Housing Navigator

Join Hope The Mission: Where Compassion Meets Action!
Are you passionate about making a difference and eager to contribute to a meaningful cause?
At Hope The Mission, Our mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness. We do this by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions to community members.
Hope the Mission is currently seeking an experienced Housing Navigator to join our Housing Services Team and be a part of this impactful journey. At Hope The Mission, you'll have the chance to be at the forefront of our mission, working alongside a talented group of professionals who are united by a shared vision of a better world.
See below info regarding details about this positions requirements as well as an overview of our full time employee benefits:
Amazing Benefits provided for all eligible staff!

• Employer paid employee health benefits:(including teledoc).: Available to Part-Time Eligible and Full Time Employees!
• Dental, Vision & Life Insurance: Available to Part-Time Eligible and Full Time Employees!
• Five additional voluntary insurance packages: Available to Part Time Eligible and Full Time Employees!
• Generous Paid Time Off: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with paid time off for Full time Employees to include: vacation, floating holidays, company paid holidays, and sick leave!
• Professional Development: We are committed to your growth with opportunities for training, workshops, and career development!
• Employee Assistance Programs!

Job Summary:
The Housing Navigator will provide field-based services to single adult individuals experiencing homelessness as they transition into permanent housing.
The Housing Navigators primary responsibilities are to assess for permanent housing opportunities and locate best fit housing placement options, provide housing stability services, including implementation of housing stabilization plans, and coordination of multiple services to meet each clients' needs. Navigators are also responsible for building and maintaining good working relationships with landlords/management companies/property owners as well as with other homeless service providers and partnering agencies.
Skills and Minimum Qualifications:

• Understand and support the mission statement of Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission
• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or related field or three (3) years' experiences working with the homeless or similar population (preferably in a housing related capacity)
• Must possess solid proficiency of Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must possess basic grammar and spelling skills
• Possess the necessary initiative, adaptability, and responsibility to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent time management skills. Must possess the ability to meet deadlines and work with attention to detail
• Must possess excellent problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Trauma Informed principles
• Knowledge of HUD guidelines on Subsidized Housing Programs
• Experience working with a diverse population, with sensitivity to differences in culture, religion, sexual orientation, race, age, and physical and mental illness
• Valid CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
• Must be TB-cleared prior to hiring
• A criminal background check is required
• A Valid CA driver's license is required
• HTM is requiring staff to utilize masks when in the office and be vaccinated or provide an exempted doctors note.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Assist Participants with completing Housing Voucher applications. This can include LAHSA application.requirements, PHA application requirements, any related assessments and resulting coordination needed to sufficiently provide housing support for each participant.
• Responsible for providing support to homeless individuals in the following areas: housing focused case management, housing readiness, accessing housing assistance programs, completing housing applications, advocacy, housing search and placement, etc.
• Conduct assessment to determine appropriate permanent housing intervention and service needs
• Navigate persons to permanent housing placement or programs that will assist with safe and stable housing Time Limited Subsidy, DHS- Housing for Health, Homeless Section 8, Tenant-Based Supportive Housing, Housing Choice Voucher Program, HOPWA, VASH, Project Based Housing, SRO, Shared Housing, Low Income Housing, etc.
• Responsible for developing a Housing & Services Plan (HSP) to streamline participants towards permanent housing and specific goals if needed.
• Connect program participants to community resources that will support the goal of permanent housing acquisition (credit repair, legal aid, housing rights, etc.)
• Assist clients in obtaining move-in assistance resources as available (deposit assistance, furniture, etc.)
• Responsible for work in collaboration with any and all HTM programs and program staff.
• Follow-up with each participant on a regular basis to ensure they are making progress towards their goals
• Responsible for completing and maintaining current documents required for the client files, including assessments, individualized housing plans, case notes, housing applications, housing vouchers, lease agreements, exit reports, etc.

Other duties include

• Develop effective, trusting relationships with program participants
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with landlords, sober livings, and other housing providers to establish a "database" of available housing units
• Attend and participate in Team Meetings, Trainings, Case Conferencing, Meetings, Coalition Meetings, Homeless Services Meetings, etc.
• The candidate should demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving, the flexibility to adapt to changing situations, and a strong sense of accountability to manage tasks independently. End-of-day reports must be sent to the Program Manager to provide updates on progress, highlight any issues encountered, and outline plans for the following day.
• Responsible for maintaining thorough and accurate records in both written form (hard copies) and through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is required
• Responsible for meeting specific performance outcomes for applicable LAHSA contracts
• Submitting reports, documentation and connecting with outside agencies
• Establish and/or maintain good rapport and working arrangements with co-workers, including the management team and other staff
• Facilitate and supervise regularly scheduled departmental staff meetings and resident house meetings
• Uphold all HTM and LAHSA Rules, Regulations, and Policies.
• Use de-escalation and mediation techniques to help clients work through conflict
• Other duties as assigned

If you are ready to bring your amazing skills, passion, and dedication to our cause, Hope the Mission would love to hear from you! Apply now!
• EEO: HOTV (Hope of the Valley) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HOTV complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, placement, promotion, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
• HOTV will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job of er is made to you. After making a conditional of er and running a background check, if HOTV is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide