Housing Navigator

SUMMARY:

The Housing Navigator is responsible for diversion, housing-focused case management, community referrals, housing placement, and linking families with the appropriate destination for continued services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Form and foster relationships with housing agencies and permanent housing providers, including supportive housing providers.

• Partner with housing agencies and providers to offer the Member permanent, independent housing options, including supportive housing.

• Connect and assist the Member in getting available permanent housing.

• Coordinate with members in the most easily accessible setting within MCP guidelines (e.g., could be a mobile unit that engages members on the street).

• Conduct or review intake and assessment for family/everyone accessing services to evaluate housing needs, history, and service/support needs. Develop and implement a housing-focused individual opportunity plan in collaboration with each Member.

• Conduct a tenant screening and housing assessment that identifies the member’s preferences and barriers related to successful tenancy. The assessment may include collecting information on the member’s housing needs, potential housing transition barriers, and identification of housing retention barriers.

• Develop an individualized housing support plan based upon the housing assessment that addresses identified barriers, includes short- and long-term measurable goals for each issue, establishes the member’s approach to meeting the goal, and identifies when other providers or services, both reimbursed and not reimbursed by Medi-Cal, may be required to meet the goal.

• Search for housing and presenting options.

• Assist in securing housing, including the completion of housing applications and securing required documentation (e.g., Social Security card, birth certificate, prior rental history).

• Assist with benefits advocacy, including assistance with obtaining identification and documentation for SSI eligibility and supporting the SSI application process.

• Identify and secure available resources to assist with subsidizing rent (such as HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), or state and local assistance programs) and match available rental subsidy resources to Members.

• Identify and secure resources to cover expenses, such as security deposit, moving costs, adaptive aids, environmental modifications, moving costs, and other one-time expenses.

• Assist with requests for reasonable accommodation, if necessary.

• Landlord education and engagement

• Ensure that the living environment is safe and ready for move-in.

• Communicate and advocate on behalf of the Member with landlords.

• Assist in arranging for and supporting the details of the move

• Identify, and coordinate non-medical transportation to assist Members’ mobility to ensure reasonable accommodations and access to housing options prior to transition and on move in day

• Provide early identification and intervention for behaviors that may jeopardize housing, such as late rental payment, hoarding, substance use, and other lease violations.

• Educate and train on the role, rights, and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord.

• Coach on developing and maintaining key relationships with landlords/property managers with a goal of fostering successful tenancy.

• Coordinate with the landlord and case management provider to address identified issues that could impact housing stability.

• Provide assistance in resolving disputes with landlords and/or neighbors to reduce the risk of eviction or other adverse action, including developing a repayment plan or identifying funding in situations in which the Member owes back rent or payment for damage to the unit.

• Provide advocacy and linkage with community resources to prevent eviction when housing is or may potentially become jeopardized.

• Assist with benefits advocacy, including assistance with obtaining identification and documentation for SSI eligibility and supporting the SSI application process. Such service can be subcontracted out to retain needed specialized skillset.

• Assist with the annual housing recertification process.

• Coordinate with the tenant to review, update and modify their housing support and crisis plan on a regular basis to reflect current needs and address existing or recurring housing retention barriers.

• Continue assistance with lease compliance, including ongoing support with activities related to household management.

• Conduct Health and safety visits, including unit habitability inspections.

• Perform other prevention and early intervention services identified in the crisis plan that are activated when housing is jeopardized (e.g., assisting with reasonable accommodation requests that were not initially required upon move-in).

• Provide independent living and life skills including assistance with and training on budgeting, including financial literacy and connection to community resources.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Paraprofessional or other qualification based on experience and knowledge of the population and processes.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Paraprofessional with at least 2 years of experience or Associates Degree in a social service field, LCSW, or MSW
• Experience working with individuals and/or families experiencing homelessness and case management experience or similar work experience, preferred.

SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work independently and possess strong time management skills. Strong ability to manage time using an online or paper calendar.
• Knowledge and familiarity with harm reduction and motivational interviewing concepts and strategies.
• Previous experience assessing and referring individuals to various community resources, a plus.
• Computer literacy required. Working knowledge of Word, Excel, and Outlook programs. Familiarity with internet-based tools (webmail, google calendar, web time, etc.).
• Strong interpersonal skills, cultural competence, and ability to employ sensitivity in building rapport with Members.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred but not required.
• Must have a vehicle
• Valid California driver's license and legally required insurance (a CA minimum) to travel, as driving is required.

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