Yhdp Housing Navigator -Washburn County

Indianhead Community Action Agency•Spooner, WI

11d

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 who are referred to, contact, or are identified through outreach for the YHDP program. The role supports participants through intake, eligibility screening, individualized assessment, Coordinated Entry, housing selection, housing searches, applications, and placement. It includes helping participants address housing barriers and connecting them with mainstream and community resources, while using youth-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and positive youth development practices that emphasize participant choice, safety, empowerment, and individualized support. The Housing Navigator builds relationships with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, community organizations, schools, county personnel, and other service providers to expand housing opportunities and strengthen referral pathways. The position coordinates warm handoffs to YHDP case management staff, collaborates on continuity of services and housing stability, conducts community outreach, participates in program and grant-related meetings and trainings, and contributes to the goals of the YHDP Coordinated Community Plan. The position also maintains complete and confidential participant records, documents contacts and outcomes, enters timely data into HMIS, and follows HUD, Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry, YHDP, funder, and Agency requirements. Financial duties include preparing and tracking rental assistance payments, purchase orders, and other eligible participant expense requests; collecting required payment documentation; coordinating with landlords and fiscal staff; and maintaining accurate records for monitoring, reporting, and audits. Travel throughout the service area is required, and irregular hours may be needed. The role has no supervisory responsibilities and may include other reasonable related duties as 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 in lieu 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.
Experience engaging youth and young adults, particularly those experiencing homelessness or housing instability, is preferred.
Knowledge or practice of trauma-informed care, Positive Youth Development, crisis response, and strengths-based practices is beneficial.
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.
Ability to explain program and housing requirements in an understandable manner and 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 nonjudgmentally using a strengths-based approach and collaborate effectively with landlords and community systems.
Valid driver’s license and current vehicle insurance.
Complete and maintain required HUD, YHDP, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, and Agency training as applicable to the position.
Ability to travel when required, cope with pressure and challenges, and operate computers and other office equipment.
Ability to work irregular hours when needed.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, sociology, community development, or a related field.
Relevant experience in lieu of formal education.
Experience in social services, housing, homelessness services, youth services, case management, resource navigation, or a related field.
Knowledge of community resources and programs serving low-income individuals and families.
Experience engaging youth and young adults, particularly those experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Knowledge or practice of trauma-informed care, Positive Youth Development, crisis response, and strengths-based practices.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary 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 screening, individualized assessments, and required documentation; support Coordinated Entry enrollment 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, including identifying and addressing housing barriers, locating appropriate opportunities, assisting with housing applications and documentation, and supporting housing searches and placement.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, community organizations, schools, county personnel, and housing and service providers.
Communicate with landlords and property managers to support placements and address barriers or tenancy issues while preserving participant confidentiality and choice.
Connect participants to eligible mainstream and community resources, including education, employment and workforce development, health and behavioral health care, substance use services, economic support, childcare, transportation, and other supportive services.
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.
Provide services using 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-required performance measures.
Enter accurate, 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, government, 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 youth 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-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 needed to process housing-related payments.
Review payment requests for completeness and verify 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 audits.
Attend relevant community meetings, committees, outreach events, and training sessions related to youth homelessness, housing, and grant funding.
Assist with researching housing and community resources, rental opportunities, eligibility requirements, and other information supporting participants.
Perform other reasonable related tasks as requested by the Supportive Housing Coordinator.