Housing Navigator

Under the direction of the Street Health Outreach Director, the Housing Navigator will provide Housing Transition Navigation (HN) services to consumers experiencing homelessness to support obtaining permanent housing reducing utilization of crisis and inpatient health care resources among those receiving services. By providing outreach to engage households referred by Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) to support a transition from homelessness into permanent housing. The Housing Navigator supports the Street Health departments objectives which include, utilizing Housing First principles to help the homeless and formerly homeless households obtain, move into, and keep their homes.

This is a full-time benefited position working 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday with periodic Saturday hours.

Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center is a non-profit community health center that is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of our community by providing accessible, high quality care by integrating primary care, dental care, WIC support, mental health counseling, community health education and more.

Housing Navigation objectives include:

• Utilizing Housing First principles to help homeless and formerly homeless households obtain, move into, and keep their homes;
• Outreaching to and engaging households referred by HCSA to support a transition from homelessness into permanent housing;
• Providing Housing Transition Navigation (HN) services to consumers experiencing homelessness to support obtaining permanent housing;
• Reducing utilization of crisis and inpatient health care resources among those receiving services;
• Capturing real-time data in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) including information about enrollment, service needs and provisions, changes in current living situation, and performance outcomes, on all consumers served.

Compensation: $19.79 - $24.00 per hour, depending on experience.

Responsibilities:

• Conducting a tenant screening and housing assessment that identifies the Household’s preferences and barriers related to successful tenancy. The assessment may include collecting information on the Household’s housing needs and on potential housing transition barriers, as well as identification of housing retention barriers.
• Developing an individualized housing support plan, including short- and long-term measurable goals, establishes the Household’s approach to meeting the goal, and identifies when other Providers or services, both reimbursed and not reimbursed by Medi-Cal, may be required to meet the goal.
• Searching for housing and presenting options to clients.
• Assisting with housing applications and securing required documentation (e.g., Social Security card, birth certificate, prior rental history).
• Assisting with benefits advocacy, including assistance with obtaining identification and documentation for Supplemental Security Income eligibility and supporting the SSI application process.
• Identifying and securing available resources to assist with subsidizing rent (such as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) or state and local assistance programs) and matching available rental subsidy resources to Consumers.
• Identifying and securing resources to cover expenses, such as security deposit, moving costs, adaptive aids, environmental modifications, moving costs, and other one-time expenses.
• Ensuring that the living environment is safe and ready for move-in.
• Communicating and advocating on behalf of the Consumers with landlords.
• Assisting with arranging for and supporting the details of the move.
• Identifying, coordinating, securing, or funding non-emergency, non-medical transportation to assist Consumers’ mobility to ensure reasonable accommodations and access to housing options prior to transition and on move-in day.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma required.
• Associate of Arts Degree preferred, but not required.
• Valid Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Card required prior to hire.
• Minimum of 1 year experience providing outreach to chronically homeless individuals preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Experience collaborating with healthcare organizations and providers preferred.
• Experience with Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) preferred.
• Lived experience of homelessness valued.

Qualifications:

• Highly dependable, independent, and must have professional demeanor.
• Good communication and customer relation skills; ability to work well within a team and independently.
• Proficiency in computer operations; navigational skills.
• Sound decision-making skills including problem solving.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the special needs of unsheltered people facing complex challenges.
• Able to bring compassion, patience, tenacity, and dedication to the homeless and resident community.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet tight timeframes.
• Strong understanding of the health care and community resources.
• Ability to learn quickly and retain complex information.
• Travel to work assignments as assigned by supervisor required.

Benefits

We offer excellent benefits including: medical (100% paid co-payments, premiums, etc.), dental, vision (including dependent and domestic partner coverage), generous paid leave benefits including holidays, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement plans with an Employer match, tuition reimbursement, monthly treats, pet insurance, and more.