Title: Housing Navigator Reports to: Anti-Human Trafficking Program Manager and/or Director Location: Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. Clare House: 5597 Sunrise Blvd. Fort Myers FL Classification: Hourly/Nonexempt OverviewCatholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. provides services to people of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs. We offer a variety of housing and social service programs to individuals, families, and communities across ten counties in Southwest Florida. The Human Trafficking Program Housing Navigator works closely with other program staff, clients, and community partners to assist clients of the Human Trafficking Program in identifying housing options, resources, and services that prepare them to successfully engage landlords and meet requirements to obtain housing. The incumbent is responsible for effectively delivering housing navigation services to families and individuals, conducting outreach throughout the assigned area, and actively participating in community stakeholder trainings and meetings.Job Responsibilities
- Assist individuals and families in the development and assessment of their housing needs and a plan to meet their needs.
- Develop coordinated and cooperative working relationships, through active outreach, with a wide range of service providers and related stakeholders such as landlords, service providers, property management companies, and other community partners.
- Guide and support individuals and families through the housing search process.
- Identify strategies and resources to mitigate issues with credit reports, utility arrears, criminal records, and/or unfavorable landlord references.
- Participate in the housing needs assessment process to identify individuals' and families' housing preferences.
- Assist clients with application to landlords and Public Housing Authorities (PHA) for permanent housing and in preparing/obtaining any needed documentation. This can include ensuring individuals and families-particularly people who identify as being a member of a vulnerable or protected class with limited English proficiency-have access to plain language options and resources in their preferred language.
- Negotiate with PHA officials for timely inspections and landlord corrective action requests.
- Assist individuals and families with expanded housing searches when necessary to ensure timely permanent housing.
- Collaborate with Case Managers to facilitate a wide variety of support services such as health, behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, benefits, employment, financial, and transportation, among other needs.
- A Bachelor's Degree in social work, mental health counseling, criminal justice or another related field.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs.
- one or more years of experience working with social provision, specifically homeless populations.
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
- Working knowledge of community resources especially the social service network throughout the area of responsibility.
- Must be able to conduct light physical activities (for example, visual review of potential property for client use).
- Successful completion of a Level II background screening.
- Must have a valid driver's license.
- Bilingual English/Spanish language skills are highly preferred.