Position: Housing Navigator
Department: Grandma’s House of Central Oregon
Reports to: Program Director
Position Summary
The Housing Navigator is an integral member of the Coordinated Entry System and is primarily responsible for support in implementation of the Central Oregon Continuum of Care’s assessment and housing navigation plan.
The Housing Navigator will primarily work with individuals experiencing homelessness in order to assist them in accessing housing. This includes developing landlord partnerships throughout the region. Part of this position will be transporting clients to and from apartment complexes and on housing searches. The Housing Navigator will also work with the Coordinated Entry System (CES) Program Coordinator and CES Committee to develop the CES program for Central Oregon, as well as collaborate on data-driven projects and information requests throughout the year. This position works under the direction of the Program Director and with guidance from the Homeless Leadership Coalition Executive Committee and Board, as the governing body for the CoC.
Duties
- Provide in-depth individualized support for people experiencing homelessness
- Assist clients with locating and applying for housing and securing funding for move-in costs
- Transport clients in personal vehicle, as necessary, to apply for housing opportunities
- Instruct and support clients through the appeal process, if denied for housing
- Ensure clients learn basic budgeting skills and receive some tenant education
- Manage CES waitlist according to priorities set by the CoC, with the HMIS Lead and CES Coordinator
- Collaborate with CES Coordinator and Committee to continue to refine the CES strategies
- Connect individuals to appropriate support services in the community
- Perform screenings, intakes, and assessments with referrals from Coordinated Entry System
- Manage client load in a manner that ensures maximum service efficiency
- Assist CES referred clients with goal development to support access to housing
- Deliver information about CES, Central Oregon CoC, and the impacts of homelessness, as occasions arise
- Participate in community/regional meetings
- Document all support services provided in HMIS/ServicePoint
- Evaluate participant progress towards housing and other goals regularly
- Develop a program for landlord engagement based on national/regional/local best practices
- Adapt strategies to work with landlords to enhance housing opportunities throughout the region
- Provide ongoing support for recruited landlords
- Conduct outreach to housing providers to maintain real-time vacancy reporting
- Participate in Coordinated Entry System referral case conferencing
- Provide input around CES development, implementation, and evaluation
- Plan for and participate in periodic community assessments and studies
- Report program issues or concerns to Program Director
- Perform other duties as requested by Program Director
Qualifications
- Knowledge, Skills and Ability: Knowledge of the challenges and barriers that persons experiencing homelessness are faced with. Knowledge of Oregon Landlord/Tenant, Fair Housing, and Equal Access Laws.
Ability to connect with diverse and vulnerable populations. Maintain client and agency confidentiality. Ability to interface effectively with other staff, referring agencies, parents, schools and others and maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Ability to work independently and cooperatively as a team. Demonstrate strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
- Experience and Training: BA/BS in Social Services, Human Services, or related field required, plus two years of work experience around affordable housing and homelessness issues required. Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) preferred. Valid Oregon driver license and CPR/1st Aid certification required.
- Physical Requirements: While performing the duties for the job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee occasionally is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.