Senior Housing Navigator & Program Leader

Health Advocacy Team Support (HATS); Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Job summary

Health Advocacy Team Support (HATS) is seeking a Lead Housing Navigator in California to guide a Housing Navigation team, mentor staff, and coordinate complex housing placements for vulnerable clients. The role balances direct client advocacy with program oversight and data quality assurance to improve housing outcomes.

The position requires strong leadership, HMIS proficiency, and knowledge of HUD guidelines and Harm Reduction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field (equivalent experience may be considered).
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in housing navigation, homeless services, or case management, with at least 1 year of leadership or mentorship experience within a team.
• High proficiency with HMIS and a strong understanding of HUD guidelines, Housing First principles, and Harm Reduction models.

Responsibilities

• Mentorship & Training: Onboard, train, and provide daily technical guidance to Housing Navigators regarding housing resources, case management strategies, and compliance.
• Workflow Coordination: Assist the Program Manager in assigning cases, balancing team workloads, and triaging high-priority or complex client crises.
• Quality Assurance: Conduct regular peer reviews of client files and HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) data entries to ensure compliance with grant guidelines and agency standards.
• Meeting Facilitation: Lead team meetings, case switch consultations, and case conferencing sessions to troubleshoot barriers to housing.
• High-Acuity Caseload: Manage a small, specialized caseload of participants with complex, multi-layered barriers to housing stability.
• Housing Identification: Proactively scout, build, and maintain a robust network of landlords, property managers, and affordable housing developers.
• Financial Assistance Coordination: Oversee the distribution and tracking of flexible housing funds, security deposits, and rental assistance programs for the team.
• Advocacy & Inspections: Conduct housing habitability inspections and advocate fiercely for participants during the lease-up process to ensure fair housing practices.
• System Liaison: Represent the agency at regional Continuum of Care (CoC) meetings, coordinated entry briefings, and community stakeholder forums.
• Resource Development: Keep the team updated on shifting local housing policies, new affordable housing openings, and community resource updates.

Skills

Leadership

Crisis De-escalation

Negotiation

Organization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field

Tools

HMIS

Job description

Health Advocacy Team Support (HATS) is seeking a Lead Housing Navigator in California to guide a Housing Navigation team, mentor staff, and coordinate complex housing placements for vulnerable clients. The role balances direct client advocacy with program oversight and data quality assurance to improve housing outcomes.

The position requires strong leadership, HMIS proficiency, and knowledge of HUD guidelines and Harm Reduction.