Job Description

Position Title: Housing Navigator (San Diego County)

Company Description: NAMI San Diego & Imperial Counties (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a nonprofit organization that provides free education, support services, and advocacy to improve the quality of life of everyone affected by mental illnesses.

Primary Responsibilities/Function:

Our Housing Navigator supports individuals who are Medi-Cal members, served by managed care plans in San Diego County, and are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Depending on their situation, they may have serious chronic medical conditions, serious mental health conditions, substance use and may be adults, children, youth or transition-age youth. Our Housing Navigator support individuals in identifying and obtaining housing, successfully moving in, and retaining housing. This position is based in San Diego County; our Housing Navigator works in the field in all areas of San Diego County, as well as in our offices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build rapport and provide culturally sensitive, gender affirming, and trauma-informed support to all individuals served.
• Ongoing meetings with our client(s) to determine needs, preferences, and goals.
• Develop and implement a person-centered housing plan that aligns with the individual's needs, preferences, and goals, and update the plan as needed.
• Research available housing options, present options to the individual, accompany them to potential housing sites, and support with the application process for selected location(s).
• Support individuals with applications for subsidies and obtaining housing-related documentation.
• Identify needs for rental deposits and one-time services and modifications needed to have safe and stable housing; obtain approvals, coordinate, and secure related funding.
• Support individuals with maintaining a safe and stable tenancy, including support to reduce and resolve landlord-related issues.
• Conduct outreach with landlords and housing sites to provide information about our program and facilitate access to housing for our clients.
• Use evidence-based practices such as motivational interviewing, housing first, and harm reduction, to engage and support the individual in achieving their housing-related goals.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of eligibility, consent, assessments, progress towards goals, and all communications with the individual, their family, and landlords.
• Conduct outreach and engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as with agencies and providers that support them, and participate in homeless outreach events, with the goal of maintaining an active caseload of 35 clients.
• Other duties as assigned.

Accountability: Reports to Lead Enhanced Care Manager

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer, prolonged periods of standing and walking, prolonged periods of working outdoors, must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times must be able to pull/push 15 pounds.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum one year of experience providing housing navigation or closely related support.
• Minimum of one year of experience supporting individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
• Minimum of one year of experience supporting individuals experiencing mental health or substance use conditions.
• Personal lived experience or with a family member or loved one with mental health conditions, substance use, or homelessness.
• In-depth knowledge of San Diego County's housing resources, social services, and culture.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with computer software (Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel) and web navigation.
• Strong positive viewpoint towards individuals living with mental health conditions, substance use conditions, homelessness, recent history of justice involvement, and their families.
• Able to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, positivity, attention to detail, flexibility, and enjoy working in an ever-changing environment.
• Excellent planning, organizing, analyzing, problem-solving, and time management skills.
• Ability to get along and work effectively with others.
• Reliable and consistent attendance.
• Must be willing and able to drive your personal car to transport clients, have a valid California Driver's License, and comprehensive automobile insurance as required by law.
• Must have a satisfactory driving record.
• Fluency in Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese, or ASL, preferred.
• Knowledge of and use of recovery language, preferred.

Due to our work with vulnerable populations and county contractor requirements, applicants will be required to undergo a background check following a contingent offer of employment and must receive satisfactory results prior to a final offer of employment. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please feel free to reach out to [email protected].

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