Housing Navigator - DMH Van Nuys

This position is for the upcoming DMH Van Nuys site

Location: 6909 Sepulveda Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91405

Job Purpose


The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce, and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions. Our mission is to meet our participants' needs through an individualized and non-judgmental approach that will ultimately lead to long term housing stability.

The Housing Specialist - is responsible for identifying suitable housing options for program participants and their families and assisting the participants to achieve sustainable and healthy independent living.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities


Working under the supervision of the CES Housing Navigation Manager, the primary role of the Housing Specialist is to:

The Housing Specialist is responsible for identifying suitable housing options for program participants and their families and assisting the participants to achieve sustainable and healthy independent living. Part of services team for the program, the Housing Specialist participates in all stages of client service: assessment, services planning, engagement and delivery. Assists program case management, outreach and community engagement as directed.
• Accept, screen, and process referrals received from LAHSA & Housing Specialist.
• Conduct intake and enrollment with eligible clients, including assisting clients with gathering program eligibility documentation, and completing program intake forms.
• Assist clients with accessing temporary housing, including shelter, until permanent housing is secured.
• Support clients with the lease-up process, including meeting with property management, reviewing and signing their lease, and obtaining household necessities.
• Conduct comprehensive initial assessments.
• Develop individualized collaborative service plans for tenants.
• Coordinate with Housing Liaisons, LAHSA housing location team, LEASE UP! & other resources to locate appropriate permanent housing.
• Develop and implement a rental assistance plan that includes a step-down approach toward the client paying the entirety of their rent for those clients who are in the "rapid rehousing" style program component.
• Strive to recognize the best in each tenant and to support the meaningful change they seek through building relationships and utilizing motivational interviewing techniques and strength-based case management techniques.
• Meet with each tenant on regularly scheduled basis and document progress and strength in progress notes.
• Provide home and field-based services as appropriate.
• Transport tenant as needed to essential appointments that support their stability and housing retention.
• Assist tenant with navigating and abiding by their lease obligations.
• Support tenants with learning and practicing fiscal responsibility.
• Assist tenant with their physical and mental health needs by providing support and linkage to appropriate services.
• Complete and submit required weekly and monthly program reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Understanding of modalities of treatment.
• Knowledge surrounding poverty, homelessness and social factors involved.
• Understanding of recovery model principles and practices.
• Ability to understand the needs of formerly homeless people with disabilities and to develop collaborative goals towards greater self-sufficiency and independence in the greater community.
• Ability to work autonomously with a minimal amount of supervision.
• Ability to educate and empower clients in a variety of personal finance topics such as budgeting and responsible money management.
• Knowledgeable about services for homeless and low-income individuals throughout Los Angeles County.
• Knowledge of the dynamics of chemical dependency, mental health issues and the effects of homelessness.
• Ability to speak Spanish fluently may be required, depending on specific assignment.
• Skilled in use of Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and HMIS Homeless Management Information System.
• Must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Required to have at least one year of experience working with homeless individuals AND have a social work/mental health related bachelor's degree or have a minimum of two years of experience providing direct mental health or intensive case management services.
• Have experience working with clients with employment barriers and/or mental illness, chronic health issues, and substance use disorders.
• Have expertise in the following areas: homelessness, outreach and engagement strategies, intensive case management services, best practice models, mental health and substance abuse disorder services, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, affordable housing and public benefits applications, housing and landlord/tenant rights, eviction prevention, etc.
• Must be able to work effectively with people from all walks of life with compassion
• Able to develop relationships with program participants, their families, and landlords, as well as a variety of service stakeholders (schools, health and public benefit agencies).
• Strong public speaking ability, able to represent program and participants as an advocate
• Strong written and oral skills in the English language, able to accurately complete required reports and data entry.
• Able to perform basic mathematic calculations (rent, security deposits, et cetera).
• Able to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflict, including dealing with un-cooperative clients.
• Able to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards.
• Able to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards.
• Must be willing to travel/drive company vehicle through Los Angeles County.

Other Requirements
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Ability to walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis
• Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead
• Occasionally lift and/or move, push and pull up to 25 pounds
• Bilingual (Spanish)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, EQUIPMENT
• Work indoors in temperature-controlled environment with occasional exposure to outdoor weather and driving conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Stand and sit for long periods of time; move and walk to various locations; climb stairs, stoop, kneel, reach, pull, push, bend, twist, and occasionally lift and or move objects. Use hands to finger, handle or feel.
• See, hear and speak clearly in order to give and receive information and instructions, perform administrative work, and drive motor vehicles including passenger vans.
• Ability to interact with other employees, clients, customers and members of the public.
• Ability to work effectively under time constraints, prioritize work, multi-task, and adapt to changing work demands.
• Gather, analyze, synthesize, and classify information.
• Transcribe, enter, and post data.
• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• May require exposure to blood borne pathogens and infectious agents.
• Requires use of a computer keyboard for substantial periods of time.
• Able to travel to off-site meetings or other activities.

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. Employee is required to: Routinely required to sit; walk; climb stairs; engage in verbal, written, and email communication; hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. Occasionally required to move around the Administration of ice. Can observe and respond to people and situations and interact with others encountered in the course of work.

Handle, fingers, grasp and feel objects and equipment; Reach with hands and arms; Communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of the spoken and written word; Be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; Repeat various motions with the wrists, hands, and fingers; Be able to have visual activity for (including, but not limited to) administrative and clerical tasks; Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Drive vehicle in and around Los Angeles County, as needed; be able to enter buildings that may require climbing stairs.

Be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. Use a desktop and/or laptop computer, copy, postage, and fax machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing. Employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals.

EEO: HTM (Hope the Mission) 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.

• HTM 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 HOTV is concerned about a 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.

Schedule: Rotating, Monday to Friday one week, Tuesday to Saturday the second week. 8:30am to 5:00 pm.