Housing Navigator

Metropolitan Family Services • Chicago, IL

15h • Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services is hiring a full-time Housing Navigator at its Calumet office. The role provides outreach, in-person housing support, and stabilization services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Housing Navigator conducts strengths-based assessments, offers short-term client-centered interventions, connects clients with housing and other community resources, and documents services and outcomes in HMIS and client files. The position requires community-based work, travel between sites, and driving clients in a personally owned vehicle. The employee participates in supervision, meetings, training, and professional development, and follows program, contract, grant, and agency requirements.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and at least 4 years of work experience, or an associate’s degree and at least 2 years of work experience; preferably in homelessness services or a social-service-related capacity.
• Experience working directly with individuals or families experiencing homelessness in outreach, housing navigation, or supportive-services settings.
• Ability to provide adequate client services and organize and manage work efficiently.
• Mobility to work with 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 to track data.
• Ability to pass relevant screening and criminal background checks.
• Driving for work is required, including transporting clients in a personally owned vehicle; travel between sites is required.
• Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including walking stairs to clients’ apartments and occasionally lifting or moving up to 25 pounds.

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; may be required for particular programs or sites.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach and engagement with individuals and families experiencing homelessness in shelters, encampments, drop-in centers, and other community locations.
• Provide direct, in-person housing support and stabilization, including crisis intervention, problem-solving, emotional support, advocacy, life skills development, and community referrals.
• Conduct strengths-based assessments to identify client needs, housing barriers, and immediate stabilization concerns, and provide short-term, client-centered interventions.
• Maintain knowledge of agency programs and community housing, healthcare, and supportive services; 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.
• Follow contract, grant, and program expectations, including timelines, performance measures, and reporting requirements.
• Respond to client crises and emergencies according to 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.
• Link clients to essential support services 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
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Employer contributions to HSA accounts: $2,000 for individual coverage and $4,000 for family coverage, prorated to benefits start date
• Free Teladoc general medicine and behavioral health services for team members
• 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