Housing Navigator - Streetwork Project

Housing Navigator - Streetwork Project

Streetwork Project is the oldest street outreach program for homeless and street-involved youth in New York City. The program has grown from its beginnings in 1984 as a storefront project to encompass both outreach and comprehensive harm reduction services. The core service is long-term, one-on-one counseling, which is offered in a non-judgmental and holistic manner utilizing a harm reduction approach that focuses on building trust, fostering self-esteem, exploring options and choices, and empowering youth to change their high-risk behaviors.

Responsibilities:

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with clients.
• The role of the Housing Navigator is to assist households in receipt of a housing vouchers (primarily Section 8 and CityFHEPS, although occasionally other housing vouchers such as HASA) through the processes of locating, leasing, and moving into housing before their voucher expires. This is a predominately field based position and will require travel within the five boroughs and possibly to adjacent communities in NYS and NJ if a household is interested in porting.
• Housing Navigators will coordinate with DYCD to manage an ongoing caseload of individuals/households in receipt of housing vouchers.

Essential Job Functions:

• Engaging with Streetwork Project clients, Streetwork Project staff, and DYCD to connect with households in receipt of housing vouchers.
• Engaging in phone and field-based outreach to landlords, brokers, and realtors to find apartments our clients can apply for.
• Assist the household with acquiring the necessary documentation and mitigate issues with credit reports, utility arrears, and unfavorable landlord references as necessary.
• Assisting voucher recipients with the process of securing housing including but not limited to:
• Providing participants with listings of potential housing options in alignment with participants' housing needs and geographic preferences
• Coordinating and attending apartment viewings
• Acquiring and submitting apartment applications, supporting documentation, and forms
• Navigating the various rental subsidy and inspection processes
• Securing applicable move-in assistance (including HRA payments and vouchers)
• Coordinating move-ins with landlords and other relevant stakeholders
• Adding unit to HOME database, when necessary
• Explain and review the lease and sublease agreement with the voucher recipient
• Educating voucher recipients on their rights and responsibilities as tenants.
• Advocating for clients who experience discrimination in their housing search, including working with external attorneys and the City Commission on Human Rights
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive and current documentation and provide reports as needed.
• Follow up with tenants once they are placed housing
• Coordinate with the Senior Housing Coordinator, Director of Housing and Resource Benefits, and RHY Team at DYCD

Secondary Job Functions:

• Engagement of youth into program structure (harm reduction philosophy, rules, mutual respect)
• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest) as needed
• Perform related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Interacts with:

• All Streetwork Sites, working closely with the following: clients, Program Coordinator of Housing Navigation, Housing Navigator, Director of Housing & Benefits Resources, Case Managers
• External stakeholders, including DYCD; NYCHA; HRA; landlords and property management companies

Qualifications:

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience with the housing process and housing applications in NYC.
• Experience working with landlords, brokers and the rental market in NYC.
• Knowledge of applicable fair housing laws.
• Experience in case management or project management.
• Proficiency with computers navigating in multiple systems and web-based applications.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities, handle multiple projects simultaneously and delegate responsibilities when appropriate
• Have strong attention to detail
• Have excellent interpersonal skills
• Experience working with youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.

Desired Knowledge and Skills:

• Compassionate approach to others and openness to new ideas
• Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention
• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Bi-lingual--Spanish or French language reading, writing, and comprehension skills
• Understanding of harm reduction perspective

Education:

Required:

• BA/BS preferred

Experience:

Required:

• Two years of full-time satisfactory professional experience in housing, homelessness, case management, or a related field
• Experience working with youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.

Other:

• Full time, some nights, and weekends

Hiring Range: $26.92 to $29.67 Hourly

Full-time Hours: 35 Hours per week

Full-time Benefits: Vacation Time, Paid Sick Time, Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Company Life Insurance, Medical/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Tuition Assistance Program, Commuter Benefits Program, Gym Reimbursement, Parental Leave, Employee Learning Center

Applicants may be responsible for providing the equipment and tools they need to work remotely as required, such as access to a computer, internet service, and phone service. Safe Horizon will discuss potential solutions with candidates and may assist where needed and agreed to in advance.

Safe Horizon was named one of City & State New York Top Workplaces of 2025