What are the responsibilities and job description for the Housing Navigator position at The Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida?
POSITION: Housing Navigator
REPORTS TO: ARPA Program Manager
STATUS: Hourly – Non-Exempt – Full-Time
REPORTS TO: ARPA Program Manager
STATUS: Hourly – Non-Exempt – Full-Time
Overview: The Housing Navigator assists and advocates on behalf of shelter participants to locate, secure, and retain affordable permanent housing. The Navigator plans and coordinates services, identifies appropriate housing options, and interacts with landlords and other organizations on behalf of participants. The Navigator uses a comprehensive knowledge of housing and other supportive services to facilitate linkages before, during, and/or after permanent housing has been established, and works with participants to enhance their skills in utilizing these various resources. This position also serves as a general housing resource for households served in other TCAA programs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identifies and places participants of the emergency shelter into appropriate housing with the goal of housing participants in fewer than 90 days of acceptance into the program
- Develops and maintains an accurate and current housing portfolio; provides participants with listings of potential housing options in alignment with their needs and geographic preferences
- Helps participants mitigate issues with credit reports, utility arrears, criminal records, unfavorable landlord references, and other issues that may impact housing eligibility
- Assists participants in their housing search, including applying for apartments, negotiating with potential landlords, making referrals to clearinghouses or other housing location services, and accompanying participants to apartment viewings as needed
- Assists participants with housing applications, including preparing/obtaining any needed documentation and tracking application status
- Advocates on behalf of participants to expedite their access to housing
- Arranges for timely inspections and landlord corrective actions
- Determines rent reasonableness for inspected units before rental assistance and lease approval
- Explains and reviews the lease and sublease agreement with incoming participant(s)/sub-tenant
- Works with case managers to address any emerging issues related to housing and community adjustment
- Conducts outreach and expands access to housing by cultivating relationships with property owners and management companies and connecting with landlords via neighborhood outreach, Internet search, and networking events
- Develops expertise in available affordable housing sites and housing subsidies
- Assists clients with moving (help locating affordable moving companies, locating storage units, acquiring furniture and other move-in essentials, etc.)
- Conducts regular in-person post-placement visits, mitigates risks, and helps improve the likelihood of housing retention
- Attends collaborative meetings and networks with other agencies and coalitions
- Actively participates in staff meetings and trainings
- Maintains and reports complete and accurate documentation of service objectives and outcomes as well as other services in accordance with federal, state, county, and TCAA guidelines; utilizes the HMIS system for maintaining and reporting client data
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- A minimum of two years of related professional experience
- Prior experience working with low-income individuals and families, including but not limited to individuals experiencing homelessness and/or with mobility limitations, with veteran status, and with older adults
- Working knowledge of current housing practices for people experiencing homelessness
- Extensive knowledge of local affordable housing resources and subsidies (i.e., Section 8, Rapid Rehousing, PSH, Bridge Housing, VASH, etc.)
- Comprehensive knowledge of state, county, city, and community resources, including housing options, locations, and availability, as well as health, mental health, government benefits, employment, and transportation resources, among others
- Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field
- Ability to obtain a Level 2 Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record; personal vehicle for business use
Required Skills:
- Effective written and oral communication skills
- Ability to cope with and resolve conflicts and crisis situations
- Proficient in the use of computers, including Microsoft Office software, and familiarity with database platforms to efficiently track service delivery
- Proven ability to develop relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders
Disclaimer: This job description does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. The employee will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. This description excludes the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to essential job duties. All duties, responsibilities, and requirements are vital to the job. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" employment relationship.
Employee’s Name (printed): _ _
Employee’s Signature: _ _
Date: _ _
