Housing Navigator - Loft
About The Position
Housing Matters partners with individuals and families to create pathways out of their homelessness into permanent housing. We are a leader in working to end homelessness – and we want you to be part of our team! We are looking for individuals eager to make a difference and willing to enthusiastically commit to joining our vision that homelessness in Santa Cruz County should be rare, brief, and non-recurring. Our Emergency Shelter, aka the "Loft", is a low-barrier shelter for up to 43 individuals at a time. The Loft is open to adults who are currently experiencing homelessness and who are partnering with us to end that homelessness. The Housing Navigator II is a journey-level class and is expected to work with a minimum amount of supervision to conduct housing navigation, and secure housing placements in coordination with their team, program, and the agency through new training, strategies, partnerships, and other activities.
Requirements
- Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Typical ways to obtain this knowledge would be:
- A minimum of two years of experience performing social service casework services comparable to a Case Manager I or Housing Navigator I at Housing Matters in an exceptional manner exceeding all standards and abilities
- A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college with a major in social work, social welfare, human services, or one of the social or behavioral sciences
- Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License
- Basic principles and trends of affordable housing
- Federal and State housing regulations, programs, and procedures
- Community resources
- Public social service and assistance programs
- Interviewing and record-keeping techniques
- Knowledge of the specialized program area to which assigned
- County and state affordable housing policies, procedures, and programs
- Housing inspections
- Grant compliance reporting
Responsibilities
- Conduct outreach and relationship building
- Search daily for housing and reach out to available units
- Coordinate regularly with Housing Navigators and Case Managers, including attending collaborative working group meetings
- Develop rapport and communication with both property managers and program clients
- Conduct, with Case Managers, housing needs assessment and client-driven housing searches in neighborhoods that are a good fit for the individual clients and families.
- Act as an advocate in securing appropriate housing
- Facilitate rental agreements with landlords in scattered site apartments and ensure participant’s understanding of rental agreements, housing policies, and procedures
- Conduct home visits with clients
- Maintain extensive, accurate records, data, and documentation of services
- Participate in Housing Matters and Case Management/Supportive Services staff meetings, case reviews, and related functions
- Maintain effective relationships with community partners and represent Housing Matters professionally in the community
- Transport program participants in Housing Matters vehicles to meetings and appointments in accordance with program requirements
- Maintain confidential, professional boundaries with all program participants
Benefits
- Medical plans - 100% employee coverage
- Dental - 100% employee coverage
- Vision - 100% employee coverage
- Life insurance (UNUM) - 100% employee coverage
- Chiropractic and Acupuncture (for those who elect medical insurance) - 100% employee coverage
- 403b Retirement Savings matched up to 3% dollar-for-dollar with no vesting period
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Travel Assistance
- PTO: 20 days annually, 1 paid floating holiday, 9 paid holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
