Community Navigator

Housing Works; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,929 - 33,062; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare plans

PTO accrual up to 30 days

Tuition loan reimbursement

Job summary

Housing Works is hiring a Community Engagement Navigator in New York to promote health and wellbeing among substance users. This role involves outreach, harm-reduction education, and creating connections with clients.

The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, a high school diploma, and familiarity with community resources. Housing Works offers comprehensive benefits, including healthcare plans and PTO accrual. Join us in making a difference in lower Manhattan and East New York.

Qualifications

• Ability to enter data into program databases such as AIRS, e-Share, EiCare.
• Preferable training in motivational interviewing and harm reduction.
• Experience in overdose prevention training.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach in assigned catchment areas.
• Assist with service planning and care coordination.
• Provide routine follow-up and communication with clients.

Skills

Verbal communication skills

Interpersonal communication skills

Microsoft Office Suite

Data entry skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Compensation

Range: $21/hr - $24/hr commensurate with experience. Final offers based on skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related factors.

Benefits

Three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from. Housing Works covers most of the plan; employee pays a portion based on salary. Staff accrue PTO immediately, up to 30 days earned in the first year. Educational benefit available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and textbooks.

Overview

The Community Engagement Navigator (CEN) promotes the health and wellbeing of substance users and links clients to agency services. The CEN conducts outreach and harm‑reduction outreach, overdose prevention trainings, and education for safer injection practices and other high‑risk activities. Knowledge of community resources, including educational, social and emotional support services, is essential. Representation within program catchment areas focuses on parks, shelters, syringe litter areas, homelessness and encampments in lower Manhattan and East New York. Duties may also include client recruitment, administering surveys, data gathering, event organizing and various administrative tasks.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach in assigned catchment areas, providing health promotion, education, and risk‑reduction counseling.
• Conduct initial assessment with each client to determine health and wellness status and experience with healthcare access.
• Assist with service planning and care coordination, including routine communication with all members of the care team.
• Provide routine follow‑up and communication with clients to keep them engaged and assess progress toward service goals.
• Complete and submit service documentation in a timely manner.
• Attend meetings and trainings as deemed appropriate within scope of service.
• Adhere to workplace policies and procedures, including confidentiality, documentation, communication channels, workplace culture and conflict resolution.
• Participate in quality assurance and quality improvement planning projects and activities as directed.
• Participate in weekly staff and peer‑worker development meetings and interventions.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED (or higher).
• Ability to enter data into program databases such as AIRS, e-Share, EiCare.
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook calendar, Excel).
• Culture‑aware and sensitive to PWUD, PLWHA, LGBTQAI, YIDU, SMI and MSM.
• Preferable training in motivational interviewing; syringe exchange, harm reduction, overdose prevention; HIV confidentiality; risk‑reduction counseling.
• Ability to make introductions and connections with community members.
• Experience in safer injection and overdose prevention training.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. Housing Works complies with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.