Housing Navigation and Sustainability Coordinator

SUMMARY: Assist individuals to sustain housing acquired through Central Coast Alliance Housing Navigation services, offer case management for tenants including planning, services, monitoring, coordinating with other agencies and other activities to help retain housing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

I. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES are outlined below. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities and/or special needs to perform essential functions.

A. Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services

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

2. Education and training on the role, rights and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord

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

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

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

6. Advocacy and linkage with community resources to prevent eviction when housing is or may potentially become jeopardized

7. Assisting 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

8. Assistance with the annual housing recertification process

9. Coordinating 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

10. Continuing assistance with lease compliance, including ongoing support with activities related to household management

11. Health and safety visits, including unit habitability inspections

12. 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)

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

B. Housing Navigation Services

1. Assists individuals in obtaining housing including housing search and assistance with housing related paperwork such as rental applications and housing voucher applications.

2. Conducts a housing needs assessment and individual-driven housing searches, focusing on the preferences of the individual.

3. Assists individuals with transportation to housing appointments and other housing related needs.

4. Researches, creates and maintains a list of community housing resources including available rental units in Santa Cruz County and other services that may assist an individual when housed (information on public transportation passes, SNAP program, furniture donation).

C. Teamwork and Collaboration

1. Maintain cooperative and professional working relationships and communications with individuals, support persons such as County Case Managers, landlords and all others contacted during work to meet housing goals

2. Give input to management on improving the quality of programs and assists in monitoring program effectiveness and conduct tenant satisfaction surveys.

3. In a culturally competent manner, will provide services to all individuals without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age, sex, religion, and handicap or payment status.

II. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Knowledge, skill, or ability required to perform the job.

Education and/or Experience

1. B.A. or B.S. in social work or a related field; or two years' experience working in social services.

2. Understanding of the Santa Cruz County Housing/Rental market

3. Previous experience assisting individuals suffering from chronic homelessness greatly preferred.

C. Language Skills

Read, speak, write and understand English well enough to follow and share the regulations, requirements and communications for providing support to the tenants.

Able to effectively present information and respond to questions.