Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Housing Navigation Specialist’s upholds a pivotal role in utilizing Housing First principles to help homeless and formerly homeless households obtain, move into, and keep their homes and outreaching to and engaging households referred by HCSA to support a transition from homelessness into permanent housing across Alameda County.

This role will uphold and champion the agency’s mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work culture.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

Housing Navigation Transition Services

Assist households with obtaining housing and include:

• Conducting a tenant screening and housing assessment that identifies the Household’s preferences and barriers related to successful tenancy. The assessment may include collecting information on the Household’s housing needs and on potential housing transition barriers, as well as identification of housing retention barriers. 
• Developing an individualized housing support plan based upon the housing assessment that addresses identified barriers, includes short- and long-term measurable goals for each issue, establishes the Household’s approach to meeting the goal, and identifies when other Providers or services, both reimbursed and not reimbursed by Medi-Cal, may be required to meet the goal. 
• Searching for housing and presenting options. 
• Assisting in securing housing, including the completion of housing applications and securing required documentation (e.g., Social Security card, birth certificate, prior rental history). 
• Assisting with benefits advocacy, including assistance with obtaining identification and documentation for Supplemental Security Income eligibility and supporting the SSI application process. Such service can be subcontracted out to retain needed specialized skill sets. 
• Identifying and securing available resources to assist with subsidizing rent (such as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) or state and local assistance programs) and matching available rental subsidy resources to Consumers. 
• Identifying and securing resources to cover expenses, such as security deposit, moving costs, adaptive aids, environmental modifications, and other one-time expenses. 
• Assisting with requests for reasonable accommodation, if necessary. 
• Educating and engaging with landlords. 
• Ensuring that the living environment is safe and ready for move-in. 
• Communicating and advocating on behalf of the Consumers with landlords. 
• Assisting with arranging for and supporting the details of the move.
• Establish procedures and contacts to retain housing, including developing a housing support crisis plan that includes prevention and early intervention services when housing is jeopardized.
• Identifying, coordinating, securing, or funding non-emergency, nonmedical transportation to assist Consumers’ mobility to ensure reasonable accommodations and access to housing options prior to transition and on move-in day. 
• Identifying and coordinating environmental modifications to install necessary accommodations for accessibility (see Environmental Accessibility Adaptations Community Support Services). 
• Take the required components of the Coordinated Entry System (CES) training within 30 days of hire. 

Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services

The goal of tenancy and sustaining services is to maintain safe and stable tenancy once housing is secured. Services include: 

• Providing early identification and intervention for behaviors that may jeopardize housing, such as late rental payment, hoarding, substance use, and other lease violations. 
• Education and training on the roles, rights, and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord. 
• Coaching on developing and maintaining key relationships with landlords/property managers with a goal of fostering successful tenancy. 
• Coordination with the landlord and case management Provider to address identified issues that could impact housing stability. 
• 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 Consumer owes back rent or payment for damage to the unit. 
• Advocacy and linkage with community resources to prevent eviction when housing is or may potentially become jeopardized. 
• 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 skill set. 
• Assistance with the annual housing recertification process. 
• 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. 
• Continuing assistance with lease compliance, including ongoing support with activities related to household management. 
• Health and safety visits, including unit habitability inspections.
• 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).
• Providing independent living and life skills, including assistance with and training on budgeting, including financial literacy and connection to community resources.

Other

• Attend trainings and participate in events relevant to key responsibilities
• Track and regularly report on key metrics for responsible function areas
• Leads and collaborate on special projects related to agency objectives as appropriate
• Other miscellaneous duties as appropriate

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bilingual in Spanish – Preferred.
• Minimum two years of experience working in the social services field, housing-related experience with strong knowledge of Alameda County housing market and geography highly desirable.
• Bachelor degree in social work, human services, or a closely related field desirable.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings.
• Non-Profit and Community Based Organization experience highly desirable.
• Demonstrates and models excellent “customer service” orientation, especially in the ability to interact with people at all levels within and outside the agency.
• Thinks independently and can make informed decisions when needed.
• Exercises extreme discretion with the ability to hold, balance and transmit public and confidential information needed by various parties.
• Proficient using MS Office products, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Acquires or maintains proficiency in using Google Drive products, including Docs, Sheets, and Forms.
• Valid CA Driver’s license
  • Auto insurance:  Personal vehicle may be used for business related purposes; it is recommended you inform your auto insurance carrier.

BENEFITS:

• Excellent Health benefits package for you and your family including:
  • Medical/dental/vision benefits with 95% employee & 80% dependent employer premium contribution and employer paid life insurance.
• Vacation, 15 paid holidays, 12 paid sick days upon accrual
• Employee Assistance Plan to support yours and your family’s well-being and finances 
• Pet Plan Benefit: 
  • PetPlus Product and Prescription Discounts, Pet Assure Veterinary Discounts, AskVet 24/7 Pet Telehealth, and ThePetTag Lost Pet Recovery Service
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Work-life wellbeing & excellent work hours
• Supportive/Collaborative work environment 
• Opportunities for Growth and Professional Development
• License and Certification renewals reimbursed

Salary : $32 - $33