Housing Navigator

Sarahs Inn•Forest Park, IL

1d•$48,000 - $52,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Sarah’s Inn is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by domestic violence and preventing future cycles of violence. Our services and initiatives focus on ending relationship violence through crisis intervention, community education, and violence prevention programs for youth. The Housing & Employment Navigator plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive services to families impacted by domestic violence, including housing navigation, employment assistance, crisis intervention, emotional support, safety planning, advocacy, referrals, and educational services. This position also supports the Housing Program Team by facilitating the entry of families into various housing options such as Coordinated Entry (CE) and the Statewide Referral Network (SRN).

Requirements

BA degree and/or equivalent experience required
One year or more experience providing direct service advocacy on behalf of victims of domestic violence and their families and/or on behalf of victims of community violence preferred.
One year or more experience in working with homeless populations and HMIS and coordinated entry systems preferred.
One year or more experience providing counseling, advocacy, and/or case management services to families (volunteer and internship experiences included).
Completion of an Illinois Certified 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training preferred or required to complete within two months of employment.
One year or more experience in developing and cultivating partnerships.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills.
Demonstrated computer experience.
Knowledge of victims’, children and youth issues specifically related to domestic violence.
Knowledge of victim and witness’ issues specifically related to community violence.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and handle a variety of tasks, and meet established deadlines.
Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with a wide variety of people, including but not limited to board members, staff, volunteers, interns, government officials, community partners, organizational donors and media.
Commitment to and experience in working with people from diverse cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to work some evening and weekend hours.
Valid driver’s license, access to a reliable car with current insurance.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish, oral and written, preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive and quality services to support victims of domestic violence and their families.
Organize and prioritize daily services and responsibilities to ensure that client needs are met.
Ensure professional relationships with clients to create an atmosphere of empathy, safety and support.
Attend staffing meetings with Housing Forward staff, as needed, to case manage. If not directly seeing the family for services (i.e. being seeing by SI Counselors or Spanish speaking staff) be informed of updates, progress, and anything needed by the family for these meetings.
Maintain accurate and current information regarding issues and policies impacting clients and their families.
Coordinate responsibilities with team members, including Housing Forward staff, to ensure client needs are met.
Update client files in a timely and accurate manner.
Update client case notes and service codes in a timely and accurate manner.
Achieve productivity expectations pertaining to service hours.
Maintain knowledge of internal organizational guidelines and protocols.
Work effectively with Intervention interns and volunteers.
Provide coverage on the 24-hour crisis line during business hours (will be assigned shifts) and assistance with on-call.
Assist qualifying clients with Housing Navigation, including apartment searches, landlord negotiations, and accompanying participants to viewings.
Assist participants with housing applications, including preparing documentation and tracking status.
Advocate on behalf of participants to expedite their access to housing.
Arrange for timely inspections and landlord corrective actions.
Determine rent reasonableness for inspected units prior to rental assistance and lease approval for Safe Bridge Project Participants.
Explain and review the lease and sublease agreement with the incoming participant(s)/sub-tenant.
Work with case managers to address any emerging issues related to housing and community adjustment.
Conduct outreach and expand access to housing by cultivating relationships with property owners and management companies.
Develop expertise in available affordable housing sites and housing subsidies.
Attend collaborative meetings and network with other agencies and coalitions.
Serve as the primary liaison for Sarah's Inn's employment partnerships by coordinating collaborations with staffing agencies, employers, and workforce development organizations.
Coordinate employment readiness presentations, conduct client outreach, follow up on appointments and referrals, and maintain tracking systems.
Develop individualized employment plans with clients by identifying career goals, employment barriers, and measurable steps toward obtaining and maintaining employment.
Build and maintain a comprehensive database of employment resources.
Develop, cultivate, and expand strategic partnerships with employers, staffing agencies, educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and community partners.
Complete training on the Statewide Referral Network (SRN) System and utilize it to access housing services for clients.
Enter eligible families into the SRN system and coordinate/follow-up with them.
Work with Housing Program Staff and the Advocacy and Counseling Team to coordinate clients needing housing through the SRN System.
Work with Sarah’s Inn staff to enter their clients into the Statewide Referral Network System.
Attend meetings and trainings pertaining to Sarah’s Inn Statewide Referral Network System.
Complete training on the Coordinated Entry (CE) System and utilize it to access housing services for clients.
Enter eligible families into the CE system and coordinate/follow-up with them.
Work with the DV CE Coordinator and the Advocacy and Counseling Team to coordinate clients needing housing through the CE System.
When needed, work with Sarah’s Inn staff to enter their clients into the Coordinated Entry System.
Represent the organization with professionalism at community meetings and events.
Participate and provide leadership on various external committees, task forces, and councils as assigned.
Collaborate with other community and county agencies on behalf of the clients we serve.
Develop and maintain partnerships with community programs that are in line with the mission of Sarah’s Inn.
Participate in the on-call rotation for crisis line to support volunteers and clients.
Provide back-up support using the on-call phone for the crisis line off hours (evenings, nights, and weekends).
Ensure support of volunteers on the line, providing coverage, answering questions, and taking over when clients need staff-approved assistance.
Text shift reminders to volunteers.
Respond to text line requests when on-call.
Provide prompt feedback about concerns or successes during the on-call shift to the Volunteer and In-Kind Coordinator.
Responsible for understanding and implementing the on-call and financial assistance procedures.
Provide community education presentations and professional trainings.
Participate in community awareness events.
Provide internal training to staff, volunteers, and interns.