Housing Navigator

Vincentian CARES•Clearwater, FL

5d•$0 - $22

About The Position

The Housing Navigator identifies safe, sanitary, available housing 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; identifying and recruiting prospective landlords; searching for housing; negotiating leases and contracts; inspecting units for compliance with federal housing quality standards; coordinating with local housing entities; serving as a liaison between tenants and landlords; and mediating concerns to help prevent returns to homelessness. The Housing Navigator maintains housing availability information and required administrative, legal, and statistical records, including data in HMIS. The role represents the agency in community settings and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders. It requires a flexible schedule that may include evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, or other hours as needed. Work takes place in an office or site setting and may involve driving, occasional noise, possible exposure to communicable disease or verbal abuse, and handling confidential information. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field, although relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. The position requires communication, organization, problem-solving, computer, teamwork, and landlord outreach skills, as well as a commitment to the Vincentian CARES mission and respect for cultural diversity. A Level 2 background screening is required. A Florida driver's license is required when driving an agency or personal vehicle for company business, and reliable transportation is required. The role involves prolonged computer work and may require sitting, standing, bending, reaching, walking, driving, and lifting up to 20 pounds. Benefits listed include health, life, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 120 hours of PTO accrued biweekly beginning on the first day of employment; 13 paid holidays; and a 403(b) with an employer match up to 3%.

Requirements

Able to speak, write, and understand English; strong communication and listening skills.
Basic computer skills; additional computer skills using current software and Microsoft Office products.
Sensitivity to and respect for cultural diversity, and ability to work with diverse racial, ethnic, and economic groups.
Flexible work schedule, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to organize and prioritize work, manage time, work under deadlines, multitask, self-motivate, and deliver results.
Problem-solving skills and ability to identify issues and develop solutions.
Comfort with warm and cold calling landlords and promoting housing options.
Ability to maintain a positive attitude and demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, openness to feedback, and willingness to learn.
Successfully pass the required Level 2 background screening through the Florida Background Screening Clearinghouse.
Valid Florida driver's license when driving an agency vehicle or personal vehicle for company business; reliable transportation.
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field, or relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
Strong oral and written communication skills; knowledge of Business English, spelling, punctuation, office practices, and general math related to percentages, allocations, and discounts.
Ability to work as a team member and establish effective relationships with staff, management, outside organizations, service providers, and professionals.
Commitment to empowering others, serving with respect and compassion, and helping people develop skills and confidence.
Ability to maintain an appropriate helping role, intervene to meet service goals, handle conflict, resolve problems, and make effective decisions under pressure.
Ability to listen objectively, identify underlying problems, and help bring issues to a successful conclusion.
Ability to handle daily new and diverse work problems and interact with clients, volunteers, contractors, visitors, and employees at all levels.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Identify and engage landlords to build an adequate supply of affordable housing for agency clients, particularly HUD VASH and veteran clients.
Understand and assist with landlord-tenant law, rental contracts, and fair housing requirements.
Monitor owners, landlords, and property management companies for compliance with HUD standards.
Maintain coordination among the agency, case managers, landlords, and clients.
Develop and update a database or listing of available housing for clients.
Coordinate and perform INSPIRE inspections.
Maintain required legal, administrative, and statistical records for Vincentian CARES and program funders, including use of HMIS.
Network and collaborate with other agencies and represent the agency at community functions, including public speaking or presentations as directed by the Director of Landlord Engagement.
Serve people with respect, compassion, and cooperation, and work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders.
Comply with training, safety, personnel, operational, and work-schedule requirements.
Perform other related duties as required.