Housing Navigator

The mission of Hope the Mission’s mission is to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions.

The Housing Navigator will provide field-based services to single adult individuals experiencing homelessness as they transition into permanent housing.

The selected candidate’s primary responsibilities are to assess for permanent housing opportunities and locate best fit housing placement options, provide housing stability services, including implementation of housing stabilization plans, and coordination of multiple services to meet each clients' needs. Navigators are also responsible for building and maintaining good working relationships with landlords/management companies/property owners as well as with other homeless service providers and partnering agencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist Participants with completing Housing Voucher applications. This can include LAHSA application.requirements, PHA application requirements, any related assessments and resulting coordination needed to sufficiently provide housing support for each participant.
• Responsible for providing support to homeless individuals in the following areas: housing focused case management, housing readiness, accessing housing assistance programs, completing housing applications, advocacy, housing search and placement, etc.
• Conduct assessment to determine appropriate permanent housing intervention and service needs
• Navigate persons to permanent housing placement or programs that will assist with safe and stable housing Time Limited Subsidy, DHS- Housing for Health, Homeless Section 8, Tenant-Based Supportive Housing, Housing Choice Voucher Program, HOPWA, VASH, Project Based Housing, SRO, Shared Housing, Low Income Housing, etc.
• Responsible for developing a Housing & Services Plan (HSP) to streamline participants towards permanent housing and specific goals if needed.
• Connect program participants to community resources that will support the goal of permanent housing acquisition (credit repair, legal aid, housing rights, etc.)
• Assist clients in obtaining move-in assistance resources as available (deposit assistance, furniture, etc.)
• Responsible for work in collaboration with any and all HTM programs and program staff.
• Follow-up with each participant on a regular basis to ensure they are making progress towards their goals
• Responsible for completing and maintaining current documents required for the client files, including assessments, individualized housing plans, case notes, housing applications, housing vouchers, lease agreements, exit reports, etc.

Other duties include

• Develop effective, trusting relationships with program participants
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with landlords, sober livings, and other housing providers to establish a “database” of available housing units
• Attend and participate in Team Meetings, Trainings, Case Conferencing, Meetings, Coalition Meetings, Homeless Services Meetings, etc.
• The candidate should demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving, the flexibility to adapt to changing situations, and a strong sense of accountability to manage tasks independently. End-of-day reports must be sent to the Program Manager to provide updates on progress, highlight any issues encountered, and outline plans for the following day.
• Responsible for maintaining thorough and accurate records in both written form (hard copies) and through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is required
• Responsible for meeting specific performance outcomes for applicable LAHSA contracts
• Submitting reports, documentation and connecting with outside agencies
• Establish and/or maintain good rapport and working arrangements with co-workers, including the management team and other staff
• Facilitate and supervise regularly scheduled departmental staff meetings and resident house meetings
• Uphold all HTM and LAHSA Rules, Regulations, and Policies.
• Use de-escalation and mediation techniques to help clients work through conflict
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Understand and support the mission statement of Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission
• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or related field or three (3) years' experiences working with the homeless or similar population (preferably in a housing related capacity)
• Must possess solid proficiency of Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must possess basic grammar and spelling skills
• Possess the necessary initiative, adaptability, and responsibility to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent time management skills. Must possess the ability to meet deadlines and work with attention to detail
• Must possess excellent problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Trauma Informed principles
• Knowledge of HUD guidelines on Subsidized Housing Programs
• Experience working with a diverse population, with sensitivity to differences in culture, religion, sexual orientation, race, age, and physical and mental illness
• Valid CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
• Must be TB-cleared prior to hiring
• A criminal background check is required
• A Valid CA driver's license is required
• HTM is requiring staff to utilize masks when in the office and be vaccinated or provide an exempted doctors note.