Housing Navigator (Adult Re-Entry - Imperial County)

Position Title : Housing Navigator (Imperial 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 health conditions.

Program Description : The Adult Re-Entry Program is our newest program in Imperial County, where our Peer Case Managers and Housing Navigators provide wrap-around re-entry services and housing assistance to adults with a history of incarceration.

Primary Responsibilities / Function :

Our Housing Navigators support individuals who have been formerly incarcerated in the California state prison system, are living / returning to Imperial County, and are 18 years of age or older. They support individuals with identifying and obtaining housing, obtaining housing-related documentation, successfully moving in, and retaining housing, which includes providing support to reduce and resolve landlord-related issues. Additionally, our Housing Navigators develop and maintain relationships with landlords and other housing providers to facilitate access to housing for our clients. Our Housing Navigators work in the field in all areas of Imperial 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 an Individualized Service Plan (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, as well as obtaining housing-related documentation.
• Identify needs for rental deposits, temporary rent support, and one-time services and modifications needed to have safe and stable housing; obtain approvals, coordinate, and secure related funding.
• Works closely with our Peer Case Managers to coordinate person-centric housing options, and with our accountants to coordinate and receive approval for housing-related financial support.
• 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 principles, to engage & support the individual in achieving their housing-related goals.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of eligibility, consent, assessments, housing plan, progress towards goals, and all communications with the individual, their family, and landlords.
• Conduct outreach and engagement with potential participants, as well as with agencies and providers that support them, including Calipatria and Centinela state prisons.
• Other duties as assigned.

Accountability : Reports to the Program 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.

Minimum Requirements :