Housing Navigator

Description:

United American Indian Involvement (UAII) is the only Urban Indian Organization in Los Angeles County, proudly serving as a home for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Through our healthcare facility and culturally centered programs, we provide essential physical, behavioral, and spiritual health services—helping individuals stay connected to their Tribal heritage and traditions.

For over 50 years, UAII has grown to become the largest nonprofit provider of health and human services for American Indians and Alaska Natives in Los Angeles, home to the nation’s largest Urban Indian population. Our dedicated team delivers compassionate care that supports daily healing, resilience, and the continued strength of our communities. UAII is committed to uphold Indigenous values in all aspects of our work. It guides our actions, relationships, and responsibilities, ensuring that we serve our communities with integrity, respect, and accountability.

Core Principles

• Respect for Relatives – I will honor the dignity of all people, recognizing that every individual is a relative deserving of respect, compassion, and care.
• Community Responsibility – My work is not only for individual benefit but for the collective well-being of our communities, present and future.
• Cultural Integrity, I will safeguard and uplift Indigenous languages, traditions, and cultural practices, ensuring they remain central to our organizational life.
• Reciprocity We give back in balance with what we receive, fostering mutual trust and accountability in all relationships.
• Stewardship – I will act as a caretaker of our communities, resources, and environment, mindful of the impact of our decisions on future generations.
• Truth and Transparency – I will communicate honestly and openly, ensuring clarity in our commitments and accountability in our actions

Position Summary

Through culturally grounded wraparound services, UAII works to remove barriers to permanent housing and uplift individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or severe rent burden throughout Los Angeles County. Under the general direction of the Housing Program Manager or Lead Housing Navigator, the Housing Navigator supports clients in securing safe and stable housing. This role provides individualized case management, assists with housing searches, and builds strong relationships with property owners, managers, and community partners to expand permanent and supportive housing opportunities. The Navigator helps clients complete rental applications and subsidized housing paperwork, interprets leases, and educates clients on tenant rights and responsibilities.

The Housing Navigator collaborates closely with internal team members, provides essential administrative support, and utilizes all functions of the Los Angeles Continuum of Care (LAHSA/HMIS, DPSS, CBEST, LA DHS, LA DMH), as well as CDSS and CalAIM CS systems. This position plays a critical role in guiding clients toward housing stability and long-term success within a compassionate, culturally attuned service environment.

Essential Functions

An individual in this role must be able to perform the following duties with or without reasonable accommodation. The tasks listed provide representative examples and may not include all responsibilities assigned.

· Monitor and verify participant eligibility status throughout program enrollment(s).

· Provide case management services using Housing First principles, Trauma-Informed Care, and Motivational Interviewing.

· Meet with participants both onsite and in the field to assess housing barriers and determine appropriate housing and service needs.

· Maintain regular participant contact within required timeframes established by the program and funding sources.

· Assist participants with housing searches, housing placement, and ongoing tenancy support.

· Support participants in completing rental applications, subsidized housing and supportive housing paperwork; interpret and explain lease terms and educate on tenant rights and responsibilities.

· Conduct habitability home inspections and provide periodic home visits after housing placement.

· Mediate and advocate on behalf of participants with landlords, addressing disputes, payment arrangements, unit surrender, relocations, and other housing-related issues.

· Collaborate closely with UAII Workforce Development, Behavioral Health, Wellness (SUD treatment), Clinic/Dental teams, and external community partners to provide comprehensive wraparound services.

· Develop and maintain an effective internal and external referral network to ensure timely warm handoffs and individualized participant support.

· Build partnerships with CoC agencies, property owners, property management companies, and agents to expand housing opportunities and promote long-term housing stability.

· Document all participant interactions within 48 hours and enter required data into funder-mandated tracking systems.

· Maintain accurate electronic and physical participant files and process all program paperwork in compliance with agency and funder guidelines.

· Assist in preparing internal and external reports as needed.

· Represent UAII and the Housing Department at stakeholder meetings, community events, and outreach activities.

· Keep management informed of program activities, pending issues, and potential concerns.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

• 1+ years related work experience, particularly supporting the unhoused population.

• Must have experience working with the Los Angeles Continuum of Care.

• Case management experience required.

• Knowledge of Federal, State and Local Fair Housing Laws.

• California Driver's license; driving is an essential job function.

• Clean driving record, eligible to be insured by UAll's auto policy.

Preferred Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• Experience working with the American Indian/Alaskan Native community.

• Experience working with nonprofit organizations, community groups, and performance-based government contracts.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Competencies

• Knowledge of Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (PL93-638).

• Knowledge of Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (PL 94-437).

• Knowledge of the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148).

• Strong understanding and sensitivity to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) cultures and lifestyles and work effectively with AI/AN population.

• Effective oral and written communications skills with sensitivity to lifestyles of targeted participants, while maintaining a high level of professionalism.

• Skills in operating personal computer using a variety of computer software (Microsoft Office, Adobe, Microsoft Teams, Zoom).

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of client and personnel information, exercise discretion, and comply with all applicable federal and state privacy laws, as well as UAII policy (HIPAA, HITECH, etc.).

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, coworkers, and outside contacts.

• Ability to keep up with a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to anticipate issues and find solutions quickly and effectively.

• Ability to learn and apply program/agency operating policies and procedures.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks concurrently and meet deadlines.

• Ability to interact with various people on various, and at times, complex issues.

• Ability to work independently as well as with teams.

Conditions of Hire

· Eligibility to work in the U.S.

· Fingerprint clearance and post-offer drug test.

· Proof of hepatitis B vaccination and TB screening.

· UAII strongly encourages COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations; in the absence of the recommended vaccinations, employees are required to wear a mask at all times while on company premises.

Benefits

· Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

· Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance Plans

· Company-paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

· Company-paid Basic Life Insurance and AD&D

· HSA, FSA

· 403(b) Retirement Plan with 4% Employer Match

· Employee Assistance Program

· Bereavement and Jury Duty Paid Leave

· Employee Wellness Program

· Paid Vacation - 15 days (first 2 years)

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here represent those employee encounters while performing the primary functions of this job. Normal office conditions exist, and the noise level in the work environment can vary from low to moderate.

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 disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and/or sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit and climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

United American Indian Involvement, Inc. (UAII) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected status under federal, state, or local law. UAII is a drug-free workplace and complies with ADA regulations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

UAII is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.