Floating Housing Navigator

New Narrative; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 30,686,000 - 43,704,000; Full time

Job summary

New Narrative is seeking a Housing Navigator to support individuals experiencing homelessness in the Portland and Beaverton areas. This onsite, floating role collaborates with SHS programs to connect clients to housing options, benefits, and community resources.

You will meet participants in homes, shelters, and program locations, conducting assessments and developing action plans focused on housing stability and income growth. Strong communication and confidentiality are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience with HMIS or Credible preferred.
• Experience with Harm Reduction programs a plus.
• Experience with Housing First programming a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to participants as they transition from street to shelter to housing.
• Intervene in crisis situations, promote positive solutions and re-establish stability.
• Coordinate wrap around services including mental health, legal assistance, entitlement benefits, health care, substance abuse treatment, job training and housing.
• Maintain records and document service encounters in HMIS or Credible.
• Engage participants with trauma-informed communication and advocate for housing stability.

Skills

Harm Reduction

Trauma-informed care

Crisis intervention

Community engagement

Education

Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA)

Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS)

Tools

HMIS

Credible

Job description

## Floating Housing NavigatorApply: Onsite: Thrive Center - 200 - Beaverton, OR: New Narrative East OP - Portland, OR: Full time: Posted 5 Days Ago: JR100242At New Narrative, we believe mental health care is community care. As a nonprofit organization, we partner with individuals to promote healing, housing stability, and long-term wellness through compassionate, equitable support.If you’re passionate about community impact, we invite you to join our team.Pay Rate: Starts at $27/hr and can go up DOE **Purpose** (General description and summary):This role connects highly vulnerable community members experiencing homelessness to community services, employment and income growth with an emphasis around helping transition from experiencing homelessness to housing. The Housing Navigator utilizes crisis response/intervention, harm-reduction and trauma-informed care principles to build trusting relationships and deliver wrap-around housing stability services. The role conducts individual assessments, housing search and connection to community resources with a focus on supporting community connections. This role works outside the office to meet program participants in their homes, in the community and at New Narrative program locations.**Floating Position**: This position will float between multiple SHS programs, particularly during times of increased need due to staffing availability. Programs span both Multnomah County and Washington County. This position may be assigned to a program permanently at the discretion of the SHS Department leadership.**Essential Functions:*** Provide support to participants as they transition from street to shelter to housing. Intervene in crisis situations, promote positive solutions and re-establish stability while providing support and mediation to foster housing stability.* Conduct thorough assessment to identify the individual’s unique story, risk factors, and strengths to build upon for a successful outcome.* Develop strength-based/solution-focused individualized action plans that promote income growth, housing stability and self-sufficiency.* Coordinate wrap around services including mental health, legal assistance, entitlement benefits, health care, substance abuse treatment, job training and housing assistance.* Practice assertive engagement to motivate and encourage participation to support follow-through.* Maintain professional boundaries and a strict level of confidentiality.**Housing Support:*** Assist participants with accessing resources and services to increase housing stability, e.g., linkage to primary care physicians, health insurance, food banks, credit repair, legal aid, money management, tenant rights and responsibilities, mental health, benefits enrollment.* Support participants through each step in the housing process, including income growth and attainment, on-time rent payment, budgeting, roommate mediation, neighbor mediation, and successful tenancy.* Assist participants in locating and securing housing of their choice and to create and maintain consistent communication channels between the participant and landlords, referral sources, creditors, and collaborating agencies.* Provide advocacy and mediation on the client’s behalf with landlords, property managers and housing agencies to obtain and maintain housing.* Serve as an ongoing liaison with property managers, resource and service providers and neighbors, as needed, to maintain stable housing.* Conduct home visits and accompany participants as needed to appointments related to housing.* Provide independent living skills coaching, instruction, and assistance to participants. Independent living skills include paying bills and rent, household management, cleaning, personal hygiene, cooking, nutrition and personal care.* Participate in case conferences, tenant meetings, staff meetings and community meetings as required**Communication and Documentation:*** Maintain thorough, accurate, and up-to-date records and document service encounters as required; enter data in a timely manner in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), Credible and/or Smartsheet.* Gather housing documentation in an accurate and timely manner including application information, disability verification, financial records, housing ledgers, identification and annual voucher certifications.* Respond to calls, emails, update requests and other inquiries in a professional and timely manner.* Follow all best practices standards of care. Follow all New Narrative’s Policies and SOP, including release of information, informed consent, confidentiality and file documentation.* Complete required training and certifications within the established time-period.* Serve on an agency or community service committee representing the department and/or agency as assigned.* Support the Mission, Vision, and Values of New Narrative in the performance of all essential job functions and responsibilities. **Positions Reporting:** None **Core Competencies:*** **Participant Engagement & Professional Communication:** Builds respectful, trauma informed relationships with participants, staff, landlords, and partners. Communicates clearly, maintains service boundaries and responds in a timely and professional manner.* **Work Ownership & Adaptability:** Demonstrates initiative, follows through on responsibilities, learns and applies new processes and adjusts to changing participant and program needs.* **Critical Thinking & Problem Solving:** Assesses situations, interprets information, identifies patterns and uses sound judgment to resolve housing and service barriers.* **Documentation, Compliance & Confidentiality:** Maintains accurate records, follows program requirements and procedures, uses data appropriately and protects sensitive information.* **Professionalism & Crisis Stability**: Remains calm and objective in crisis situations, demonstrates empathy and exercises consistent professional judgment. **Education/Certificates/Licenses/Registration:**Preferred: Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) and/or Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS)Required: Maintain current Oregon driver’s license and required insurance **Experience/Qualifications:**Experience working in HMIS or Credible a plus.Experience working with Harm Reduction programs a plus.Experience with Housing First programing a plusFamiliarity with the population (SPMI, Justice involved, SUD, unhoused)Bilingual proficiency a plus.