Housing Navigator

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Housing Navigator facilitates successful reentry into the community by ensuring participants have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing following incarceration. This position plays a critical role in reducing homelessness, stabilizing participants in the community, and supporting long-term recovery and reintegration outcomes.

The Housing Navigator works closely with STOP program staff, DAPO, community-based organizations, landlords, and housing authorities to identify and secure appropriate housing placements while addressing participant-specific barriers to housing access. Essential job functions are listed below.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide individualized client support by assessing housing needs, identifying barriers to housing stability, and developing housing-focused discharge plans.
• Assist participants in developing transition and reentry plans that address housing readiness and sustainability.
• Connect participants to permanent housing options aligned with their needs and eligibility criteria.
• Provide ongoing follow-up and support to promote housing retention.
• Assist clients with housing applications and complete supportive and subsidized housing paperwork.
• Survey rental markets to identify affordable housing opportunities within the program area.
• Advocate on behalf of participants with prospective landlords, property managers, and housing providers.
• Facilitate documentation collection required for housing eligibility and subsidy programs.
• Coordinate with program staff to ensure housing placements align with overall case management plans.
• Maintain working knowledge of Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and housing subsidy programs, including:
  • Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
  • Shelter Plus Care
  • Veteran’s Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
  • Permanent Supportive Housing
  • Affordable and market-rate housing programs
  • Other local, county, state, and federally funded housing opportunities
• Support participants in understanding eligibility requirements and compliance obligations for subsidized housing programs.
• Conduct outreach in the community routinely (daily, weekly, and monthly) to expand access to housing options.
• Participate in community events throughout the program area to establish and strengthen housing partnerships.
• Recruit landlords and property managers and establish working relationships for the benefit of STOP participants.
• Develop and maintain a landlord database to support ongoing placement efforts.
• Coordinate with STOP Case Managers, Community Service Representatives, and the STOP Placement Office to ensure housing is integrated into broader reentry planning.
• Maintain accurate documentation of housing applications, referrals, placements, and follow-up activities.
• Track housing outcomes and provide data for contract reporting purposes.
• Must Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation; and
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Knowledge of labor market research, staff development and training, vocational assessment, career planning and human resource management.
• Knowledge of offender populations, criminal subcultures, and cultural differences, substance abuse assessment tools, and therapeutic community concepts is preferred.
• Experience working in case management, or similar experience, preferably in a social service setting is preferred.
• Excellent language and interpersonal skills.
• Superior organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Basic computer skills and good documentation skills.
• Must have the ability to pass a criminal history Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
• Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare’s vehicle insurance is required.
• CPR Certification, First Aid Certification, and an annual Tuberculosis test.
• During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Two (2) years’ experience as a Job Developer, Employment Specialist, or similar position.
• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

• Not applicable for this position.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting located in a rehabilitation facility; and
• Regional travel is required.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 10 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).
• Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee’s essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.

• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations using approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.