Housing Navigator (Day Shift)

LIFELONG HEALTH FOR ALL • Seattle, WA

12d • $23 - $36 • Onsite

About The Position

The Housing Navigator provides community-based supportive services to individuals who are experiencing, or have recently experienced, homelessness and are now living in private market or scattered site housing. The Housing Navigator engages participants at scattered sites, community locations, other non-congregate settings and other locations as requested throughout King County. The maintains a caseload of participants receiving KCRHA housing assistance and delivers services focused on both active outreach to engage individuals not yet stabilized, and housing retention support for those recently housed. Participants frequently present with histories of chronic homelessness and co-occurring mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and chronic illness. Services are delivered using Housing First and harm reduction principles within a trauma-informed framework to ensure low-barrier, participant-centered support. The Housing Navigator collaborates with participants, property management, service providers, and community partners to promote long-term housing success and self-sufficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, public health, or a related social services field
• Two (2) years of experience in direct social services or advocacy work, including assessing client needs and/or determining benefit eligibility
• Two (2) years of demonstrated experience working with marginalized populations, including individuals with histories of chronic homelessness, active or past substance use, and ongoing mental health instability.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Washington State driver's license, current automobile insurance, and reliable access to a personal vehicle for regular travel throughout King County.
• Working understanding of Housing First and harm reduction principles applied within a trauma-informed framework.
• Familiarity with the King County Continuum of Care (CoC), coordinated entry, and KCRHA-funded housing programs.
• Experience working with individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple concurrent responsibilities and meet deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.
• Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy in documentation and case management tasks.
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and ability to respond quickly to changing participant needs and program demands.
• Ability to work effectively under stressful conditions, exercising crisis management and de-escalation skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in verbal and written form.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with participants, internal staff, and external providers and partner agencies.
• Demonstrated understanding of professional boundaries in direct service settings.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Access, with the ability to utilize technology to organize information, produce reports, track data, and improve workflow efficiency.
• Experience with electronic case noting, document collection and storage, and case management databases.

Nice To Haves

• HMIS experience strongly preferred.
• Lived experience with homelessness, housing instability, or related systems is valued and welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular visits to clients in private market housing.
• Build rapport and maintain ongoing relationships with individuals who may be resistant to or have had prior negative experiences with service systems.
• Perform initial needs assessments, including housing history, health status, benefit eligibility, and barriers to housing stability.
• Complete coordinated entry assessments (e.g., VI-SPDAT or successor tool) in accordance with King County Continuum of Care (CoC) standards and KCRHA program requirements.
• Maintain an active caseload of participants receiving KCRHA housing assistance; provide consistent, frequency-appropriate contact based on participant acuity.
• Develop individualized housing stability plans in partnership with each participant, incorporating their stated goals and identified needs.
• Support participants with housing applications, landlord communication, lease renewals, and early and ongoing tenancy stabilization.
• Address issues that may jeopardize housing placement, including lease violations, neighbor conflicts, and loss of income or benefits.
• Collaborate with property management to support successful tenancy and resolve concerns while advocating for participants.
• Conduct ongoing assessments of participant needs across housing, health, financial stability, employment, and overall wellbeing.
• Develop and regularly update goal-oriented service plans that reflect participant priorities and program requirements.
• Coordinate access to community resources, including behavioral health services, medical care, benefits enrollment, employment supports, and legal aid.
• Assist participants in navigating public systems including DSHS, Social Security Administration, Medicaid/Apple Health, and other entitlement programs.
• Provide advocacy on behalf of participants with landlords, service systems, and community partners.
• Deliver timely crisis intervention; coordinate with behavioral health, medical, and emergency response partners as needed.
• Respond to urgent participant needs with flexibility, applying de-escalation skills and sound professional judgment.
• Maintain timely, accurate case notes and service records in HMIS and any additional electronic case management platforms required by the program.
• Complete all required program documentation in accordance with KCRHA, funder, and organizational standards.
• Comply with all applicable regulations including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
• Participate in case conferencing, team meetings, and coordinated entry processes.
• Maintain working relationships with community providers, partner agencies, and internal Lifelong teams to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Represent Lifelong at interagency meetings, coalitions, and community tables as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Generous vacation (3 weeks your first year), sick leave, and 2 personal days a year
• 401(k) match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life insurance options
• Long term disability
• Mass transit subsidy
• 15 paid holidays per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level