Housing Navigation Specialist I

Position: Housing Navigation Specialist I #905406

Program: Housing Navigation

Department: Youth Services

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm

Status: 100%, Full-Time, Temporary, Non-Exempt

Benefits: Sick accruals

Center's Mission:

Building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Youth Center serves youth up to the age of 24 who are currently at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. The Youth Center offers services in an LGBTQ+ safe and affirming environment and serves as an entry point to assist youth making the transition from homelessness to housing. Our services include meals, clothing, support groups, a charter high school, GED and college prep program, an employment preparation, training and placement program, case management, counseling, a crisis shelter and a transitional living program (TLP). Our community-based programs include services for youth at-home, in school or in systems of care.

JOB SUMMARY: Under supervision of the Program Supervisor, the Housing Navigator is responsible for meeting contract requirements while assisting clients with supportive services with a client-centric approach. The Housing Navigator will focus on quickly resolving the crisis of homelessness for eligible participants by moving them into emergency, transitional, and permanent housing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Act as primary contact for clients throughout their full length of participation in the program.
• Complete a comprehensive intake and assessment of new participants to help determine needs, eligibility, interests, and goals.
• Assess and implement necessary interventions to reduce barriers to housing.
• Assist the client to help program participants rapidly obtain and stabilize in permanent housing as available.
• Link client to supportive services such as mental health, health, substance abuse, employment, and education both at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and with external service providers.
• Provide linkage to resources such as DPSS, Social Security, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and act as liaison for clients with those resources.
• Match clients with appropriate housing opportunities through field-based housing search, including but not limited to short-term crisis housing, and affordable housing.
• Collect eligibility documents as required.
• Provide assistance with the completion of all housing applications for placements.
• Work with clients and their current and previous supports to develop individual case plans to help them meet initial and intermediate goals in the areas of education and employment, housing stability, financial stability, positive healthy outcomes, and permanent connections.
• Conduct required home and field visits to ensure clients are successfully maintaining their housing.
• Work effectively and creatively as a member of an interdisciplinary team to support the needs of clients.
• Attend and present clients in weekly case conference meetings to coordinate services with internal and outside service providers.
• Maintain statistical client data, including entering client data into HMIS Clarity database, completing standardized screening, and entering point of contact.
• Maintain complete and accurate files documenting all care and services provided in the client's Electronic Record.
• Connect with participants and landlords.
• Interact in a professional manner with staff and clients.
• Use standard office machinery including personal computers and printers in performance of duties.
• Assist in data auditing tasks, prepare reports as required, and submit in a timely manner.
• Participate in staff meetings, agency meetings, planning meetings, and other meetings as needed.
• Comply with requirements of OSHA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ people.
• A passion for the Center's work and its mission to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in direct service as a case manager with homeless clients, clients with chronic illnesses, or housing case management/navigation.
• Knowledge of community resources and referrals for mental health, case management, and additional appropriate referrals.
• Access to reliable transportation and the ability to be insured.
• AHA CPR certification.
• Training in Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed training, a plus.
• Ability to have a "whatever it takes" attitude when working with challenging individuals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong organizational, detail, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent Computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office, word processing, Electronic Health Records, and other software systems.
• Ability to be self-motivated and dedicated to initiating and completing complex tasks.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, be detailed oriented, and maintain strict confidentiality of medical information.
• Able to work well independently with minimum supervision.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish fluency), a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from all persons regardless of their race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical/physical/mental condition, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical condition, age, marital status, or veteran status.