HUD/VASH Housing Navigator

Description

WHAT MAKES VOA SPECIAL?

VOAC recognizes the unique needs of the older adult who needs a wheelchair ramp to stay at home safely, and the preschooler whose family needs additional resources. VOAC supports veteran’s efforts to exit homelessness as well as provides a safe place for survivors of domestic violence. Wherever VOAC goes, it combines relationship-building, volunteers and quality services to lift and support our neighbor’s efforts to become self-sufficient and reach their full potential.

Job Summary

The HUDVASH (Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) Housing Navigator is tasked with engaging, recruiting, and retaining landlords, conducting housing consultations with program participants, and serving as the subject-matter agency expert in all matters related to the development of programming linked to housing placement. Job duties include conducting vacancy searches, hosting informational meetings with participants and partners, coordinating participant placement into housing, developing and maintaining housing databases, composing regular correspondence with landlords and assessing their program satisfaction, identifying housing options for program participants, and training staff members and program participants in the subject areas of landlord retention, landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, and housing development/operating models relevant to homeless services. The HUDVASH Housing Specialist will be expected to receive extensive training related to Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) standards, VA HUD VASH Program standards, and training related to working with housing choice vouchers and local public housing authorities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate with HUDVASH and the PHA to support veterans in identifying and obtaining housing
• Attend local by-name list meetings and case conferencing to help to identify those in the community most need of voucher assistance and provide support in getting those participants' documents ready to obtain a voucher.
• Acts as a liaison between VOA and VA regarding veteran referrals and case care coordination (case conferencing, GPD/HUD-VASH referrals, etc.)
• Outreach, engage, recruit, and retain landlords in order to identify available permanent housing stock.
• Assist in the coordination of program participants’ placement into permanent housing destinations.
• Provide education, guidance, and resources to program participants in order to support their housing search and retention.
• Conduction informational meetings with program participants and community partners.
• Stay abreast of best practices and emerging trends in homeless services, affordable housing, and permanent housing.
• Assist in the development of new housing opportunities to benefit program participants.
• Conduct housing consultations with program participants.
• Deliver training to staff and program participants in the subject areas of landlord retention, landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, and housing development/operating models relevant to homeless services.
• Maintain client confidentiality and perform job responsibilities in accordance with the Social Work Code of Ethics.
• Attend all required meetings, both within Volunteers of America and in the community.
• Conducts required Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections for Veterans moving into housing as needed.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Competencies

• Models core culture attributes of VOACO that include “AIRS” (Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Service).
• Models VOACO’s three strategical critical virtues of HHS (Hungry, Humble, People Smart).

Supervisory Responsibilities:

N/A

Minimum Qualifications of Position

Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, or a closely related field or related experience -AND- 1 years of direct, full-time case management experience demonstrating the ability to consistently apply field-relevant best practices and standards.

• OR- Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a closely related field.
• Must possess a Colorado driver’s license and state-mandated automobile insurance.
• Must possess a personal vehicle that may be used for work-related travel (reimbursement for mileage is available).
• Must complete agency and program credentialing within 12 weeks of hire and maintain credentialing standards thereafter.
• Proficient computer skills, to include proficiency with the following: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); communication and collaboration tools (Slack, Zoom, Google Teams); digital calendars (Google, Outlook); file sharing programs (Dropbox, Google Drive); and project management software (Asana)
• Proficient with Windows operating system.

Preferred Qualifications of Position

• Experience working with vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness and the Veteran population.
• Experience working with landlords, property managers, or subsidized housing properties

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge and skill in the application of Harm Reduction, Critical Time Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, and Housing First Principles.
• Ability to respectfully and professionally serve individuals hailing from diverse backgrounds, cultures, ideologies, and religions.
• Ability to work and thrive within a diverse, multicultural team environment.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to apply appropriate self-care in the face of often difficult and/or traumatic situations which commonly present while working with persons in need of services.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Travel throughout the program’s service area is required on a regular basis.
• Must be able to work in diverse environments such as homeless shelters, service facilities, streets, offices, hospitals and health care facilities, and all other locations as necessary to fulfill program objectives.
• Bending, Climbing, Stooping, Kneeling, Reaching, Crouching, Squatting, Lifting (30 to 50 pounds) Balancing, Standing, Sitting, Hand/Foot motions, Walking, Seeing (Close and distant vision, Detect, Determine, Perceive, Identify, Recognize, Judge, Observe, Inspect, Assess, Estimate), Depth Perception, Hearing/Listening, Speaking/Shouting (Communicate, Discern, Convey, Express, Exchange), Use of Hands/Fingers (Grasping, Holding, Touching), Thinking, Calculating, Memory/Recall, Exposure to Indoor and Outdoor environments

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

• Full-Time
• Work hours may vary but are typically regularly scheduled around a 40-hour workweek designed to fulfill program objectives with occasional overtime requirements.

Location

VSS Field Offices are located in Denver, Colorado, Durango, Colorado, and Pueblo, Colorado. Regular travel within the SSVF service area as well as work location assignments within the following VAMCs is expected: For Denver, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Denver, Colorado; For Durango, Farmington, NM Community Based Outpatient Clinic and Durango Community Based Outpatient Clinic; For Pueblo, Pueblo Community Based Outpatient Clinic

PAY RANGE

$ 25.00-28.00/hr

Employee must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Employee will perform job according to applied laws. The requirements listed above 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. If you require a reasonable accommodation to perform this role, please contact HR@VOAColorado.org to begin the Interactive Process.

BENEFITS (eligibility is based on job type/status)

Vacation Time/Separate Sick Time

Paid Holidays/Floating Holidays/Personal Days

Volunteer/Wellness Day

Health, Dental, Vision, Pet Insurance

Tuition Assistance

Pension Plan

403b Retirement Plan with Agency Match

Life Insurance/Accident Insurance/Short

Employee Assistance/Work-Life Balance Program/Employee Discount Program

LifeLock with Norton

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Volunteers of America is an EEO Employer

POSITION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED

VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT OFFERED FOR THIS ROLE

Veterans Strongly Encouraged to Apply