Community Resource Navigator

OUR JUST FUTURE • Portland, OR

3d • $21 - $24 • Onsite

About The Position

The Community Resource Navigator supports shelter participants in increasing stability by connecting them to housing pathways, community services, and essential resources. This role focuses on navigation rather than financial assistance, helping participants understand available housing options, complete required documentation, and engage with the appropriate housing providers and systems. Working closely with shelter staff, participants, and partner agencies, the Navigator identifies individual needs, provides light case support, and coordinates referrals to housing programs, social services, healthcare, employment supports, benefits, and other community-based resources. This position strengthens collaboration between agencies, improves access to services, and helps reduce the barriers participants face when navigating complex housing and social service systems. While the role does not include direct financial assistance or dedicated housing case management, the Navigator plays a key part in resource coordination, housing readiness support, and connecting participants to external housing providers and programs. The position also assists with developing new resource partnerships and service pathways that enhance participant stability and community integration. In collaboration with the Grant Coordinator, the Navigator identifies resource gaps and supports the exploration of funding opportunities that expand services and meet emerging participant needs.

Requirements

• Knowledge of barriers faced by people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and systemic inequity in Multnomah County.
• Knowledge of community resources and social‑service systems (housing, mental‑health, DV/SA, substance use, culturally specific agencies).
• Knowledge of HIPAA, VAWA/DV confidentiality, trauma‑informed and harm‑reduction principles.
• Knowledge of basic data‑management concepts; prior use of HMIS, ETO, or similar databases strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as a vital and contributing part of a team.
• Ability to partner with participants to identify their strengths, needs, options, and effective solutions.
• Ability to non-judgmentally elicit information and help problem solve around sensitive issues including, but not limited to, alcohol and drug use, domestic violence, child abuse and mental health, and criminal activity.
• Ability to plan and coordinate delivery of services and follow-up.
• Ability to empower and support individuals in life choices and change.
• Ability to provide leadership in small groups, facilitate group processes (such as workshops or resource sessions), and relate and work cooperatively with volunteers and staff.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships within Our Just Future and with property managers, public and private agencies, the general public, and program participants.
• Ability to provide culturally responsive services to a broad diversity of people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Ability to prepare and maintain clear, accurate, complete, and timely records and reports.
• Ability to understand and follow complex written and oral instructions, rules, and procedures.
• Ability to represent Our Just Future at inter-agency and funder meetings as requested by supervisor.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with all participants served.
• Ability to maintain professional conduct within the agency, with community partners, and the public in the performance of work
• Bachelor’s degree in a social service/social sciences field with at least six (6) months experience in case management, housing navigation, or resource coordination with individuals or families; or any combination of education and work experience in social services and case management totaling two (2) years.
• Experience with crisis intervention, community networking, and resource development.
• Experience delivering services using Assertive Engagement techniques such as strength-based case management and motivational interviewing.
• General computer and word processing skills and willingness to learn other computer skills.
• If the employee uses a personal car during work hours, they must have a current Driver’s License and current automobile insurance carrying 100/300 limits of liability.

Nice To Haves

• Bi-lingual, bi-cultural preferred but not required.
• Rent Well Instructor certification preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with participants to identify needs, strengths, and goals, and support them in developing flexible, participant-directed action steps.
• Provide housing navigation support by helping participants understand available housing pathways, complete required documentation, and connect with external housing providers and county systems.
• Assist participants in accessing essential community resources, including healthcare, benefits, behavioral health services, employment supports, and basic-needs programs.
• Build supportive, trusting relationships with participants using Trauma-Informed Care, Assertive Engagement, Motivational Interviewing, and culturally responsive practices.
• Provide grounding, de-escalation, and crisis support to participants who may be experiencing acute stress or instability.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partner agencies, service providers, and community programs to enhance referral pathways and reduce service gaps.
• Coordinate with internal shelter staff to share information, align support strategies, and ensure consistent, collaborative service delivery.
• Bring in community resources, informational materials, and service providers based on expressed participant needs.
• Assist participants in gathering and organizing documents required for housing programs (e.g., IDs, income verification, disability documentation).
• Complete the Multnomah Shelter Screening Tool (MSST) with participants as part of Coordinated Access vulnerability assessments, following county guidelines, confidentiality standards, and data entry requirements.
• Support access to Coordinated Entry, Diversion programs, Rapid Re-Housing partners, Permanent Supportive Housing pathways, and other external housing resources.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation of participant interactions, referrals, and service activities in accordance with Our Just Future procedures and funder requirements.
• Complete required data entry in HMIS, internal databases, and tracking systems.
• Ensure participant files are compliant with internal standards, including updated case notes, action steps, and service records.
• Collaborate with the Grant Coordinator to identify emerging funding opportunities that align with shelter programs and participant needs.
• Assist with gathering participant stories, service data, and program examples needed for grant applications and reporting.
• Track resource gaps identified through participant work and communicate them to leadership to support grant development strategies.
• Maintain basic awareness of current grants supporting shelter programs to ensure services align with intended outcomes.
• Assist with implementation of new resource pathways, workshops, partnerships, and service initiatives that enhance participant access to supports.

Benefits

• Employer paid premiums for employee health insurance.
• Generous paid time off, 13 paid holidays, a floating birthday holiday and the ability to maintain a great work/life balance.
• Employer paid premiums for short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• Access to an employee assistance program.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and for dependent care.
• Professional development opportunities, including employee-driven committees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees