Position Type: Full Time

Compensation: $28/hour

Union Representation: OPEIU Local 29

Our mission is to end family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1985, Hamilton Families is San Francisco's leading service provider to homeless families, with carefully designed programs to prevent homelessness, provide shelter and stability, return families to permanent housing and support the well-being of children experiencing homelessness. We currently operate these programs across 5 sites in San Francisco, and in recent years have partnered with organizations such as the Giants, Google, Salesforce, Twitter, Airbnb, government officials and the wider Bay Area community. For more information, visit .

Program and Position Overview

The Housing Navigator is under the Housing Services Department and helps those experiencing homelessness find, secure, and move into housing quickly as possible. The program assists families to secure market-rate housing through housing search assistance, move-in financial assistance, homelessness prevention, ongoing rental subsidies, community-based case management and other support services.

As a Housing Navigator, you will collaborate with families to teach them to find and move into market-rate housing. You will be an advocate, an intermediary, and a true partner supporting families as they find housing that meets their needs. You will work in partnership with colleagues to search for potential units with the family, coordinating and screening leads and accompanying families to view potential units and neighborhoods. In addition, you will: provide coaching for these families about how to be successful in housing search and tenancy; assist families in addressing their housing barriers and offer referrals to resources such as financial or employment coaching. Lastly, you will be responsible for making sure all data about the family and their activities and additional files are accurate, complete and up to date in the internal and external databases. This position requires a California Driver's License and a clean driving record.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide housing navigation services to a caseload of approximately 15-20 families.
• Work with participants to address their housing needs, including housing preferences, community supports and resources
• Help participants to overcome barriers to housing through completion of referrals and follow up to mitigate any rental barriers they have (e.g., lack of employment, increasing income, credit history, past evictions, legal assistance, parenting classes, behavioral health, rental history, immigration status, identification services, lack of natural supports and others).
• Build trusting relationships with participants and coach them on housing search processes, including topics such as rental search, housing applications, unit viewings, move-in procedures, utilities set-up, maintaining positive property owner relations, and applying to permanent affordable housing.
• Communicate with participants regularly, in person and over the phone, to support them in their independent housing search, and to alert them to units that Hamilton Families finds that may suit their needs.
• Assist participants in viewing potential units, including offering driving support.
• Triaging emergency situations to provide support services to families in need
• Coordinate with colleagues on the property owner liaison team to initiate and maintain positive relationships with property owners and property management companies interested in renting to participants in the program.
• Help participants move into housing; work with colleagues to provide funds for move-in costs, support participants to understand and sign the lease agreement, and inspect the unit to ensure it will be safe and comfortable for the family.
• Connect all required utilities before a unit review meeting has been conducted; help navigate outstanding utility debt
• Maintain precise and accurate documentation of case management services, updating participant files and entries into Salesforce database; maintain participant confidentiality and HIPAA requirements.
• Maintain accurate and timely data entry into at least two external data systems
• Provide weekly updates to referring and/or shelter case managers and participate in case conferencing with other social service providers as needed.
• Participation and preparation in the HSH Case review process
• Participation in extensive audits across contracts
• Participation in various drives and provision of holiday services through supplemental funding sources
• Relocation of families, often with significantly higher barriers and or lack of resource
• Remote work, document management and independent time management
• Bilingual case management positions require providing all services described above to a caseload of participants who are predominantly monolingual in the language for which the bilingual premium applies, in addition to translating and/or interpreting verbal interactions, written materials, community meetings, workshops, events, and other information verbally and/or in writing as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a relevant profession OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (social work, psychology, or related field preferred)
• Commitment to Hamilton Families' mission of ending family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ideal candidates are familiar and committed to the principles and practices of housing first, participant-centered care, harm reduction, and participant confidentiality.
• Strong work ethic and ability to work independently. Ideal candidates are self-motivated, organized, clear communicators who are comfortable following program policies and processes and delivering high quality outcomes within urgent timeframes.
• Flexible and creative; open to creating and joining a culture of feedback and learning; ability to meet multiple deadlines and priorities with a positive attitude and problem-solving approach.
• Detail-oriented and demonstrated experience keeping thorough notes and records
• Excited about working on diverse teams and collaborating with colleagues and participants from many different backgrounds.
• Knowledge of community resources for families with very low incomes in the Bay Area and/or housing law a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, etc.).
• Bilingual positions require verbal and written proficiency for which the bilingual premium applies, as demonstrated through agency-administered proficiency testing.
• Essential functions of the position will require the use of a telephone, working at a standard computer terminal, and the ability to follow reasonable ergonomic recommendations, sit for long periods, stand, reach, bend, lift, and carry up to 40 pounds, and driving.
• Criminal background check, fingerprint imaging, and tuberculosis (TB) clearance required post-offer.
• Valid CADL and DMV report; able and willing to travel up to 50% of the time as required - personal form of transportation is not required.

Benefits

Hamilton Families provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including 100% employer-paid employee healthcare options, dental, vision, life & disability insurance; Healthcare & Childcare FSAs and commuter benefits options; 403(b) retirement investment opportunity with employer match; Employee Assistance Program; and professional development opportunities with an annual education and training budgets. Additionally, new employees start off with accruing up to 16 vacation days per year; and receive 11 paid holidays and a generous sick time accrual. Other advantages of working for us are Cell Phone, Internet, and other equipment reimbursements; Wellness incentives and discounts; opportunities to get involved in the community and represent our organization.