Housing Navigator

City Heights Community Development Corporation; San Diego (CA); Remote; USD 67,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K retirement plan with employer**

Employee assistance program

Paid time off

Holidays (11) per year

Flexible/remote work schedule

Job summary

City Heights Community Development Corporation seeks a Housing Navigator to provide individualized housing navigation and stabilization services in San Diego. You will work with participants, landlords, and Case Managers to identify solutions and remove barriers to stable housing.

Ideal candidates have a related degree or equivalent experience, 2+ years in housing or services, and knowledge of San Diego housing resources. Travel across the county is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two years in housing navigation, affordable housing, homelessness services, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of San Diego County housing resources and rental environment.
• Bilingual ability in Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Khmer, Arabic, Swahili, or another local language is desirable.
• Ability to travel locally throughout San Diego County.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized housing navigation and stabilization assistance to participants across programs.
• Assess housing needs, identify barriers, and develop navigation strategies with Case Managers.
• Assist in identifying housing opportunities, applications, eligibility, and required documents.
• Address barriers such as income, eviction history, rental history, and credit challenges.
• Connect participants to employment, benefits, legal assistance, and financial resources.

Skills

Relationship building

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Advocacy

Problem solving

Organization

Documentation

Time management

Landlord comms

Bilingual

Travel locally

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Equivalent relevant experience considered

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: HOUSING NAVIGATOR

An exciting opportunity to join the Housing Stability & Eviction Prevention Program at City Heights Community Development Corporation is now available. City Heights CDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the City Heights community of San Diego with a mission to enhance the quality of life in City Heights by working with our community to create and sustain quality affordable housing and livable neighborhoods and foster economic self-sufficiency.

The Housing Navigator provides specialized housing navigation and stabilization support to households participating in the Housing Stability & Eviction Prevention. The Housing Navigator works directly with participants, landlords, property managers, affordable housing providers, community organizations, and Case Managers to identify housing solutions and remove barriers to stable housing. The position supports households attempting to remain in their current housing as well as participants who may need to identify alternative housing when remaining in place is no longer possible.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

Housing Navigation & Stabilization

• Provide individualized housing navigation and stabilization assistance to participants across City Heights CDC's housing stability and eviction prevention programs.
• Assess participants' housing needs, identify barriers to securing or maintaining housing, and develop individualized housing navigation strategies in coordination with Case Managers and program staff.
• Assist participants in identifying available housing opportunities and navigating housing searches, applications, eligibility requirements, and supporting documentation.
• Help participants address housing barriers, including limited income, prior evictions, rental history, credit challenges, and other obstacles to obtaining or maintaining stable housing.
• Connect participants to employment opportunities, public benefits, legal assistance, financial resources, and other supportive services that promote long-term housing stability.

Landlord Engagement & Community Partnerships

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with landlords, property managers, affordable housing providers, and housing service organizations throughout San Diego County.
• Communicate and coordinate with landlords and property managers, as appropriate, to help resolve housing challenges, prevent displacement, and facilitate housing placements.
• Maintain current knowledge of affordable housing opportunities, rental assistance programs, housing resources, and available supportive services.
• Conduct proactive landlord and housing provider outreach to identify housing opportunities and strengthen partnerships that benefit participants across organizational programs.

Program Coordination & Documentation

• Collaborate with Case Managers and staff across housing stability programs to coordinate services, participate in case conferences, and address complex participant needs.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely documentation of housing navigation activities, participant progress, and service outcomes in Salesforce and other required systems.
• Track housing opportunities, landlord partnerships, participant placements, and housing stabilization outcomes to support program reporting and performance evaluation.
• Ensure all housing navigation activities comply with applicable program requirements, organizational policies, and participant confidentiality standards.
• Support cross-program coordination and other housing stability initiatives as assigned to advance the organization's mission and community impact.

Qualifications/Skills, the ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, housing, human services, public administration, real estate, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two years of experience in housing navigation, affordable housing, homelessness services, property management, case management, or a related field preferred.
• Strong knowledge of housing resources and the rental environment in San Diego County preferred.
• Understanding of common barriers faced by households experiencing housing instability.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with landlords, property managers, participants, and community partners.
• Strong negotiation, advocacy, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organization, documentation, and time-management skills.
• Experience with Salesforce or another case-management database is a plus.
• Bilingual ability in Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Khmer, Arabic, Swahili, or another language commonly spoken in San Diego County is highly desirable.
• Ability to travel locally throughout San Diego County.

Hours and Compensation

• 40 hours per week, non-exempt
• Annual starting salary range: $67,000-$75,000 depending on experience.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous paid time off and 11 paid holidays per year

Additional Benefits

• Offices are closed every other Friday (9/8/80 schedule)
• Flexible and remote work schedule available, subject to position and program needs
• City Heights CDC is committed to the professional growth of all employees and provides training opportunities accordingly.

Work Environment/Culture

• Family Friendly. CHCDC provides a family friendly work environment, making it possible for employees to more easily balance family and work obligations.
• Every other Friday CHCDC offices are closed for employee day off
• Flexible, remote work schedule available
• Parental leave is offered in accordance with applicable California law and CHCDC policy