Housing Navigator

Housing Navigator

Mission Statement: To transform lives through love and service.

Summary: The Housing Navigator is responsible for identifying a pool of safe and sanitary available housing opportunities for all eligible clients assuring timely placement in stable and affordable housing. The Housing Navigator provides services including community outreach, prospective landlord identification & recruitment, housing searches, lease/contract negotiation, unit inspections for compliance with federal housing quality standards, coordination with local housing entities, acting as a liaison with tenants and landlords, and mediating complaints/concerns to proactively prevent returns to homelessness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required. Nothing in this job description restricts management's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job currently).

• Responsible for identifying and engaging landlords through a variety of methods to develop sufficient affordable housing reserves for agencywide clients, with a focus on HUD VASH/ Veteran clients.
• Understand the basics of landlord-tenant law, rental contracts, and fair housing requirements; to assist landlords, program participants, and case managers.
• Monitors owner, landlords, and property management companies' compliance with HUD standards
• Maintain linkage between Agency, case manager, landlord and client.
• Develop and maintain (i.e., update) a database/listing of available housing reserves for clients.
• Responsible for coordinating and performing Housing Quality Standards Inspections.
• Maintains required legal and administrative record and statistical data as required by St. Vincent de Paul CARES and program funders including use of HMIS.
• Networks and collaborates with other agencies and represents the agency at community functions, which may include public speaking and presentations as directed by Director of Landlord Engagement.
• Demonstrates a commitment to serve all people with Respect, Compassion, and Cooperation.
• Works in a spirit of cooperation with all external and internal stakeholders.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Other Responsibilities:

• Comply with all applicable training requirements.
• Comply with all company safety, personnel and operational policies and procedures.
• Comply with work schedule to ensure effective operations of Agency programs.
• Contributes positively as a member of a productive and cooperative team.
• Performs other duties as necessary to fulfill the St. Vincent de Paul CARES Mission.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.)

• Able to speak, write and understand English, Excellent communication and listen.
• Possess basic computer skills.
• Must be sensitive to and respect cultural diversity amongst clients, staff, and volunteers and able to work with diverse racial, ethnic, and economic groups.
• Flexible work schedule including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Organization/Time Management: Ability to set appropriate limits, work under deadlines and multi-task.
• Problem-solving: Ability to identify issues and develop solutions to them.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, self-motivate, and deliver results.
• Sales: May be responsible for promoting housing options for everyone. The housing navigator will explain the benefits of property types and educate them on the benefits of each.
• Comfortable with warm and cold calling landlords.
• Maintains a positive and upbeat attitude.
• Successfully pass Law Enforcement background screening.
• Valid Florida driver's license if driving an agency vehicle or a personal vehicle for company business.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Mission-driven attitude supplemented with integrity and passion.
• Adherence to the highest ethical standards, personally and professionally.
• A high level of openness and willingness to receive feedback/suggestions from superiors and others, and to learn new skills to improve job performance.
• Evidence of deep alignment with the St. Vincent de Paul CARES Mission and Values.

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.)

• Knowledge of Business English, spelling and punctuation.
• Knowledge of office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of general math pertaining to percentages, allocations, and discounts.
• Computer skills using current software, Microsoft Office products.
• Strong oral and written communications.
• Sensitivity to the cultural diversity of clients to successfully work with diverse racial, ethnic, and economic groups.
• Ability to work as a team member and establish effective working relationships with staff, management, and outside organizations.
• Commitment to empowering others to solve their own problems.
• Demonstrate a commitment to serve all people with respect and compassion.
• Valuing a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person.
• A conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them, gain skills and confidence.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers or professionals.
• The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
• Ability to work under deadlines, multi-task and set appropriate limits.
• Respects diversity of all clients, staff, and volunteers.
• This position requires a Level 2 background screening through the Florida Background Screening Clearinghouse. For more information on screening requirements, process, and disqualifying offenses, please visit the official Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website.

Education and Experience: (Pending on position and if prior to hire is approved by Chief Executive Officer, a comparable amount of training, education or experience may be substituted for the minimum education qualifications).

• This position requires a minimum a bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field.
• Prior Property Management experience preferred.
• Real Estate License preferred.
• Sales Experience
• Prior experience working with homeless population preferred.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Life insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short- and Long Term Disability
• 120 hours of PTO accrued biweekly starting at day 1 of employment
• 13 Paid Holidays to include Employee's birthday and Date of Hire
• 403(b) with employer match up to 3%

General Physical Demands: These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made, if appropriate, to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of job. Working in an office/site requires prolonged sitting at the computer workstation, standing, bending, reaching, lifting to 20 lbs. and some driving. Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office machines such as computers, fax machines, calculators, telephones, and other office equipment. It is also required to regularly sit, speak, and listen, the employee is also required to walk, use hands and fingers to type, operate equipment, and maintain records and notes. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands: Must handle new and diverse work problems daily. Personal maturity is an important attribute. Must be able to resolve problems, handle conflict, and make effective decisions under pressure. Must have the ability to listen objectively to people, perceive the real problem and assist in bringing issues to a successful conclusion. Must relate and interact with, volunteers, clients, contractors, visitors, and employees at all levels within the Agency.

Work Environment: Environment will occasionally become noisy due to equipment operations and interactions among clients and staff