Housing Navigator

Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center•Hayward, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Street Health Outreach Director, the Housing Navigator will provide Housing Transition Navigation (HN) services to consumers experiencing homelessness to support obtaining permanent housing reducing utilization of crisis and inpatient health care resources among those receiving services. By providing outreach to engage households referred by Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) to support a transition from homelessness into permanent housing. The Housing Navigator supports the Street Health departments objectives which include, utilizing Housing First principles to help the homeless and formerly homeless households obtain, move into, and keep their homes. Housing Navigation objectives include: Utilizing Housing First principles to help homeless and formerly homeless households obtain, move into, and keep their homes; Outreaching to and engaging households referred by HCSA to support a transition from homelessness into permanent housing; Providing Housing Transition Navigation (HN) services to consumers experiencing homelessness to support obtaining permanent housing; Reducing utilization of crisis and inpatient health care resources among those receiving services; Capturing real-time data in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) including information about enrollment, service needs and provisions, changes in current living situation, and performance outcomes, on all consumers served.

Requirements

Valid Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within three months of hire.
Competent administrative skills.
Be highly dependable and independent.
Good communication and customer relation skills
Proficiency in MS Office, navigational skills and comfortable with Internet-based applications.
Sound decision-making skills including problem solving.
Professional demeanor.
Sensitivity to and understanding of the special needs of unsheltered people facing complex challenges.
Able to bring compassion, patience, tenacity, and dedication to the homeless and resident community.
Excellent communication, organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet tight timeframes.
Strong understanding of the health care and community resources.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively.
Flexible and adaptable to change.
Ability to learn quickly and retain complex information.
Travel to work assignments, a valid current license and appropriate individual automobile insurance must be maintained.

Nice To Haves

Associate of Arts Degree preferred
At least one (1) year of experience providing outreach to chronically homeless individuals preferred.
Experience collaborating with healthcare organizations and providers preferred.
Experience with HMIS preferred.
Lived experience of homelessness valued.
Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducting a tenant screening and housing assessment that identifies the Household’s preferences and barriers related to successful tenancy. The assessment may include collecting information on the Household’s housing needs and on potential housing transition barriers, as well as identification of housing retention barriers.
Developing an individualized housing support plan based upon the housing assessment that addresses identified barriers, includes short- and long-term measurable goals for each issue, establishes the Household’s approach to meeting the goal, and identifies when other Providers or services, both reimbursed and not reimbursed by Medi-Cal, may be required to meet the goal.
Searching for housing and presenting options to clients.
Assisting in securing housing, including the completion of housing applications and securing required documentation (e.g., Social Security card, birth certificate, prior rental history).
Assisting with benefits advocacy, including assistance with obtaining identification and documentation for Supplemental Security Income eligibility and supporting the SSI application process. Such service can be subcontracted out to Bay Area Legal Aid to retain needed specialized skill set.
Identifying and securing available resources to assist with subsidizing rent (such as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) or state and local assistance programs) and matching available rental subsidy resources to Consumers.
Identifying and securing resources to cover expenses, such as security deposit, moving costs, adaptive aids, environmental modifications, moving costs, and other one-time expenses.
Ensuring that the living environment is safe and ready for move-in.
Communicating and advocating on behalf of the Consumers with landlords.
Assisting with arranging for and supporting the details of the move.
Identifying, coordinating, securing, or funding non-emergency, nonmedical transportation to assist Consumers’ mobility to ensure reasonable accommodations and access to housing options prior to transition and on move-in day.
Other duties as assigned.