HOUSING NAVIGATOR (FULL-TIME)

Job Description:

HOUSING NAVIGATOR (FULL-TIME)

Description

The City of Santa of Santa Fe Springs Police Services Department is seeking a compassionate, highly-motivated, and resourceful individual for the position of Housing Navigator. The Housing Navigator is assigned to the Department's Homeless Engagement Team.

Police Services Department (Homeless Engagement): The Housing Navigator plays a vital role in assisting individuals experiencing homelessness and their families experiencing homelessness or housing instability in identifying, securing, and maintaining permanent housing. This position requires a flexible, self-motivated, and proactive professional with strong interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate will have experience working with unhoused individuals, possess knowledge of street culture, and demonstrate the ability to build trusting, supportive, and empathetic relationships with clients and engage landlords.

PLEASE NOTE: Recruitment is scheduled to close on July 31st at 5pm. As such, interested Candidates are encouraged to apply early.

First Application Review: The week of July 28th.

Employment Type: Full-time position represented by the City of Santa Fe Springs City Employees Association.

Work Schedule: Housing Navigator is assigned a 4/10 work schedule between the hours 7:30am-5:30pm. Must be able to work a flexible schedule to accommodate City needs that may include evenings and weekends.
POSITION PURPOSE:
Under the direction of the Homeless Services Supervisor, the Housing Navigator is responsible for the navigation and support of case management of program participants with the goal of facilitating individuals to improve their finances and move to stable/permanent housing. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to intake, assessment, meeting with clients, working with clients to develop and implement housing goal plans, providing supportive and referral services, monitoring client progress/outcomes, data entry/collection, record keeping, reporting, researching available housing opportunities, establishing relationships with landlords and housing agencies, and other duties as required. The Housing Navigator will work closely with the Social Services Case Manager.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Receives general supervision from the Homeless Services Supervisor in the performance of assigned duties.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
None.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Held in Common:
Supports the Mission of the City and its Elected and Appointed Officials.Provides courteous and timely service to the public as the ultimate employer.Works cooperatively with other City employees.Exhibits integrity and displays ethical behavior.
B. Essential Job Specific Duties:
Provides clients with case management support services, including assistance navigating housing systems and community resources, to secure appropriate temporary or permanent housing placement with necessary support levels.Participates in meetings and conduct site visits with contract providers and landlords to establish and maintain relationships, communicate department protocols, share assessment findings, and offer recommendations for suitable treatment or housing placements.Prepare presentations and actively participate in meetings, task forces, and discussions to develop program goals, action plans, and measurement outcomes for housing-related services.Support clients in understanding tenant rights and responsibilities.Intervene in landlord-tenant conflicts when appropriate to prevent evictions.May collaborate with or serve as a liaison to the courts, public defender’s office, probation department, collaborative courts, housing agencies, and other internal and external stakeholders.Research, interprets, analyzes various policy directives, procedures, legislation, ordinances, regulations, and laws. Prepare detailed reports and summaries to inform program practices.Stay informed about new, revised or proposed Federal or State legislation impacting housing navigation. Analyze implications, prepare written recommendations, and evaluate potential program outcomes.Maintain regular communication with Regional Task Force on the Homeless, service providers, landlords and housing partners regarding client progress and housing placements, as appropriate.Conductsfieldoutreach, includingvisits to encampmentsand other locations, to identify andassessthe housing needs of unhousedindividuals.Draft correspondence, reports, briefings, and summaries. Maintain organized and confidential records, files, and documentation for all housing-related activities.May perform analytical and administrative tasks in support of Housing Navigation Services programs, including contributing to program evaluation and service improvement.Maintain accurate and confidential client case records in the automated Case Management System; assist with data entry, analysis, and reporting.Assess and evaluatesclient’shousing situations and related data to create, implement and update individualized housing case plans.Reports suspectedelder abuse or neglect to Adult Protective Services (APS) in accordance with legal requirements.Assist police/public safety personnel in non-enforcement situations involving homeless individuals and coordinate appropriate housing arrangement for these clients.May assist safety personnel with non-psychiatric emergencies situations, such as transporting clients to substance abuse treatment or recovery programs.Conduct home visits and follow-up check-ins to ensure housing stability.Provide ongoing support to help clients maintain housing long-term.
C. Other Job Specific Duties:
Administers and disburses special program funds as directed.Maintains direct communication and working relationships with agencies providing supportive servicesMaintains accurate case records and prepares related reports as required.Track and manage monthly budget expenditures related to housing navigation services and special programs.Purchases and manages program supplies and materials.Interacts appropriately with staff, management, health and welfare agencies, non-profit/community-based organizations, public and private representatives, the public including persons experiencing homelessness, housing groups, committees, other public agencies and others in the course of work.Establish priorities and work on multiple assignments and cases concurrently.Meet intense and changing deadlines given interruptions.Performs other related duties as assigned.
REPRESENTATIVE COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and ability required to satisfactorily perform the jobs essential duties and responsibilities.
Knowledge of:

• Placement techniques related to homeless children, families, and/or adults.
• Principles and practices of case management, social work, and crisis response.
• Federal State and local public social services programs and eligibility criteria.
• Basic principles and techniques of interviewing and case documentation.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing public welfare agency.
• Rules and regulations governing the provision of housing, health and social services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Principles of interviewing and problem-solving methodology.
• Math and mathematical reasoning.
• Community-based networks and available resources in Los Angeles County.
• Cultural competency and the impact of socio-economic conditions on access to services.
• Public relations principles and practices; and customer service techniques.
• Office practices, including recordkeeping, budgeting, and case documentation systems.
• Microsoft Office Suite and case management software applications.
• Housing programs, landlord-tenant laws, and community resources.
• Understanding of HUD regulations, city and county intake and placement processes.

