Housing Navigator (Ife Wellness Center)

SELF•Philadelphia, PA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Housing Navigator provides trauma-informed and housing focused services to participants in various emergency housing, safe haven, and supportive housing programs. The Housing Navigator provides direct service links to external resources necessary to establish safe, permanent housing and supports to end the participant’s homelessness and prevent return to homelessness. All responsibilities are implemented according to our organization's mission and the standards and guidelines of our funders.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Minimum of three years of acceptable training and experience in homeless, mental health, and/or addiction treatment services.
Must possess strong verbal and written communication skills
Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and internet use.
Must have strong interpersonal, communication, and people skills.
Demonstrated skill in trauma informed techniques, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, group facilitation and counseling.
Ability to assess the participant’s mental status, monitor, record, and develop individual treatment plans and goals.
Ability to work effectively with a diverse population of individuals.
Must be well organized, detailed oriented, task-driven, and able to work independently and set daily priorities by maintaining a weekly and monthly schedule.
Criminal Background clearance will be required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in human services preferred.
Driver’s License and clean driving record (preferred).

Responsibilities

Provide direct coaching and care to participants through provision of basic needs, adherence to a harm reduction model, best practices, and client-centered approach.
Provide case management and housing services to a caseload of 20 - 25 participants depending on assigned program location.
Perform an initial assessment of each participant assigned to your caseload within 72 business hours of their enrollment into the program.
Identify, screen, and develop plans to connect participants needing alcohol, drug, mental health, or medical services to appropriate providers. This includes, but is not limited to, arranging/scheduling medical, psychological evaluations, and legal services.
Research, and maintain current information on resources, benefits, and services for which homeless persons are eligible; provide information to participants consistently.
Maintain an awareness of each participant's health, welfare, and treatment status on the caseload.
Assist participants with obtaining identification (i.e., birth certificates, state identification, and social security cards).
Develop individualized service plans with agreed-upon timelines for completion of goals focused on moving participants from emergency/temporary housing to permanent supportive environments.
Provide counseling and/or life skills training to help prepare participants for independent living.
Consistently in compliance with Office of Homeless Services data management system (Client Tracks/HMIS) data entry time requirements.
Consistently complete and submit housing assessments and applications for participants promptly.
Develop and maintain participant case records, compile homeless history, and maintain accurate and complete documentation of case management services, interaction, and participant progress.
Participate in Exchange Meetings, Participant Progress Reviews, and collaborative meetings with external agencies working with program participants, providing information.
Participate in all training and or information meetings arranged to provide resources
Meet all requirements for submitting required reports to Supervisor promptly (i.e., weekly work schedule, monthly services report, housing interventions).
Work closely with the community and supportive service agencies, with program participants, and document all communication.
Serve as an Advocate for those residents receiving/not receiving services from outside resources.
Respond with flexibility in cooperation with requests to perform tasks directly related to providing services to program participants, which may entail changes in work schedules or assignments to ensure that participants receive services.
Oversee the day-to-day program operations in the absence of the Program Manager or Participant Advocate staff to ensure that shelter services are delivered as contracted. This may include administering medications to participants, inspecting participant rooms to ensure they comply with rules and regulations regarding items permitted on site, cleanliness, respecting the privacy of others, and ensuring that participants’ meals are provided in a timely and safe manner.
Overseeing day-to-day program operations can be conducted with the assistance of program participants chosen for task assignments, trained, and monitored as part of their life skills training goals.
Work closely with shelter and residential program staff to ensure that all operations are consistently provided professionally and respectfully.