Housing Navigation & Sustainability Coordinator

Front St. family of companies; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 33,062 - 35,817; Full time

Job summary

Front St. family of companies in Santa Cruz, CA is seeking a Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services Navigator to assist individuals in sustaining housing and to provide case management for tenants within Central Coast Alliance Housing Navigation services.

You will coordinate with landlords, help tenants with budgeting and benefits, review housing plans, and advocate for clients to prevent eviction. Successful candidates have a BA/BS in social work or equivalent experience and knowledge of the

Qualifications

• BA/BS in social work or related field.
• Two years’ experience in social services.
• Understanding of the Santa Cruz County housing/rental market.
• Previous experience assisting individuals suffering from chronic homelessness greatly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals to sustain housing and provide case management for tenants.
• Plan, monitor and coordinate with other agencies for tenant services.
• Educate tenants on rights, responsibilities, budgeting and financial literacy.
• Coordinate with landlords and case management providers to address housing stability issues.
• Assist with SSI documentation and benefits advocacy as needed.
• Review and update housing support and crisis plans regularly.

Education

BA/BS in social work or related field

Two years’ experience in social services

Job description

JOB DETAILS

Location: FSI 0MJ91 Front St Main Office - Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Position Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $24.50 - $26.00 Hourly

Job Category: Professional Services

SUMMARY

Assist individuals to sustain housing acquired through Central Coast Alliance Housing Navigation services, offer case management for tenants including planning, services, monitoring, coordinating with other agencies and other activities to help retain housing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities and/or special needs to perform essential functions.

Housing Tenancy and Sustaining Services

• Providing early identification and intervention for behaviors that may jeopardize housing, such as late rental payment, hoarding, substance use, and other lease violations.
• Education and training on the role, rights and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord.
• Coaching on developing and maintaining key relationships with landlords/property managers with a goal of fostering successful tenancy.
• Coordination with the landlord and case management provider to address identified issues that could impact housing stability.
• Assistance in resolving disputes with landlords and/or neighbors to reduce risk of eviction or other adverse action including developing a repayment plan or identifying funding in situations in which the client owes back rent or payment for damage to the unit.
• Advocacy and linkage with community resources to prevent eviction when housing is or may potentially become jeopardized.
• Assisting with benefits advocacy, including assistance with obtaining identification and documentation for SSI eligibility and supporting the SSI application process. Such service can be contracted out to retain needed specialized skillset.
• Assistance with the annual housing recertification process.
• Coordinating with the tenant to review, update and modify their housing support and crisis plan on a regular basis to reflect current needs and address existing or recurring housing retention barriers.
• Continuing assistance with lease compliance, including ongoing support with activities related to household management.
• Health and safety visits, including unit habitability inspections.
• Other prevention and early intervention services identified in the crisis plan that are activated when housing is jeopardized (e.g., assisting with reasonable accommodation requests that were not initially required upon move‑in).
• Providing independent living and life skills including assistance with and training on budgeting, including financial literacy and connection to community resources.

Teamwork and Collaboration

• Maintain cooperative and professional working relationships and communications.
• Give input to management on improving the quality of programs and assists in monitoring program effectiveness and conduct tenant satisfaction surveys.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, skill, or ability required to perform the job.

Education and/or Experience

• B.A. or B.S. in social work or a related field; or two years’ experience working in social services.
• Understanding of the Santa Cruz County Housing/Rental market.
• Previous experience assisting individuals suffering from chronic homelessness greatly preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Read, speak, write and understand English well enough to follow and share the regulations, requirements and communications for providing support to the tenants.
• Able to effectively present information and respond to questions.