Housing Navigator Specialist

Covenant House • New York City, NY

6d

About The Position

As a member of the Permanent Supportive Housing Program, the Housing Navigator Specialist is responsible for the coordination lead of the Housing Navigation Program funded by HUD whose goal is to secure permanent housing through any city, federal or state vouchers for Covenant House youth or any referred youth from the continuum. Reporting to the Rapid ReHousing Program Coordinator, the Housing Navigator Specialist is an energetic, creative, and diligent team member that will work closely with program staff across all sites that includes case managers, resident advisors and a cadre of specialty staff including mental health staff and employment/ educational specialist.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience with youth and housing programs, including City FHEPS ,Section 8 voucher programs, and other city, state or federal vouchers strongly preferred
• Excellent written, oral and reading skills required
• Ability to be entrepreneurial and pro-active, and an interest in helping to co-create new programs, systems and processes required
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience working directly with young people through approaches that emphasize resiliency, strength based youth development, and trauma informed care required.
• Strong multi-tasking skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects at once required.
• A strong focus on child protection and ensuring the safety of residents required.
• Experience working with diverse groups required.
• Overall flexibility in work schedule required, including weekends, evenings and holidays as needed.
• Strong leadership/management skills and an upbeat, energetic demeanor required.
• Dedicated to the mission of Covenant House.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of 20 young adults providing them with housing services that include aftercare services and developing individualized service plan toward permanent housing
• Aftercare support will include referrals to wrap around services such as mental health, medical, educational and employment and support around budgeting and rental payments
• Work closely with CHNY teams and externals providers in the continuum to ensure referrals and enrollment benchmarks are met
• Secure permanent housing for young adults utilizing Section 8, CityFHEPS, Federal, State or any other city issued vouchers to source apartments in the community
• Attend all COC HUD Navigator trainings and meetings internally and with external City and state agency partners
• Lead for technical assistance to program teams regarding voucher applications, processes and outcomes
• Lead in working with program teams around housing plan and housing search
• Escort youth to any housing related searches and/or housing appointments as needed
• Lead liaison with working and building relationships with brokers and landlords; reviewing and signing of lease
• Conduct housing inspections, either in-person or virtually, as needed for CHNY youth
• Trained in utilizing CAPS, Soars and CHNY ETO systems and any other identified data system
• Provide program teams with information regarding preparation and submission of lease packet and benefits for which youth are eligible (e.g., Enhanced One Shot Deals); review lease packets as needed
• Maintain internal tracking of all activities
• Provide education on tenant rights, responsibilities, and housing processes.
• Coordinate apartment searches, interviews, and applications.
• Navigate rental subsidy and inspection processes.
• Secure move-in assistance and coordinate with landlords.
• Assist with landlord applications, broker fees, security vouchers, and moving expenses.
• Perform other duties as needed and assigned

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• Life & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short-term and Long-term disability insurance
• Eligibility for medical benefits begins on the date of hire
• PTO includes three weeks of vacation in the first year, ten holidays, 13 sick days, five personal days, and birthday days off
• 403b with employer contribution after 12 months

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level