Housing Navigator

Please view the full job announcement here:

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

The Homeless Action Center is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and working diligently toward an anti-racist organization and society. HAC's Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and Social Impact and the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Committee, with the support of other dedicated staff, have put in a tremendous amount of work towards positively impacting change around diversity, equity, inclusion and racial justice. HAC employs DEI principles at all stages of the hiring process, collects and analyzes data on staff demographics and retention, and periodically engages with consultants to assess the organization's culture, facilitate processes and working groups, and make recommendations with implementation strategies for improvement. HAC's Executive Director has declared that DEI will be one of the organization's top priorities and the Management Team, in partnership with staff, continues to strive to increase DEI within HAC.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties and responsibilities for the Housing Navigator position is a combination of outreach and problem-solving, including but not limited to:

• Ensuring quality data collection and accurate documentation of multiple reports;

• Completing software and database trainings to qualify for access to county level data;

• Assisting clients in obtaining and submitting documentation including identity documents from government agencies and disability verifications from medical providers.

• Monitoring and identifying affordable housing opportunities;

• Assisting clients in submitting housing applications;

• Verifying people who self-report their homelessness which will require entering homeless encampments;

• Participating in related program, agency, and community meetings as assigned;

• Accompanying individuals or households to appointments and providing transportation support as needed;

• Communicating and working well with all levels of representatives, internally within Homeless Action Center and externally with partner organizations;

• Assessing the overall needs of a client to determine realistic goals, helping clients cope with the challenges related to unstable housing/homelessness, substance abuse, and physical and mental health issues;

• Monitoring and identifying affordable housing opportunities;

• Assisting clients in submitting housing applications.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• A clear understanding of, and the ability to demonstrate, professional ethics, boundaries, and judgment;

• Integrity to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner and to follow the confidentiality practices of a law office;

• Initiative, flexibility, and the capacity to respond effectively in all situations with strong organizational skills;

• Substantial demonstrated knowledge/experience working with people in crises or unstable housing situations;

• Education in trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues;

• Must have Class C California Driver's License with a clean driving record;

• Knowledgeable of available resources in the East Bay;

• The necessary attitudes, knowledge, and skills to demonstrate cultural humility, deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

• Understanding of and enthusiasm for employing harm reduction principles in dealing with issues arising from substance use, mental illness, and homelessness.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequent: bending, standing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, and walking.

• Intermittent lifting, pushing, and pulling. Frequent repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and extensive reading.

• Driving is required for this position: must have a valid California driver's license and be able to provide proof of DMV record and personal insurance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

●     Work is reviewed frequently. The employee performs a variety of routine work assignments within established policies and procedures, and receives instructions on new policies and projects.

●     Our offices have open spaces and thus can be loud and chaotic. While we are a working law office, the layout, as well as the nature of our work, can mean that it is louder than a "typical" office space.

●     We have animals – cats and dogs – in our offices.

●     This position at times involves interacting with people living in homeless encampments. Encampments may be especially chaotic, and may have debris, drug paraphernalia, rodents, and other possible hazards.

●     Occasional need to interact with clients that may be expressing anger both appropriately and inappropriately.

●     The worker is occasionally exposed to perfume or scents in personal care products used by employees, clients, and visitors.

●     The worker is occasionally exposed to cleaning products.

●     The work environment includes traveling using various modes of transportation.

●     The work environment may include driving an agency vehicle.

●     This is a hybrid position based at our Berkeley office with an expectation of working in the office at least two days per week.

SALARY & BENEFITS

●      Starting salary commensurate with experience, starting at $68,852 per year. Salary scale is examined at least annually. This is a full-time salaried exempt position with regular working hours from 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday with a 1-hour unpaid lunch from 12pm-1pm.

●      Employer paid insurance: health, vision, and dental, as well as $150,000 basic term life insurance and AD&D policy, long-term disability insurance and employee assistance program. Coverage includes 100% employer paid medical, dental and vision insurance premiums for employee and dependent spouse/domestic partner or children; when adding spouse/domestic partner and children, 100% of the child premiums and 50% of the spouse/domestic partner premiums are paid by HAC. Additional optional life insurance, short-term disability, accident, and critical illness plans available.

●      Optional Flexible Spending