Housing Navigator

Schedule: Sunday-Thursday

• Sunday 7:00am - 3:30pm
• Monday 9:00am - 5:30pm
• Tuesday 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Wednesday 9:00am - 5:30pm
• Thursday 10:30am - 7:00pm

Introduction: The Housing Solutions Navigator is responsible for ongoing needs assessments, individualized housing plans, support, referrals, and advocacy for individuals at our Mercy House Shelters. This position requires successful working relationships with residents that support their ability to increase their self-reliance. Keeping clear and accurate files and records is essential to this position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

I. Service Delivery:

• Maintain a caseload of 22-30 individuals. Meet with the participants as needed or instructed by your supervisor.
• Conduct Navigation assessment for clients within seven days of entering shelter.
• Determine eligibility and enter assessment into Central Entry System (CES) for prioritization and linkage to housing providers.
• Assist clients in obtaining required documents to secure housing (e.g., valid identification card, birth certificate, income verification, assistance with Social Security Benefits, etc.).
• Provide information, referrals, crisis intervention, and assistance with permanent housing placement for participants.
• Conduct comprehensive screenings and assessments to collect functional, environmental, financial, employment, housing, educational, and health information, as appropriate, to develop an Individual Service Plan with short-term and long-term goals.
• Participate in all stages of client service: assessment, service planning, engagement, and delivery.
• Provide employment linkage, benefits establishment, and linkage to community providers for substance abuse, primary and mental health care, and other services needed to assist clients in reaching their individual housing goals.
• Utilize harm reduction interventions and methodologies to provide client-centered services to keep them in housing.
• Provide crisis intervention services focused on enhancing the client's ability to be independent, problem-solve, utilize effective coping skills, and manage and self-coordinate their care.
• Practice Trauma-Informed Care and Motivational Interviewing when interacting with clients.
• Provide strengths-based case management and service coordination designed to assist clients in obtaining and maintaining stable housing.
• Conduct crisis and risk assessments in consultation with supervisor and case management team.
• Provide warm hand-offs to selected housing providers, ensuring a smooth transition from the shelter into housing.
• Work collaboratively with other community support providers, outreach teams, Health Care Networks, Housing Authorities (Housing Specialists), attend and provide support to clients during voucher briefings, landlords, social workers, leasing teams, attend match meetings, and connect clients in Coordinated Entry.
• Attend training that increases knowledge of effectively meeting clients' needs (including co-occurring disorders, harm reduction, and cultural competence).
• Assist with searching for housing, completing housing applications, and requests for reasonable accommodations if needed, ensuring that the living environment is safe and ready for move-in.
• Input accurate and complete data into HMIS and update snapshots to reflect client progress.

II. Team/Staff Relations:

• Work as a Mercy House team member with all staff and volunteers to implement the mission and core values of the agency.
• Attend regular internal and external agency meetings.
• Work as part of a team to plan and develop resident programs.
• Work in a team environment, in a fast-paced setting, be flexible, adaptable to sudden changes, trustworthy, reliable, and empathetic.
• Communicate effectively with diverse populations.

III. Administrative:

• Keep accurate, up-to-date documentation on all clients, including but not limited to individual housing plans, case notes, case files, and assessments.
• Assist with all data collection systems.
• Ensure deadlines are met.
• Willingness to gain knowledge and understanding of Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Treatments.
• Utilize computers and appropriate software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and/or specific systems applicable to the position.
• Respond to calls and emails in a timely manner.
• Perform tasks independently and prioritize workload.
• Physical requirements: Occasional lifting of items up to 25 lbs. (i.e., accepting donated items).
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Other duties or projects as assigned.

IV. Knowledge of:

• Confidentiality and the legal and ethical issues pertaining to case management.
• Effective documentation and guidelines.

Mercy House is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States. Please click on the following links for more information.

E-Verify Participation Poster: English & Spanish (https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf)
E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English & Spanish (https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster Eng_Es.pdf)

Mercy House must reserve the right to modify, supplement, rescind, or revise all job descriptions to meet the overall needs of Mercy House except as to any language that establishes that the employment relationship is at the will of either the staff member or Mercy House.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Human Services or a related field; one year of experience working with homeless individuals and mental health. Individuals with less than a BA/BS degree but at least 2 years of direct life experience working with long-term homeless, low-income, and diverse populations, and who have a working knowledge of mental health and recovery, are welcome to apply.
• Possess a high level of tolerance and understanding for individuals who present for services with urgent multiple case management and health needs.
• Ability to clearly communicate information and instructions verbally and in written form; maintain a positive, professional, and safe environment while on duty; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• This position requires reliable transportation.
• Navigators are expected to adjust their schedules to accommodate Navigation/Shelter needs on evenings and weekends, as needed or per the Supervisor/Program Managers request.