Housing Navigator

Schedule: Full-time
Pay: $20/hr
 

Benefits: Approximate benefits package value: $20,000+

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee AssistanceProgram for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• $1,200 annual employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly)
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off

Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, VOA Utah encourages individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person’s life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

The Geraldine E. King Women's Resource Center exists to meet the distinctive needs of women who are experiencing homelessness by providing shelter, case management, life skills training, and connection to community services and resources. Housing Locators provide consistent, individualized, and thorough outreach and housing case management services to clients with the end goal of clients transitioning to safe and stable housing quickly and efficiently. Assist guests by performing housing searches, coordinating with other housing departments and programs, and connecting guests to relevant resources in the community as applicable.

The center recognizes and meets the needs of those at risk and homeless populations including: single women; domestic violence victims; individuals with behavioral health disorders; individuals who are medically frail/terminally ill [and/or] those exiting prison or jail. All activities are undertaken with the ultimate goal of assisting all clients in obtaining housing.

Essential duties:
 

Client Engagement

• Perform Housing searches for Individuals, advocating on their behalf and helping them navigate the housing search, applications, and approval processes.
• Identify and target Women’s Resource Center clients who have active housing vouchers, or are in need of housing location services; determine eligibility.
• Collaborate with program manager in ensuring program fidelity, documentation accuracy, confidentiality, and intra-agency collaborations.
• Ability to maintain working knowledge of the UHMIS system, performing paper and digital intakes, case notes, and file creation.
• Daily collaboration with all departments promoting a healthy team environment, regular and ongoing communication with team members, works with team to provide the highest level of client care.
• Evaluate own performance to increase effectiveness as a Housing Locator, and maintain willingness to accept supervision and direction.

Landlord Engagement

• Actively work to build relationships with landlords; educating landlords and properties on our programs, vouchers, and the Housing First Model.
• Seeking out, engage, and networking with community partners, landlords, housing authorities, and any other housing resources to find housing options and additional housing resources.
• Participate in community meetings, task groups, coalition meetings, as needed in order to expand resource/system knowledge and enhance Housing Location services within the center.   
• Ability to contribute to the Agency's commitment to enhancing awareness and appreciation of diverse ethnic and cultural heritages.
• A willingness to understand the Housing First model, Progressive Engagement model, harm reduction, and low barrier access to resources is best practice and essential to our mission at Volunteers of America.

Qualifications

A degree in the field of social services and two years’ experience working in the social services field or any combination of education, experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Must qualify for and pass Utah Department of Human Services Case Management Certification within 60 days of being hired.
• Familiarity with Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing and Housing First philosophies and willingness to incorporate them in daily work.
• Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
• Ability to utilize Trauma Informed practices to act and make sound decisions within the scope of position responsibilities as well as reach out for supervision for major situations.
• Willingness to accept supervision and direction.
• Ability to move around the facility and interact with clients for extended periods.
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record and be insurable on the agency liability policy.
• Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs.
• Must be able to pass criminal background check and drug screen.

Submit resume on the career page of our web site: www.voaut.org/careers

Volunteers of America, Utah is committed to creating a diverse environment, where all people feel valued, have the opportunity to do their personal best and where leadership development is fostered. The organization is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs without regard to race, ethnicity, skin color, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and developmental abilities, physical ability or religious belief. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.