YHDP HOUSING NAVIGATOR -WASHBURN COUNTY

INDIANHEAD COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY•Spooner, WI

11d•$22 - $24

About The Position

The YHDP Housing Navigator serves as a primary point of contact for youth and young adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Washburn County who are referred to, contact, or are identified through outreach for the YHDP program. The role supports participants in accessing housing options, including Transitional Housing and Rapid Re-Housing, while centering participant choice, eligibility, Coordinated Entry prioritization, individual needs, and unit availability. The Housing Navigator provides intake, eligibility screening, assessments, housing navigation, resource connections, and referrals. The position builds relationships with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, schools, county personnel, community organizations, and service providers; coordinates warm handoffs to YHDP case management staff; and collaborates with community partners to improve housing access and continuity of support. The role uses youth-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and positive youth development practices. It documents participant services and outcomes, maintains confidential and audit-ready records, enters data into HMIS, and follows HUD, YHDP, Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry, funder, and Agency requirements. The position also prepares and tracks rental assistance and other eligible housing-related payment requests, gathers supporting documentation, and coordinates with landlords and fiscal staff to support timely processing. Travel throughout the service area is required for outreach, participant meetings, housing searches, landlord engagement, and related duties.

Requirements

An associate or bachelor's degree in human services, social work, psychology, sociology, community development, or a related field is preferred; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
Experience in social services, housing, homelessness services, youth services, case management, resource navigation, or a related field is preferred.
Ability to develop effective working relationships with youth, landlords, community partners, and service providers.
Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to explain program and housing requirements clearly and respectfully.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of participant and Agency information.
Ability to manage time and program resources, maintain organized records, submit accurate and timely reports, and meet deadlines.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts and review basic housing and financial information.
Detail-oriented ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time effectively.
Proactive self-starter able to anticipate participant and program needs.
Sound judgment, problem-solving skills, flexibility, and ability to respond appropriately to housing barriers, crisis situations, and changing participant needs.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team and independently with limited supervision.
Strong relationship-building, advocacy, organization, documentation, and computer skills.
Ability to engage youth using a non-judgmental, strengths-based approach and collaborate effectively with landlords and community systems.
Valid driver's license and current vehicle insurance.
Required HUD, YHDP, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, and Agency training must be completed and maintained as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of community resources and programs serving low-income individuals and families.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn, housing navigation, landlord engagement, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, HUD and Continuum of Care requirements, and community resource systems.
Experience engaging youth and young adults, particularly those experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Knowledge or experience in trauma-informed care, Positive Youth Development, crisis response, and strengths-based practices.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary point of contact for youth and young adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are referred to, contact, or identified through outreach for the YHDP program.
Complete intake applications, eligibility screenings, individualized assessments, and required documentation; support entry into Coordinated Entry and maintain required documentation in participant files.
Explain available housing options, including Transitional Housing and Rapid Re-Housing, and support participant choice based on eligibility, Coordinated Entry prioritization, individual needs, and unit availability.
Provide housing navigation by identifying barriers, developing strategies, locating housing opportunities, assisting with applications and documentation, and supporting participants through housing search and placement.
Build professional relationships with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, community organizations, schools, county personnel, and other housing and service providers.
Communicate with landlords and property managers to support placement and address tenancy barriers while protecting participant confidentiality and choice.
Connect participants with eligible mainstream and community resources, including education, employment and workforce development, health and behavioral health care, substance use services, economic support, childcare, and transportation.
Coordinate warm handoffs to YHDP case management staff when participants enter Transitional Housing or Rapid Re-Housing and collaborate to support continuity of services and long-term housing stability.
Use youth-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and positive youth development practices emphasizing participant choice, safety, empowerment, and individualized support.
Monitor and document participant contacts, housing search activities, referrals, progress, outcomes, and grant-required performance measures.
Enter accurate and timely participant and service data into HMIS and maintain records in accordance with HUD, Continuum of Care, HMIS, and Agency requirements.
Maintain complete, accurate, confidential, and audit-ready participant files and documentation in accordance with applicable HUD, YHDP, Coordinated Entry, State, Federal, funder, and Agency requirements.
Conduct outreach and educate community partners about YHDP, eligibility, referral pathways, youth homelessness, and available housing and supportive services.
Participate in required YHDP, Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, housing and landlord, and other grant-related meetings and trainings.
Collaborate with community partners and the local homeless response system to identify gaps and barriers affecting youth access to housing and services and communicate identified needs to program leadership.
Support the YHDP Coordinated Community Plan goals of Stable Housing, Permanent Connections, Education and Employment, and Social-Emotional Well-Being.
Understand and explain program guidelines, eligibility requirements, allowable services, and requirements established by HUD, the Continuum of Care, and other funding sources.
Travel throughout the service area for outreach, participant meetings, housing searches, landlord engagement, unit-related activities, and other job-related responsibilities.
Prepare and enter rental assistance payments into the appropriate database or payment system for review and approval in accordance with YHDP, HUD, and Agency requirements.
Prepare, enter, and track purchase orders and other program-related payment requests for eligible participant expenses.
Obtain and maintain supporting documentation for rental assistance, security deposits, utilities, and other eligible housing-related costs.
Coordinate with landlords and property managers to obtain leases, W-9s, payment information, invoices, and other documentation required to process housing-related payments.
Review payment requests for completeness and required eligibility and supporting documentation before submission for approval.
Track pending housing-related payments and coordinate with program and fiscal staff to support timely processing.
Maintain accurate participant financial documentation and records for grant monitoring, reporting, and audit purposes.
Attend appropriate community meetings, committees, outreach events, and training sessions related to youth homelessness, housing, and grant funding.
Research housing resources, rental opportunities, community resources, eligibility requirements, and information that supports program participants.
Perform other reasonable related tasks as requested by the Supportive Housing Coordinator.