HOUSING NAVIGATOR

• Responsible for providing support to homeless individuals in the following areas: housing focused case management, housing readiness, accessing housing assistance programs, completing housing applications, advocacy, housing search and placement, etc.
• Develop and manage comprehensive outreach/working relationship with housing stakeholders (landlords, program managers, homeless services, etc.).
• Networks and collaborates with area Housing Resources (Apartment Association of The Panhandle, landlords, property management, etc.) and maintains a presence at all meetings.
• Attends and participates in clinical and administrative meetings as deemed appropriate and necessary for the job.
• Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice.
• Coordinate and provide transportation for participants to housing appointments (Unit viewings, Housing Authority Interviews, etc.). Transports clients using a COA vehicle.
• Assists regularly with client moves, including access to move-in resources as available (furniture, deposit assistance, etc.), along with assembly, pickup, delivery, and set-up of household items.
• Create and maintain consistent communication channels, both verbal and written, between several parties (i.e., tenant, landlord, referral source, collaborating agencies, debtors, and creditors).
• Apply knowledge of residential lease agreements to educate clients of their tenant rights and responsibilities.
• Provide mediation and advocacy with landlords on the client’s behalf to develop a workable plan to obtain and/or maintain housing.
• Complete an intake with clients to assess housing barriers of individuals and families experiencing homelessness to determine housing readiness and service needs.
• Complete Housing Stability Plan with participants to establish a strength-based/solution-focused individualized goal and action plan that promotes permanent housing and self-sufficiency.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a program of life skills and client support workshops and one-on-one mentoring trainings to ensure long-term tenancy success; Serve as a resource and trainer to agency staff for long-term housing success.
• Develop an effective, timely referral network to provide information to clients regarding available support from appropriate social service agencies and/or community programs.
• Maintain accurate daily logs, records, monthly outcome reports, and files for each client. Collect and report program data, including but not limited to HMIS reporting and other reporting required by funders.
• Follow-up with each participant on a regular basis to ensure they are making progress towards their goals.
• Assist in development of and encourage adherence to a personal budget through pro-active housing and budget counseling sessions; provide budget counseling and education to assist clients in establishing payment plans for bills and past debts and to assist clients in obtaining and maintaining their housing.
• Coordinate the housing navigation intake process (phone, email, in-person). Maintain internal filing system, internal department routing of applications, and follow up with involved parties.
• Works with other community service providers to enhance the clinical and supportive housing services.
• Advocates for the needs of individual clients as well as for systemic change, whenever needed, for the overall benefit of homeless individuals.
• Works to cultivate a culture of support and community within the Coming Home team and the Community Development department.
• Participates in daily team meetings to coordinate activities with other team members, programs, and the Program Manager.
• Assists others with work that needs to be completed in moments of urgency or crisis.
• Must carry a company cell phone and be accessible when in the field to the program clients, community partners, and Program Manager.
• Performs other job- and department-related duties as assigned.

• Must demonstrate ability to work effectively with a diverse array of co-workers, citizens, investment and property owners, and community groups.
• Ability to operate small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
• Ability to efficiently operate a computer both in the field and in the office for data entry, email correspondence, and other daily record keeping as required.
• Must have strong verbal and written communication skills. Must possess basic grammar and spelling skills.
• Must be comfortable working outside of the office, within the community.
• May require after-hour work to attend meetings, assist clients, finish projects, and meet deadlines.
• Will be required to drive a City of Amarillo vehicle.
• Will work Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm.

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