Caseworker Coach II, Housing Navigator

POSITION TITLE:                Caseworker Coach II, Housing Navigator

REPORTS TO:                     Program Manager, Homeless Services, Imperial

FLSA STATUS:                    Non-Exempt

TIME COMMITMENT:          Full-or Part time (40 hours/ week)

SALARY:                              $21.00-22.50 per hour DOE

BENEFITS:                          Medical, dental, and vision, prescription drugs, life insurance, cash Balance pension plan, 403(b), vacation, 15 holidays and sick leave

To apply for this position, you need to complete this Application

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Caseworker Coach II / Housing Navigator is responsible for providing direct assistance and support to individuals who are unhoused or at risk of becoming homeless in Imperial County.  This team member is responsible for evaluating participants' housing needs, making suitable referrals, and offering information about related programs and services.

The Caseworker Coach II / Housing Navigator will be responsible for assisting participants with accessing County services and community resources with the goal of securing permanent housing. These services may include but are not limited to the following: developing a case plan to obtain housing, assessing opportunities for housing assistance, and related activities required to secure permanent housing placement. This team member will also respond to requests for homeless prevention assistance, assess eligibility and process check requests.

AGENCY CULTURE:

The business and social environment in which our Agency operates is continuously changing. To thrive, we must incorporate ways of thinking and acting that strengthen who we are and who we can be. As part of this cultural change process, it is critical that all employees of Catholic Charities aspire to the following:

·            A commitment to the agency’s mission, vision, and values (“We Do the Right Thing”)

·            A commitment to excellence in everything we do (“We Do Things Right”)

·            A commitment to achieving desired outcomes and measured results (“Everything Counts”)

·            A commitment to innovation and to what is possible (“We value Creativity and Generativity”)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides participants with listings of potential housing options in alignment with their needs and geographic preferences
• Help participants to mitigate issues with credit reports, utility arrears, criminal records, and other issues which may impact housing eligibility.
• Assist participants in their housing search, including preparing/obtaining any needed documentation, completing housing applications and tracking application status.
• Accompanies participants to view apartments and reviews leases.
• Conducts outreach and expands access to housing by cultivating relationships with property owners, management companies and internet searches.
• Conducts regular in-person post-placement visits to mitigate risks and improve the likelihood of housing retention.
• Provides information about available resources and assists individuals in identifying and alleviating barriers to services including housing, or other community services based on their individual needs.
• Completes intakes with new participants.
• Engages in Diversion conversations and, when appropriate, conducts a PVA (Place Value Assessment) to connect participants with housing opportunities
• Assists participants with obtaining identification cards, social security cards or other documents necessary to access benefits and services.
• Advocates with outside agencies and Catholic Charities programs to ensure participant’s needs are being appropriately met.
• Initiates contact with people referred to Rapid Rehousing, completes intakes, and assists participants in developing housing-focused plans and creating budgets and helps participants to use this information to make realistic, informed choices about their housing options.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with landlords and rental agencies to identify affordable housing options.
• Conducts mobile/street outreach, builds rapport and develops trust with people who are unhoused. Transports participant to the Day Center or other programs or services as requested.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of community resources addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
• Establishes and nurtures collaborative relationships with colleagues from other agencies providing similar or complimentary services.
• Applies a trauma-informed, safety-focused approach to service delivery and supports participants’ efforts to obtain self-reliance.
• Attends staff meetings and participates in training opportunities as requested.
• Remains mindful of safety at all times.
• Builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with colleagues in other social service agencies.
• Promptly reports mobile vehicle maintenance needs immediate supervisor so it can be serviced according to manufacturer’s standards.
• Completes mileage logs before the end of each workday.
• Performs other duties as requested.
• Accurately and completely records all services provided using the program’s internal data collection system, Clarity HMIS

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Associate degree and a minimum of five years of case management/outreach or equivalent experience.
• Experience serving unhoused adults living with co-occurring substance use disorders and/or living with serious mental illness.
• Demonstrates an understanding of substance and or mental health issues.
• Experience applying trauma-informed approaches to service delivery, motivational interviewing, stages of change model and harm reduction. Solid working understanding of and demonstrated ability to apply trauma-informed principles to complex, unpredictable situations.
• Understands and embraces a Housing First approach to resolving homelessness.
• Valid Driver’s License and a safe driving record.
• Successful completion of a live scan background clearance
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred but not required
• Proficient with computer
• Ability to multi-task, organize, and prioritize
• Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team, including coaching and training new team members
• Willing and able to obtain a Food Handler’s Certificate
• Ability to multi-task, organize, and prioritize
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently
• Candidates with lived experience are encouraged to apply

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to walk for up to 8 hours per day with intermittent occasional standing, bending, squatting, or climbing
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.

Salary : $21 - $22