Housing Navigator

SUMMARY

Avivo serves nearly 15,000 individuals each year; helping them achieve recovery, find housing stability, and achieve employment and economic advancement. Serving Minnesota since 1960, we specialize in helping individuals and families who face complex barriers – poverty, homelessness, unemployment, chemical addiction and/or mental health concerns.  Avivo’s holistic approach to providing services embraces each person’s unique journey. Ultimately, our paired services lay a foundation of health, and social and economic wellness, that transforms lives.

The primary focus of the Housing Navigator is to enhance family well-being and assist in meeting the basic needs of individuals enrolled in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), with particular attention to the needs of stable and sustainable shelter, and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

Activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing and partnership development, agency collaborations, consultation, administration, advocacy, social action, policy development, implementation, and education.  This position will seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs through added resources and promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions to an individuals' needs and social problems.  This position will promote social justice and social change with, and on behalf of, individuals enrolled in Avivo’s MFIP programs.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Engage with participants enrolled in the MFIP program to increase their access to affordable housing, resources, and stable shelter.

- Develop individual plans and assist participants in accessing the public and private resources to meet goals outlined in the plan.

- Research and forge collaborative partnerships with landlords, property managers, and housing authorities to secure access to housing opportunities.

- Administer and interpret assessments to determine appropriate referral resources and services to support individual and family goals.

- Support participants to ascertain what services will assist them in becoming sheltered and self-sufficient.

- R efer to employment services, financial literacy education, tenant and property manager rights education, mainstream benefits, mental health and SUD treatment, and other supportive services that reduce risk factors for future homelessness.

- Assist participants in navigating referral services through a person-centered inclusive approach.

- Develop relationships with community organizations and MFIP vendors to secure additional support for enrollees.

- Provide advocacy for participants and their families as needed in support of their housing and self-sufficiency goals.

- Implement effective and innovative outreach and engagement strategies to assist enrollees to achieve housing and self-sufficiency.

- Provide follow up to and monitor referrals to ensure they maintain eligibility for program services.

- Communicate effectively and serve as a liaison with state agencies, financial institutions, landlords, employers, daycare providers, school officials and other agencies and staff.

- Ensure all case files, and records strictly comply with policies, regulations, and procedures.

- Maintain accurate records regarding individual’s involvement in programs and services.

- Assists with coordinating and scheduling meetings for participants; may be required to transport or ride with clients and family members to and from sites where services are delivered.

- Effectively communicate with all levels of employees, participants, and volunteers while managing external communications.

- Positively represent the organization, program, and participant's needs.

- Ensure organizational policy and procedures are followed.

- Attend and participate in regularly scheduled staff, agency, and external meetings.

- Follow program operations according to program plans and goals in accordance with contract requirements.

- Maintain confidentiality and respect dignity of participants in accordance with H.I.P.A.A.

- Keep immediate supervisor informed of all issues of significance to facilitate prompt action as appropriate.

- Perform miscellaneous projects and complete various tasks as assigned.

Undoing Racism and Reducing Disparities

- Actively participate in AVIVO’s Undoing Racism Plan.

- Promote and support involvement in the organization’s commitment to undoing racism and reducing disparities.

- Develop and complete individual annual diversity goal

- Ensure services provided are culturally responsive utilizing best practices.

Qualifications

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

Required

- Bachelor's degree in human services or similar field or five years combined equivalent experience and/or training in human services or related field.

- Experience working in case management and/or working with families.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Strong written and verbal communication skills; computer experience required.

- Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.

- Proven ability to work as a member of a team.

- Ability to deal effectively with a variety of people and personalities; understands and displays high level of internal and external customer service.

- Excellent organizational and administrative skills with the ability to prioritize.

- Competency in MS Office Suites, e-mail and Internet.  Ability to effectively use database systems.

- Familiar with grants, funding sources and quality programs and services for persons with barriers.

- Ability to provide or arrange services such as career/personal counseling, family counseling, financial counseling, housing issues, medical, mental health, and chemical dependency treatment.

- Self-motivated, show initiative, and able to work independently.

- Ability to maintain high level of professionalism and attitude.

- Ability to maintain confidential information and successfully complete Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) test.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation:

- Physical Demands:

Ability to use a PC/laptop, requiring repetitive motion of fingers, hands and wrists.

- Required to occasionally move about in an office environment to access file cabinets, printers, etc., and remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.

- Ability to communicate with staff, funders, and participants.

- Ability to sit or stand for the duration of a workday.

- Travel requirements:

Ability to travel to community sites to attend meetings and meet with staff and supervisors at various locations.

- Must have access to a personal vehicle to transport clients to a variety of appointments and or destinations.   Mileage reimbursement will be provided.

- Must have a valid, current driver’s license, proof of valid insurance and a clean driving record.

- Since driving is required for the position, employee must notify supervisor immediately of any driving related citations after date of hire.