Yhdp Housing Navigator - Sawyer County

Indianhead Community Action Agency•Hayward, WI

10d

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 Sawyer County. The role conducts intake, eligibility screening, individualized assessments, and documentation; supports Coordinated Entry; explains available housing options; and helps participants locate and secure housing based on eligibility, participant choice, needs, and availability. The navigator also connects participants with community resources and coordinates handoffs to YHDP case management staff. The position develops relationships with landlords, housing authorities, schools, community organizations, county personnel, and service providers to expand housing options and strengthen referrals. It provides youth-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive support, and documents participant contacts, services, outcomes, and grant performance data in HMIS and participant files. The navigator helps ensure records and services comply with HUD, YHDP, Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, funder, and Agency requirements. The role also prepares and tracks rental assistance payments, purchase orders, and other eligible participant expense requests; gathers supporting documents; coordinates payment documentation with landlords and property managers; and maintains financial records for monitoring, reporting, and audits. The position involves travel throughout the service area for outreach, participant meetings, housing searches, and related duties. It has no supervisory responsibilities and may include other reasonable related tasks assigned by the Supportive Housing Coordinator.

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 instead of formal education.
Experience in social services, housing, homelessness services, youth services, case management, resource navigation, or a related field is preferred.
Knowledge of community resources and programs serving low-income individuals and families is beneficial.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn, housing navigation, landlord engagement, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, HUD and Continuum of Care requirements, and community resource systems.
Ability to develop effective working relationships with youth, landlords, community partners, and service providers.
Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with youth, landlords, service providers, community partners, and coworkers, and to explain program and housing requirements understandably.
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, with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time effectively.
Self-starter with a proactive attitude and ability to anticipate participant and program needs.
Sound judgment, problem-solving skills, flexibility, and ability to respond appropriately to housing barriers, crises, 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 in a non-judgmental, strengths-based manner 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.
Ability to travel when required, cope with pressure and challenges, operate computers and other office equipment, and work irregular hours when needed.
Ability to work and communicate with diverse groups using a non-judgmental, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and youth-centered approach.
Ability to work in a team atmosphere and willingness to help others when needed.

Nice To Haves

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.
Associate or bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, sociology, community development, or a related field.
Experience in social services, housing, homelessness services, youth services, case management, resource navigation, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary contact for youth and young adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are referred to, contact, or are identified through outreach for the YHDP program.
Complete intake applications, eligibility screening, individualized assessments, and required documentation; support Coordinated Entry participation and maintain related documentation.
Explain Transitional Housing and Rapid Re-Housing options and support participant choice according to eligibility, prioritization, individual needs, and unit availability.
Provide housing navigation, including identifying barriers, developing strategies, finding housing opportunities, assisting with applications and documentation, and supporting housing search and placement.
Develop and maintain 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 placements and address tenancy barriers while maintaining participant confidentiality and choice.
Connect participants to eligible mainstream and community resources, including education, employment, health and behavioral health care, substance use services, economic support, childcare, and transportation.
Coordinate warm handoffs to YHDP case management staff 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.
Monitor and document participant contacts, housing search activities, referrals, progress, outcomes, and grant performance measures.
Enter accurate and timely participant and service data into HMIS and maintain records in accordance with applicable requirements.
Maintain complete, accurate, confidential, and audit-ready participant files and documentation.
Conduct outreach and educate community partners about YHDP, eligibility, referral pathways, youth homelessness, housing, and supportive services.
Participate in required YHDP, Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, housing and landlord, grant-related meetings, and trainings.
Collaborate with community partners and the local homeless response system to identify access gaps and barriers and communicate 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, 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 duties.
Prepare and enter rental assistance payments into the appropriate database or payment system for review and approval.
Prepare, enter, and track purchase orders and other program payment requests for eligible participant expenses.
Obtain and maintain supporting documentation for rental assistance, security deposits, utilities, and other eligible housing costs.
Coordinate with landlords and property managers to obtain leases, W-9s, payment information, invoices, and other payment documentation.
Review payment requests for completeness and required eligibility 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 for grant monitoring, reporting, and audits.
Attend relevant community meetings, committees, outreach events, and training sessions.
Assist with researching housing and rental opportunities, community resources, eligibility requirements, and information to support participants.
Perform other reasonable related tasks as requested by the Supportive Housing Coordinator.