Housing Navigator

Equitable Social Solutions•Escondido, CA

10d

About The Position

The Housing Navigator works with clients experiencing homelessness to secure immediate shelter, including hotel and motel placements, and helps them overcome barriers to obtaining and retaining housing and moving toward self-sufficiency. The role manages referrals from County and community sources according to Tier One and Tier Two guidelines, maintains a revolving caseload, assesses clients’ needs, and determines appropriate levels of service on a case-by-case basis. The position develops action and stabilization plans with clients, provides and documents individual and group counseling and referral services, and helps resolve emergency problems and expedite needed services. It determines eligibility for supportive services, issues funds and necessities as needed, and documents expenditures, payments, and services. The Housing Navigator also works with community property owners and managers to promote permanent housing opportunities for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The role requires clear, persuasive communication and effective working relationships with clients, staff, agencies, employers, property owners and managers, mechanics, hotel and motel operators, and other service providers. It involves maintaining confidential records, applying regulations, using data-processing systems, completing forms, scheduling appointments, prioritizing a large volume of work under strict deadlines, and traveling throughout the County.

Requirements

Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office, email, and data entry.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Driver’s license with a good driving record.
Ability to travel throughout the County.
Ability to communicate information clearly to groups and build effective working relationships with a range of service providers and community partners.
Ability to exercise appropriate judgment, maintain confidentiality, pay attention to detail, and manage a large workload under strict deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field, or equivalent skills and experience.
Knowledge of the homeless community and County demographics.

Responsibilities

Communicate clearly and persuasively with clients, staff, agencies, employers, property owners and managers, mechanics, hotel and motel operators, and other service providers.
Present and explain information to groups.
Assess client needs and conduct sensitive, in-depth interviews.
Help clients experiencing homelessness obtain immediate shelter and address barriers to obtaining and retaining housing and achieving self-sufficiency.
Manage and process County and community referrals according to Tier One and Tier Two guidelines.
Manage and maintain a revolving caseload and assess clients to determine appropriate service levels.
Refer clients to agencies for specialized services or counseling.
Develop action and stabilization plans with clients.
Provide and document individual and group counseling and referral services.
Help develop immediate solutions to emergency problems and expedite delivery of needed services.
Determine approval of supportive services based on established criteria.
Use data-processing systems; complete documents and forms; maintain records and files; and schedule appointments.
Provide supportive services and issue additional funds and necessities to clients as needed.
Document all client-related expenditures, payments, and service issuances.
Work with prospective community property owners and managers through outreach and education to promote permanent housing opportunities for homeless individuals and families.
Maintain confidentiality of files and records, apply regulations to daily duties, exercise appropriate judgment when answering questions or releasing information, and prioritize and complete work within strict deadlines.
Travel throughout the County.
Perform other duties as assigned.