Housing Navigator

Metropolitan Family Services • Chicago, IL

13h • $49,500 - $55,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services is hiring a full-time Housing Navigator at its Calumet office. The role provides outreach, direct housing support, and stabilization services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Housing Navigator works in community settings, assesses client needs and barriers, provides short-term client-centered interventions, connects clients with housing and other support resources, documents services and outcomes, and collaborates with community partners while meeting program and funder requirements.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED plus at least 4 years of work experience, or an associate’s degree plus at least 2 years of work experience; experience preferably in homelessness services or a social-service-related role.
• Experience working directly with individuals or families experiencing homelessness in outreach, housing navigation, or supportive-services settings.
• Ability to provide adequate client service and organize and manage work efficiently.
• Mobility to serve a community-based caseload and ability to maintain assigned community- and home-based services.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Strong organizational skills and knowledge of Excel for data tracking.
• Ability to drive for work, transport clients in a personally owned vehicle, and travel between sites.
• Ability to pass relevant screening and criminal background checks.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, human services, or a related field.
• Experience in social services and/or gender-based violence services.
• Bilingual/bicultural skills; these may be required for particular programs or sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach and engagement to people experiencing homelessness in shelters, encampments, drop-in centers, and other community locations.
• Deliver in-person housing support and stabilization services, including crisis intervention, problem-solving, emotional support, advocacy, life-skills development, and referrals.
• Conduct strengths-based assessments of client needs, housing barriers, and stabilization concerns, and provide short-term, client-centered interventions.
• Maintain knowledge of agency programs and community housing, healthcare, and supportive-service resources; facilitate referrals and linkages.
• Administer required assessments, housing tools, and outcome measures in accordance with program and funder requirements.
• Document services, case notes, and outcomes accurately and promptly in HMIS and client files.
• Participate in supervision, team meetings, training, and program or agency-wide meetings.
• Meet contract, grant, and program expectations, including timelines, performance measures, and reporting requirements.
• Respond to client crises and emergencies in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with community partners, service providers, and referral sources, and represent the agency and housing program in the community.
• Connect clients with essential supports such as transportation assistance, childcare resources, clothing, and employment or benefit supports, as applicable.
• Stay informed about trends, best practices, and policy developments in homelessness and housing services, and participate in professional development.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on program or site needs.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Guardian dental coverage.
• VSP vision coverage.
• Employer contributions of $2,000 to individual HSA accounts and $4,000 to family HSA accounts, prorated to benefits start date.
• Free Teladoc general medicine and behavioral health services for team members.
• Ascensus 401(k) plan with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on the first day of eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED