Housing Navigator

POSITION: Housing Navigator
DIVISION: Programs- Housing Navigation
WHY JOIN US:
You believe that every person deserves a place to call home. You see that homelessness is a systemic issue and want to be a part of the solution. You are ready to utilize your talent, experience, and creativity towards purpose-driven work. You want to work alongside industry leaders to learn, implement, and pioneer best practices.
LA Family Housing is a leading non-profit agency in Homeless Services and Real Estate Development. With 40 years of experience and 13,000+ lives changed each year, we know what it takes to end homelessness. We take tremendous pride in the emergence of our staff as national leaders in innovation, best practices, and policy within housing production and homeless services. Join the fight to end homelessness and make a difference in people's lives at LA Family Housing!
THE POSITION:
The Housing Navigator is responsible for providing direct assistance and support to participants experiencing a housing crisis and homelessness through clinical engagement and intensive case management services. This position will be responsible for developing and implementing housing plans, participant budgets and working with internal and external stakeholders to connect participants to permanent housing, community resources and services to support housing placement.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
CASE MANAGEMENT

• Conducts regular in-person meetings with participants to develop and implement housing plans and budgets
• Discusses housing plan barriers and links participants to appropriate resources
• Provides field-based and street-based services
• Assists with crisis intervention and de-escalation of participants as needed
• Facilitates access to services needed to support housing readiness and reduce impact of barriers
• Strategizes and presents housing leads to participants that include listings from LAFH, housing authority, internet, and internal database of landlords/management firms/owners
• Provides psychoeducation to participants on how to complete housing applications, searches, and tenant rights and responsibilities
• Engages and assists program participants with applying for permanent subsidy or low-income housing assistance programs
• Transports participants as needed to housing viewing appointments, move-ins, housing authority appointments, and specific visits to relevant social service agencies that will support with meeting housing plan goals
• Drives personal vehicle in and around Los Angeles County and drive agency vehicles periodically to transport program participants
• Prioritizes and follow-ups with each participant as needed to ensure they are making progress towards their permanent housing goals
• Ensures a "warm" hand-off and transition to the housing stabilizer to provide ongoing in-home case management services

ADVOCACY

• Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure participants have the necessary items to secure housing and meet their housing goals
• Participants in case conferencing and case presentations
• Provides advocacy to help address issues and barriers between landlords and participants that may prevent move-ins
• Participates in individual and group supervision, agency, and community meetings as directed by supervisor

COMPLIANCE

• Regularly reviews housing leads and tracks outcomes on appropriate databases
• Documents all participant interactions through case notes using clinical documentation and HIPAA standards, and maintain timely, thorough, and accurate records for reporting purposes in HMIS and CHMAP database
• Adheres to Data and Compliance expectations that include maintaining complete participant files

OTHER

• Ability to work a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed
• Additional tasks, projects, and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor

WHAT YOU'RE SKILLED AT:

• Demonstrated knowledge of issues facing program participants (e.g. health, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse, trauma, immigration, legal)
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and a non-judgmental attitude when engaging with persons experiencing homelessness
• Possess a high level of tolerance and understanding for individuals who present for services with mental health and physical health needs
• Must be flexible and demonstrate ability to adapt and thrive in fast-paced and challenging environments. Navigators are required to work across a variety of offices and field settings (motels, shelters, etc.)
• Comfort with facilitating housing search skills including housing location, filling out housing applications, and the lease-up process
• Customer Services skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Programs (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint), Zoom, and web-based scheduling software
• Must be able to perform electronic data entry
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize roles, tasks, and deliverables
• Effective time management skills
• Strong advocacy skills
• Ability to work in a team and independently
• Ability to meet identified administrative deadlines and program deliverables
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Maintain and execute confidential information according to HIPAA standards
• Bilingual: Spanish/English preferred, but not required
• Obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification
• Ability to pass post-offer Tuberculosis (TB) clearances
• Travel is a regular duty for this position and is required 60% of the time
• Use of a personal vehicle to travel between worksites and other locations is required
• Must have and maintain a valid California Driver's License and auto insurance in good standing
• Ability to work a 9/80 work schedule

WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED:

• At least one (1) year work history and relevant transferrable skills

WHAT WE OFFER:
Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 403B Retirement Plan, 529 Education Savings Plan, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Legal Access Plan, Employee Appreciation Program, Company Sponsored Employee Events, Staff Development, 9/80 Alternative Work Schedule, Paid Sick, Vacation and 13 Observed Holidays, Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Eligibility and more!
PHYSICAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, EQUIPMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Potential physical demands include but are not limited to: walking, climbing stairs, handling, finger/grasp/feel objects and equipment, reaching, communicating, being mobile, repetitive motions, visual activity, driving, and entering buildings. Comfortable working in a pet-friendly environment required. If an accommodation is needed, please inform the Human Resources Department.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
LAFH is committed and proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.
FAIR CHANCE ACT
LA Family Housing 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 offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if LA Family Housing 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 mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing's Fair Chance Act webpage.