Housing Navigator - EvolvPath
4 days ago
Fresno
Job Description About us RH Community Builders is committed to building strong, vibrant, and inclusive communities. Our mission is to empower individuals to achieve their full potential by expanding access to safe, affordable housing, supportive services, and essential community resources. We believe that everyone deserves a stable place to call home and the opportunity to thrive. Through a person-centered and equity-driven approach, we work to address social determinants of health and reduce barriers to housing stability and overall well-being. RH Community Builders is dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging, promoting social and economic mobility, and supporting individuals on their path to long-term stability. Through collaboration with local partners, service providers, and community stakeholders, we strive to create sustainable communities that are resilient, responsive, and built to support lasting success. Role Description At RH Community Builders our care model is designed to meet members where they are at. The Housing Navigator is vital to our mission of providing culturally aligned and accessible care. This role builds trust through shared cultural and linguistic backgrounds, improving patient engagement and access to care. RH Community Builders is seeking a Housing Navigator to work directly with members to support them in securing and maintaining permanent housing. This role involves assisting with housing searches, placement, and coordination of supportive services. You will work with an assigned panel of members experiencing unmet social needs and complex health conditions. Responsibilities include educating members on housing stability, gathering required documentation (e.g., identification, income verification), completing housing applications, engaging landlords, facilitating follow-ups, and addressing social determinants of health by connecting members to essential community resources.Your work will enhance member advocacy and satisfaction while reducing housing instability and preventing homelessness. You will also support community engagement efforts by organizing events and gathering valuable data to ensure our care model remains responsive to community needs, promoting health equity and improved outcomes. This position reports to the Program Manager and is primarily onsite, in-person. The Housing Navigator will contribute in the following ways:The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following: * Develop individualized housing support plans with SMART, measurable goals. * Utilize best-practice approaches, including Housing First, Harm Reduction, Progressive Engagement, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma-Informed Care. * Support individualized goal setting using motivational interviewing techniques. * Conduct social needs assessments. * Collaborate with a multidisciplinary care team to contribute to care plans, triage requests, and address complex member needs. * Conduct tenant screenings and housing assessments to identify needs, preferences, and potential barriers. * Assist members with completing rental applications, gathering required documentation (e.g., identification, Social Security card, income verification, rental history), and navigating housing requirements. * Support members with benefits advocacy, including SSI applications and income verification. * Assist in preparing reasonable accommodation requests when appropriate. * Identify and coordinate rental support resources (e.g., Section 8, local housing programs, rapid rehousing). * Assist in securing funds for deposits, moving costs, adaptive aids, and one-time household setup expenses. * Provide landlord education on Community Supports, program services, and member support expectations. * Document all member and care team interactions across multiple systems and tools in a timely and accurate manner. * Participate in community events to support member engagement and trust-building, including relationship development with key stakeholders, facilitating group education sessions, and liaising with community organizations. * Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate education and support. * Assist with enrollment in federal and state support programs, appointment scheduling, referrals, and promoting continuity of care. * Provide social support by actively listening to member concerns and connecting them to appropriate resources. * Coordinate internal clinical and supportive services. Qualifications Language/Culture * Fluency (verbal and written) in English and Spanish. Education * Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent related experience in the social services field. Experience * Minimum of 1–3 years of experience in housing navigation, healthcare, community outreach, or a related field. * Experience engaging with diverse communities and providing culturally sensitive communication. * Knowledge of the Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care and housing services. * Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or complex physical health conditions preferred. * Strong interpersonal, organizational, and written communication skills. * 1–3 years of healthcare experience or healthcare navigation within the community. * 2–5 years of community work, advocacy, engagement, or organizing experience. * Previous experience in related roles (housing navigation, health promotion, project coordination, social research, or administration). * CES HMIS (preferred). * Familiarity with Google Workspace (preferred). * Experience documenting in an EHR system (preferred). * Training in motivational interviewing (preferred). * Clean driving record. Complementary Competencies and Skills * Comfortable working with multiple computer applications simultaneously and willing to learn new technologies and systems. * Strong team player with the ability to build effective working relationships. * Ability to train and support others. * Knowledge of local resources to support social determinants of health (preferred). * Flexible and able to travel to various community locations. * Willingness to support community events and in-person member appointments. * Reliable transportation required. Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.