Housing Navigator

Lifelong is a community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible. We remove barriers to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness and injustice alone.We lead with heart. Our respect for people drives our mission. For 40 years, Lifelong has fought health inequities so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Our comprehensive services include food and nutrition, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connection to housing and other vital resources.Position Overview:The Housing Navigator provides community-based supportive services to individuals who are experiencing, or have recently experienced, homelessness and are now living in private market or scattered site housing. The Housing Navigator engages participants at scattered sites, community locations, other non-congregate settings and other locations as requested throughout King County. The maintains a caseload of participants receiving KCRHA housing assistance and delivers services focused on both active outreach to engage individuals not yet stabilized, and housing retention support for those recently housed.Participants frequently present with histories of chronic homelessness and co-occurring mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and chronic illness. Services are delivered using Housing First and harm reduction principles within a trauma-informed framework to ensure low-barrier, participant-centered support. The Housing Navigator collaborates with participants, property management, service providers, and community partners to promote long-term housing success and self-sufficiency.This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt, union position that is 100% on-site and in the field throughout King County. Standard business hours are 08:30AM – 5PM Monday – Friday.Essential Duties:Outreach & EngagementConduct regular visits to clients in private market housing.Build rapport and maintain ongoing relationships with individuals who may be resistant to or have had prior negative experiences with service systems.Perform initial needs assessments, including housing history, health status, benefit eligibility, and barriers to housing stability.Complete coordinated entry assessments (e.g., VI-SPDAT or successor tool) in accordance with King County Continuum of Care (CoC) standards and KCRHA program requirements.Housing Retention & StabilityMaintain an active caseload of participants receiving KCRHA housing assistance; provide consistent, frequency-appropriate contact based on participant acuity.Develop individualized housing stability plans in partnership with each participant, incorporating their stated goals and identified needs.Support participants with housing applications, landlord communication, lease renewals, and early and ongoing tenancy stabilization.Address issues that may jeopardize housing placement, including lease violations, neighbor conflicts, and loss of income or benefits.Collaborate with property management to support successful tenancy and resolve concerns while advocating for participants.Assessment, Goal Setting & Service CoordinationConduct ongoing assessments of participant needs across housing, health, financial stability, employment, and overall wellbeing.Develop and regularly update goal-oriented service plans that reflect participant priorities and program requirements.Coordinate access to community resources, including behavioral health services, medical care, benefits enrollment, employment supports, and legal aid.Assist participants in navigating public systems including DSHS, Social Security Administration, Medicaid/Apple Health, and other entitlement programs.Advocacy & Crisis InterventionProvide advocacy on behalf of participants with landlords, service systems, and community partners.Deliver timely crisis intervention; coordinate with behavioral health, medical, and emergency response partners as needed.Respond to urgent participant needs with flexibility, applying de-escalation skills and sound professional judgment.Documentation & ComplianceMaintain timely, accurate case notes and service records in HMIS and any additional electronic case management platforms required by the program.Complete all required program documentation in accordance with KCRHA, funder, and organizational standards.Comply with all applicable regulations including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.Participate in case conferencing, team meetings, and coordinated entry processes.Community CollaborationMaintain working relationships with community providers, partner agencies, and internal Lifelong teams to ensure coordinated service delivery.Represent Lifelong at interagency meetings, coalitions, and community tables as assigned.Core Competencies:Driving & TransportationMust possess and maintain a valid Washington State driver's license, current automobile insurance, and reliable access to a personal vehicle for regular travel throughout King County. Mileage reimbursed per organizational policy.Practice KnowledgeWorking understanding of Housing First and harm reduction principles applied within a trauma-informed framework.Familiarity with the King County Continuum of Care (CoC), coordinated entry, and KCRHA-funded housing programs.Experience working with individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.Organization & AdaptabilityAbility to organize and prioritize multiple concurrent responsibilities and meet deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy in documentation and case management tasks.Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and ability to respond quickly to changing participant needs and program demands.Ability to work effectively under stressful conditions, exercising crisis management and de-escalation skills.Interpersonal & CommunicationAbility to communicate clearly and professionally in verbal and written form.Proven ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with participants, internal staff, and external providers and partner agencies.Demonstrated understanding of professional boundaries in direct service settings.TechnologyDemonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Access, with the ability to utilize technology to organize information, produce reports, track data, and improve workflow efficiency.Experience with electronic case noting, document collection and storage, and case management databases. HMIS experience strongly preferred.Education & Experience:Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, public health, or a related social services field, AND:Two (2) years of experience in direct social services or advocacy work, including assessing client needs and/or determining benefit eligibility; ANDTwo (2) years of demonstrated experience working with marginalized populations, including individuals with histories of chronic homelessness, active or past substance use, and ongoing mental health instability.An equivalent combination of related education and work experience will be considered.Lived experience with homelessness, housing instability, or related systems is valued and welcomed.Benefits:Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefitsGenerous vacation (3 weeks your first year), sick leave, and 2 personal days a year401(k) matchFlexible spending accountsLife insurance optionsLong term disabilityMass transit subsidy15 paid holidays per yearWork Environment:All positions that involve in person work with clients are required to undergo a TB test within 30 days of starting employment and annually, or as required by program.Any offer of employment is contingent upon passing a criminal background check. Some programs may require additional background checks or frequency.This position requires regular travel between locations and worksites to support operations and collaborate with clients, partners, and team members across multiple sites.The role requires frequent driving throughout King County and may involve occasional schedule adjustments based on participant needs or program requirements.Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________About Lifelong:Lifelong is a community health organization committed to removing barriers to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness and injustice alone.We lead with heart. Our respect for people drives our mission. For 40 years, Lifelong has fought health inequities so that everyone can have the opportunity to thrive. Our comprehensive services include food and nutrition, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connection to housing and other vital resources.We are looking for passionate, dedicated people to join our talented team and make real, meaningful changes in the daily lives of those living with chronic and life-threatening illnesses in their community. Lifelong offers exceptional benefits, including paid time off, medical and dental coverage in addition to a balanced work-life integration.Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Lifelong, we are dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.EEO Statement:Lifelong is committed to creating an accessible, supportive environment and experience that recognizes diversity and cultural competence as integral components of what we do.We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and as such, we do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics._____________________________________________________________________________________DISCLAIMER: INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONSJob descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are an integral part of a compensation system, effective performance review system, related promotion, transfer, layoff, etc. decisions.All descriptions have been reviewed to illustrate the job functions and basic duties, in addition to peripheral tasks or that could generally be considered as other duties as assigned.In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities and requirements be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. Requirements, skills and abilities included have been determined to illustrate the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions._____________________________________________________________________________________Employment Eligibility Verification: Lifelong participates in E-Verify. For more information about your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify and federal employment eligibility verification requirements, please review the Notice of E-Verify Participation and Right to Work notices. #J-18808-Ljbffr Lifelong: Health For All