Housing Navigator

TITLE: Housing Navigator

Employment Status: Full Time

Reg. Hours Worked: 40 / Week Nonexempt

Schedule: Monday Friday: 8:00am 4:30pm 9/80 schedule optional)

Location(s): Pomona Irwindale Altadena Pasadena Los Angeles

Salary: $24.04/hr

**This is a temporary assignment with the potential to transition into a permanent role.**

JOB SUMMARY:

Housing Navigators are responsible for providing housingfocused case management and housing location services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Housing Navigator works in close coordination with care teams interim housing providers and housing programs to guide participants through the housing processfrom initial enrollment to permanent housing placementwhile offering ongoing support to promote longterm stability.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE but are not limited to the following:

• Manages a caseload of approximately 2025 participants who have been matched to housing navigation services.

• Rapidly engages referred participants by completing necessary documentation conducting initial assessments and creating individualized Housing and Services Plans (HSP) in collaboration with clients.

• Supports participants in identifying and applying for available housing opportunities including marketrate units timelimited subsidies vouchers and/or permanent supportive housing.

• Collaborates with care coordination staff to complete the leaseup process including verifying unit eligibility coordinating inspections preparing movein documentation and facilitating transitions to longterm support services.

• Connects participants to community resources that support housing stability such as physical and mental health care substance use treatment employment and legal services.

• Maintains regular contact with participants based on their individualized needs including weekly engagement for unhoused clients and at least monthly home visits for housed participants.

• Provides services grounded in traumainformed care Housing First and harm reduction principles while maintaining compliance with agency legal and funding guidelines.

• Uses motivational interviewing and strengthsbased approaches to build trust promote autonomy and support participants in reaching their housing and personal goals.

• Advocates on behalf of participants experiencing housing barriers such as prior evictions credit issues or criminal records and actively cultivates and manages relationships with landlords and property owners.

• Ensures that participants understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants and that landlords adhere to fair housing practices.

• Refers participants to legal support when housingrelated legal issues arise including eviction prevention or tenant rights concerns.

• Accurately documents all services communications and progress notes in internal systems and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) according to agency standards.

• Completes periodic recertifications and reassessments to confirm program eligibility and update service plans.

• Encourages community integration and participant empowerment to promote successful housing retention and eventual transition from services.

• Transports clients to essential appointments and conducts outreach and home visits throughout assigned regions.

• Actively participates in supervision team meetings and agencywide trainings and events.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is performed both indoors in a standard office setting and outdoors during fieldbased service delivery.

• Must be able to sit stand walk bend kneel climb stairs and lift or carry up to 25 lbs.

• Ability to drive and travel throughout the service area including transporting participants as needed.

• Use of computer phone and other office equipment for prolonged periods.

• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing and interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• Capable of managing multiple tasks and prioritizing in a dynamic fastpaced environment.

• May involve exposure to communicable diseases or other health risks when engaging with participants in the community.

• Must adhere to safety protocols and ethical guidelines in all interactions.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Familiarity with local housing resources systems and landlord engagement strategies.

• Knowledge of housing programs and HUD guidelines including supportive housing and voucher systems.

• Understanding of the social determinants of health traumainformed care Housing First harm reduction and clientcentered case management.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Google Workspace and electronic case management systems (e.g. HMIS).

• Strong written and verbal communication organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to maintain professional boundaries while building trusting relationships with clients.

• Must be flexible resourceful and able to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

• Valid drivers license reliable transportation and proof of insurance required.

EDUCATION TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of one 1 year of experience providing housing navigation case management or related support to individuals experiencing homelessness or two 2 years in a human services or housingrelated field.

• Bachelors Degree in Social Work Human Services or a related field preferred.

• Prior experience working with individuals experiencing mental health chronic illness or substance use challenges is strongly preferred.

• Equivalent work experience may be accepted in place of academic requirements based on organizational review.

UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES EMBRACES DIVERSITY

We embrace our differences and are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion and belonging. Our commitment to racial equity within the organization is crucial to who we are and the clients we serve. Committed to being an antiracist organization and sharing the unique cultural experiences from our networks we offer annual racial equity training host ongoing learning experiences through our lunch n learns and participate in ongoing mental health training.

We promote acceptance respect teamwork and fosters diversity in the workplace. We believe every individual has a story past and a unique set of skills that shape who we are and through this network we can learn from each other to become better versions of ourselves personally and professionally. Through our staffled network focusing on diversity equity inclusion belonging and accessibility we work to communicate educate and express diverse cultivation through our eight Diversity Networks. We are honored that the Diversity Network has been recognized as part of the Community Impact Awards presented by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Union Station Homeless Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer