---