Housing Navigator

Description

Department: Youth & Community Wellness

Program: Homeless and Housing Insecurity Program (HHIP)

Status: Full-time, non-exempt

Pay rate: $23 per hour

Schedule: Monday – Friday: 8:30 am to 5 p.m. Must be available to work two evenings per week as needed to meet the various needs of the program.

Who we are

SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) transforms communities to support the well-being and prosperity of children, youth, and families. For more than 50 years, we’ve worked throughout San Diego to provide safe shelter, transitional housing, intervention prevention programs, mental health support, and many other services that meet the ever-changing needs of our communities.

Our organization is dedicated to offering high-quality services and ensuring all services align with the community's needs. To best serve our communities, SBCS partners with various grassroots organizations throughout California to develop innovative strategies that enhance services, empower clients, and ensure that culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care is offered. SBCS provides a wide range of services tailored to meet each client's unique needs. At SBCS, our client-centered approach highlights the importance of respect, empathy, and compassion when interacting with all community members.

About YOU

You are an advocate and champion of nurturing communities where families can pursue their dreams and fulfill their potential.

You are dedicated to and energized by engaging directly with individuals and communities.

You care deeply about the well-being and prosperity of ALL children and youth throughout San Diego.

You want to become a part of an energetic and effective team, and contribute your expertise, creativity, and insights to a unique role encompassing program management, development, and direct counseling services for at-risk children, adolescents, and families.

About our organization

SBCS is home to a committed team of 470 dedicated employees and volunteers who diligently serve all of San Diego County. Having offered services for 52 years, SBCS is committed to providing hope and support for numerous young children, individuals, and families facing adversity. With an annual budget of $68 million, SBCS continues to be a beacon of assistance in the community.

Competitive and Sustainable Employee Pay Package:

SBCS offers competitive pay and additional benefits for full-time employees, including generous vacation time, holidays, health, vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, an employee assistance program, discount programs, public service forgiveness loan, and an excellent retirement plan with matching contributions.

Program:

SBCS' Homeless and Housing Insecurity Program (HHIP) provides services for Southwestern Community College District eligible students to support those students to achieve housing security. Services shall be provided utilizing a College Focused Rapid Rehousing model, which provides housing navigation and location, flexible rental subsidies, and supportive services to assist individuals experiencing homelessness to obtain permanent housing and complete educational goals as quickly as possible.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Program Director/Coordinator the Housing Navigator will provide housing navigation services including determining program eligibility, conducting intakes and assessments, determining arrangements for temporary shelter, assistance with housing navigation and placement, rent and move-in assistance support, data collection and reporting, case management and crisis intervention.

Duties:

• Provides supportive housing case management, outreach, and engagement, assistance with housing placement and stabilization services.
• Guide and support eligible students through the housing search process
• Provide budgeting assistance and develop a monthly budget with each student.
• Create & maintain database listings of up-to-date community resources.
• Link clients to appropriate internal/external resources.
• Assist clients in obtaining all necessary documentation required to obtain permanent housing (i.e. government issues photo identification, Social Security card, proof of income, etc.)
• Participate in the housing needs assessment process to identify barriers to housing and provide assistance as needed.
• Assist students in completing housing applications and other required paperwork.
• Assist students in their communication with prospective landlords or/and roommates.
• Develop strong working relationships with community partners who may help students advance their goals.
• Access assistance with establishing positive rental & credit history, and eviction counseling which improve their status as a prospective tenant.
• Create detailed tracking of client information, referrals, expenses and progress.
• Maintain case files on each student and conduct data entry into various required databases.
• As other duties assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, psychology, or a related field
• Shared life experience and/or relevant case management experience focused on at-risk young adults, highly desirable.
• Minimum of one year of experience in housing subsidy programs
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with staff and the community.
• Ability to work with diverse populations, possess cultural competency, and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients.
• Ability to work with individuals in crisis, homelessness, foster care, and/or mental health issues with the ability to de-escalate situations.
• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care practices.
• Ability to use sound judgment in decision making and problem solving.
• Must effectively collaborate with clients, families, school sites and providers.

Condition of Employment

• Employment may be conditioned upon satisfactory completion of certain background clearances which may include a Department of Justice criminal background check requiring my fingerprints (Live Scan), screening through the National Sex Offender Public Website, drug test, tuberculosis (TB) test, and such additional clearances as may be required under the program.
• Candidate is required to have reliable transportation; therefore the candidate must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check. Candidate must also possess and maintain a current valid California driver’s license and valid auto insurance policy. (Approximately 60% of the time.)

Physical Demands:

• Mentally and emotionally: Ability to work under deadlines, various projects and dealing with clients in crisis and difficult situations.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift.
• Moves throughout the building.
• Moves, raises, or lowers (includes upward pulling) an object or equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Transports an object, from 20 to 50 lbs. across the facility, for various needs.
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force.
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking)
• Ascending or descending stairs and ladders when applicable. Body agility is emphasized.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when ascending, descending, traversing.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with objects or office machinery.
• Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas. Communicating is important for those activities in which workers must impart information to clients or to the public, and in those activities in which they must convey detailed or important instructions to other workers accurately, or quickly.

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time unless restricted by a negotiated contract.

Accessibility Accommodation

SBCS is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, parental status, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program – Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

At-Will Employment Status

Please note that all employment with SBCS is at-will, which means your employment may be terminated at any time by you or SBCS, without cause or advance notice. The terms and conditions of any employment may also be modified.