Ability to:

• Conduct effective and empathetic client interviews and assessments.
• Ensure access to multilingual interpretation services to facilitate effective communication and equitable care, including monolingual Spanish speakers.
• Analyze and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively in both writing and verbally.
• Exercise sound judgment in the absence of specific guidelines.
• Read and interpret data.
• Understand and learn agency programs, policies, and procedures.
• Handle crisis situations and determine appropriate interventions or referrals.
• Establish and maintain client rapport to provide effective services.
• Clearly interpret and explain public social service programs, policies, and regulations to the applicant, recipient and the public.
• Develop and apply skills in interviewing, case recording, and interpretation.
• Maintain professional boundaries and uphold client confidentiality.
• Maintain detailed records and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Follow writtenandoralinstructions with minimal supervision.
• Work independentlyand manage a heavy caseload.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Operate and use modern office equipment.
• Organize, prioritize and complete assigned work within established deadlines.
• Problem solve, assess situations, identify problems and develop effective solutions.
• Work collaboratively with law enforcement and social services professionals.
• Represent the department in public meetings and events.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
The following requirements generally demonstrate possession of the minimum requisite knowledge and ability necessary to perform the duties of the position. A typical way to obtain these would be:

• High School Diploma/GED AND Five (5) years of social casework, eligibility casework, or housing related program experience with a public or private agency/organization OR;
• Associate degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field AND three (3) years of social casework, eligibility casework, or housing related program experience with a public or private agency/organization, which must have included interpreting, explaining, and applying program rules and regulations OR;
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field AND one (1) year of social casework, eligibility casework, or housing related program experience with a public or private agency/organization, which must have included interpreting, explaining, and applying program rules and regulations.
• Valid California driver's license and a acceptable driving record.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule to accommodate City needs that may include evenings and weekends.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
The following documentation must be uploaded and submitted with your online application.

NOTE: To ensure proper uploading of documents to online application record, it is best to reduce the file size of the electronic document before uploading.
Proof of Education (Degree OR Unofficial Transcripts)
Failure to provide the required documentation will result in your application being removed from further consideration.

NEPOTISM POLICY:
Relatives may be appointed regardless of the designation of full or part-time classification. Candidates with relatives employed by the City will be excluded from applying for a vacancy if one or more of the following criteria exist: 1) The appointment of a relative would place one in a supervisory capacity directly over the other 2) The appointment would create a situation in which it is conceivable personal gain for one could be obtained by the actions of the other 3) The appointment would create a situation where performance or non-performance of either would have a direct effect upon the performance of the other 4) The appointment would create a situation where the confidentiality of either could be compromised. Candidates with relatives employed by the City will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. "Relative" shall be defined as: mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, grandchild, spouse, domestic partner, step mother, step-father, step-sister, step-brother, stepchild and step grandchild.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters in performing the essential functions of this job.

• Work is conducted indoors and outdoors.
• In the office, noise level is quiet to moderate; work in the field is occasionally exposed to loud noise levels.
• Subject to heat and variable weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, and hazardous physical substances and fumes.
• While conducting outreach activities, you will be required to work in areas inhabited by homeless persons, to include working in dirty environments and dealing with a variety of situations and challenging individuals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Work is performed indoors in an office environment and outdoors in the field.
• Work performed outdoors and, in the field, may be exposed to elements as well as related health hazards to include blood and other bodily fluids/products and human borne parasites.
• Sits for extended periods of time, uses a computer, keyboard and related equipment.
• Stands, walks, reaches, bends, twists, kneels, reaches and grasps.
• When out in the field, may walk on slippery/uneven surfaces and slopes, crouch, twist, climb ladders and stairs and be exposed to construction materials and dust.
• May lift and move up to 30 pounds or less.
• Must meet the physical requirements of the class and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.
  

HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants are required to complete and submit a City Application online. Resumes or faxed copies will not be accepted in lieu of the City online application. To apply, click on the "Apply" link located at the top of this page. New users must first create an account first.

METHOD OF SELECTION:
Selection may be based upon an application review, a performance examination and evaluation, and a structured interview. Appointment will be contingent upon a criminal record check and physical examination, including a drug screen.

ACCOMMODATION:
If you require special testing and/or interview accommodation due to a physical, mental, or learning disability, please call the Human Resources Office at (562) 409-7530 at least 5 days prior to the scheduled date.

https://cms5.revize.com/revize/santafespringsca/departments/human_resources/benefits.php

Closing Date/Time: 7/31/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$5,244.66 - $6,843.10 Monthly