Housing Navigator

2397c9ca-f6c6-4ebd-a2e3-3f4e588d2b85•Clearwater, FL

1d•$0 - $16

About The Position

The Housing Navigator identifies and develops a pool of safe, sanitary, available housing opportunities for eligible clients and supports timely placement in stable, affordable housing, with a focus on HUD VASH and veteran clients. The role includes community outreach, landlord identification and recruitment, housing searches, lease and contract negotiation, housing quality inspections, coordination with local housing entities, liaison work among tenants, landlords, case managers, and the agency, and mediation of concerns to help prevent returns to homelessness. The position maintains an updated database of available housing, monitors landlord and property management compliance with HUD standards, and keeps required administrative, legal, and statistical records, including HMIS data. It networks with partner agencies and may represent Vincentian CARES at community events, including public speaking and presentations. The Housing Navigator is expected to work collaboratively and respectfully with clients, colleagues, landlords, and community partners in support of the agency’s mission. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field. A comparable combination of training, education, or experience may be substituted if approved by the Chief Executive Officer before hire. Prior property management experience, a real estate license, and experience working with people experiencing homelessness are preferred; sales experience is listed. The role requires a flexible schedule that may include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, and occasional work outside the established schedule or at odd hours. The work environment includes office and site work, occasional noise, possible exposure to communicable disease, and possible verbal abuse or similar behavior from clients. Physical duties include prolonged computer workstation sitting, standing, bending, reaching, lifting up to 20 pounds, driving, walking, and operating standard office equipment. A Level 2 background screening is required. A valid Florida driver’s license is required when driving an agency or personal vehicle for company business, and reliable transportation is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field; a comparable amount of training, education, or experience may be substituted if approved by the Chief Executive Officer before hire.
Sales experience.
Ability to speak, write, and understand English; strong oral and written communication and listening skills.
Basic computer skills, including current software and Microsoft Office products.
Knowledge of business English, spelling, punctuation, office practices and procedures, and general mathematics involving percentages, allocations, and discounts.
Ability to work sensitively and respectfully with culturally, racially, ethnically, and economically diverse clients, staff, and volunteers.
Flexible work schedule, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays; ability to work outside the established schedule or odd hours as needed.
Organization and time-management skills, including setting limits, meeting deadlines, multitasking, prioritizing, self-motivation, and delivering results.
Problem-solving skills and ability to identify issues and develop solutions.
Comfort making warm and cold calls to landlords and promoting housing options.
Positive and upbeat attitude; mission-driven outlook, integrity, passion, and adherence to high ethical standards.
Ability and willingness to receive feedback and learn new skills to improve job performance.
Evidence of alignment with the Vincentian CARES mission and values.
Successfully pass law enforcement background screening; a Level 2 screening through the Florida Background Screening Clearinghouse is required.
Valid Florida driver’s license if driving an agency vehicle or personal vehicle for company business.
Reliable transportation.
Ability to work effectively as a team member and establish effective working relationships with staff, management, outside organizations, and service providers.
Commitment to empowering others to solve their own problems and to serving all people with respect and compassion.
Ability to establish respectful relationships with people served, help them gain skills and confidence, maintain a helping role, and intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
Ability to handle diverse work problems, resolve conflict, make effective decisions under pressure, listen objectively, identify underlying problems, and assist in achieving successful conclusions.
Ability to relate and interact with volunteers, clients, contractors, visitors, and employees at all levels of the agency.
Ability to perform the described physical functions, with reasonable accommodation where appropriate, including prolonged sitting, standing, bending, reaching, lifting up to 20 pounds, driving, walking, and operating office equipment.

Nice To Haves

Prior property management experience.
Real estate license.
Prior experience working with the homeless population.

Responsibilities

Identify and engage landlords using various methods to develop sufficient affordable housing reserves for agency clients, with a focus on HUD VASH and veteran clients.
Understand basic landlord-tenant law, rental contracts, and fair housing requirements to assist landlords, program participants, and case managers.
Monitor owners, landlords, and property management companies for compliance with HUD standards.
Maintain linkage among the agency, case managers, landlords, and clients.
Develop and maintain an updated database or listing of available housing reserves for clients.
Coordinate and perform Housing Quality Standards inspections.
Maintain required legal and administrative records and statistical data for Vincentian CARES and program funders, including HMIS records.
Network and collaborate with other agencies and represent the agency at community functions, which may include public speaking and presentations as directed by the Director of Landlord Engagement.
Serve all people with respect, compassion, and cooperation, and work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders.
Comply with applicable training requirements and company safety, personnel, operational, and work-schedule policies and procedures.
Contribute positively as a productive and cooperative team member and perform other duties as needed to fulfill the Vincentian CARES mission.
Promote housing options, explain property types and their benefits, and make warm and cold calls to landlords.
Handle new and diverse work problems, resolve problems and conflict, make effective decisions under pressure, and help bring issues to successful conclusions.