Self-Sufficiency Navigator

Apply online at: https://housingconnect.clearcompany.com/careers/jobs/119a5e70-d244-b6c6-6ad1-7e9053714fe7/apply?source=3191242-CJB-0

Job Title:             Self-Sufficiency Navigator I

Department:        Resident Services

Reports to:          Services Coordinator – Bud Bailey

The Mission of Housing Connect

At Housing Connect, we believe that a home is a space that offers safety and comfort. Our homes ground us, remind us of our deepest values and hopes, and provide inspiration and motivation to succeed and strive to better our lives and those of our families. The mission of Housing Connect is to connect people and communities to quality affordable housing opportunities while promoting self-sufficiency and neighborhood revitalization.  

Housing Connect is a leader in finding solutions to the affordable housing crisis affecting our communities. We are the connectors. We’ve connected thousands of Utahns with what they need to find stable ground. And we’ve been recognized locally and nationally for our work

The Self Sufficiency Navigator, funded through the Office of Refugee Services, supports the mission of Housing Connect by assisting with the development and implementation of supportive services to Afghan Refugees receiving temporary rental assistance.  The Self Sufficiency Navigator will work with Afghan refugee households, supportive services staff, landlords, and community partners to increase economic self-sufficiency to ensure housing stability once their housing assistance comes to an end.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Client Support and Advocacy

• Work with clients to develop and maintain an individualized self Sufficiency Plan to increase economic self-sufficiency
• Assess employment status with each household and work to support their efforts towards self-sufficiency by co-creating goals that are clear, measurable and have a reasonable time frame. 
• Conduct biweekly check-ins and outreach with client’s households and offer needed services.
• Connect work-ready adults to Department of Workforce Services and other employment programs and document outcomes. 
• Build effective relationships with clients through regular contact in person, by telephone and in writing, using interpretation as needed.   
• Provide education on common housing stability issues such as rent payment, pest control, hygiene, and housekeeping. 
• Attend and actively participate in case staffing and agency meetings, weekly and as requested.
• Coordinate regularly with landlords, Housing Specialist and other Housing Connect staff to proactively ensure effective communication and to resolve client issues.   
• Assist clients with applying for, obtaining, and maintaining benefits.
• Support clients in creating and maintaining a forum in which they can provide feedback for improvement. 
• Orient clients on the importance of timely communication with the Self Sufficiency Navigator, the housing specialist and landlords on issues affecting client housing.
• Act as an advocate for clients when appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supportive Services and Community Partnerships

• Proactively develop and promote self-reliance among households by helping them access employment services and community resources.
• Coordinate supportive services to remove barriers for economic self-sufficiency (i.e. childcare, mental health, transportation, substance abuse, etc.) with appropriate community agencies.
• Provide referrals, when appropriate, to outside programming and community resources.
• Follow up on all referrals to ensure that adequate, appropriate services are being provided.
• Evaluate needs and gaps in services and work with clients to identify solutions.
• Assist eligible clients to enroll in appropriate programming such as job skills training, English skills learning classes. 
• Engage with the Humanitarian Center to ensure client participation and provide support as needed
• In collaboration with clients, organize, promote and participate in activities within the refugee community that foster community, employment, healthy client relationships and overall stability. 
• Support co-workers and work as a team to accomplish agency, department and program goals.

Program Tracking and Outcome Measurements

• Complete well organized case files that accurately reflect services provided.
• Complete paperwork, monthly reports, grant reports, case notes, and other paperwork as needed accurately and on a timely basis.
• Collect program data to track resident progress
• Complete initial income assessment of each participant
• Coordinate with the Housing Specialist to monitor client’s self-sufficiency progress
• Support program goals and objectives from specific grants or funding requirements by ensuring program, Self Sufficiency Navigator services, and activities are in compliance and desired results are achieved.  

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in education, social work or related field.
• Minimum of two years' experience full-time paid related experience.
• Experience in case management.
• Experience working with refugees and or low-income individuals or families
• Computer literate.
• Bilingual preferred (Dari, Pashto, Arabic)
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License and good driving record to transport clients in agency vehicles, as needed.

Knowledge of:

Issues impacting refugees and low-income households

Methods and techniques of effective case management and assessment skills.

Social service programs and community resources.

Ability to:

Maintain a work schedule that accommodates refugee household’s needs, including the youth.

Work evenings and weekends, as directed.

Solve complex situations and diffuse explosive situations.

Approach problems proactively with a solution focused method.

Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Establish working relationships with residents, co-workers, and other professionals.

Work independently as well as collaboratively.

Use personal vehicle, with mileage reimbursement, as needed.

Maintain a good driving record to be able to transport residents in agency vehicles.