Description:
The Housing Navigator role works in our Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. This program addresses the homelessness crisis for Veteran Families through enhanced housing navigation services, which are embedded into the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program. The Specialist will be a member of a multidisciplinary team in the Veteran Services program. The HUD VASH and SSVF program serves Veterans who are experiencing homelessness to obtain permanent housing. Additionally, this position will assist with engaging, managing and retaining landlord and property management company relationships for veterans participants co enrolled in SSVF and HUD VASH. In this capacity, the housing navigator will provide landlord outreach and engagement services to develop a full range of permanent housing opportunities for homeless veterans. The Housing specialist provides targeted customer service and mediation support to participating properties to promote long term tenancy and partnership with VOAMASS and the Veterans we serve.
This position employs a variety of evidence-based interventions including Motivational Interviewing, Housing First, Rapid Rehousing, Harm Reduction, and Trauma Informed Care to provide client centered services to veterans.
Who We Are || VOAMASS gives members of the community who need help the most the services, support, and self-esteem they need to create a fresh start. At VOAMASS, our dedicated teams are committed to serving the whole person.
Since 1934, VOAMASS has provided critical services to the residents of the Commonwealth. From pioneering early residential treatment programs in the 1960s to leading today in the field of mental health programming, VOAMASS can be counted on to tackle our greatest challenges.
For full-time employees, including our Recovery Coaches, our comprehensive and generous benefits package includes:
- Excellent health, vision, and dental insurance with 85% of medical deductible and certain co-pays paid by employer
- Multiple opportunities to use pre-tax dollars to save for expenses such as health care (flexible spending account), childcare, transit, and parking)
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- 24/7 nurse hotline for urgent health questions
- Employee assistance program to provide help with family concerns, stress management, legal issues, and more
- Employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance
- Pet insurance
- Tuition remission programs
- Loan forgiveness (Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program)
- Generous vacation benefits, starting at three weeks and moving to four weeks after three years of employment
- 14 paid holidays, higher than industry average
- Fitness/wellness reimbursement to cover expenses such as gym membership
- Employee discount program on hundreds of items such as computers, cell phone plans and accessories, furniture, hotels, vacation home rentals, etc.
- Cash bonus, with no annual cap, for referring other qualified candidates for employment
VOAMASS is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Salary
New Hires in this role start at 55k per year
Requirements:
Responsibilities:
-The housing navigator will maintain an active list of housing opportunities and assist in housing search when necessary.
-Work closely with the Director of Supportive Services of Veteran Services Program on the design and implementation of the Housing Navigation Service. Regularly monitor and track program deliverables, services and financial assistance to assure compliance with the Housing Navigation Service.
-Work closely with Boston and Bedford VA Medical Centers and other relevant providers
-Regularly case conference veteran familys co enrolled in SSVF and HUD VASH program
-Provide veteran rides to unit viewings as needed.
-Create a landlord pool and act as a primary liaison to participating landlords, respond to all landlord questions and concerns in timely manner.
-promote program to landlords and other housing resources in the community and attend related meetings and/ or events
- Review and audit program documentation, including service notes, Integrated Service Plans and other required SSVF documentation to ensure compliance with funding requirements and program model. Assist with site visit and audit preparation.
-Assist SSVF Program Director with implementing policies, procedures and forms that facilitate effective operation of the Housing Navigation Service.
-Coordinate with the Director of Community Stabilization Services, Director of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, and HMIS Data Systems Manager to maintain appropriate records and database information for reporting purposes as well as to track program outputs and outcomes.
-Attend Program, Department meetings, CoC meetings, VASH meetings, SSVF Regional meetings and trainings.
Added responsibilities as our SSVF/HUD VASH CCM Liaison:
Bedford and Boston VAMC HUD-VASH team and the VOAMA SSVF grantee will engage in a time-limited Collaborative Case Management (CCM) partnership to expedite housing placement for homeless Veterans. SSVF staff from VOAMA will assist a predetermined number of eligible and/or enrolled HUD-VASH Veterans from the Boston VAMC in identifying, securing, and successfully transitioning into permanent housing with a HUD-VASH voucher.
Required Qualifications
· Bachelors degree in Human Services or related field required.
· Three years experience with Veteran population, mental health and substance use disorders, subsidized housing and/or homelessness or property management.
· Understanding of and commitment to Housing First, Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma Informed Care.
· Strong case management and housing navigation skills and understanding of community-based resources and how to proficiently navigate these resources.
· Excellent customer service skills and the ability to communicate professionally.
· Proficiency with electronic databases and computers.
· Strong crisis intervention skills.
· Flexible self-starter with strong analytical skills.
Preferred Qualifications
· Knowledge of military culture, ideally first-hand experience.
PId56ce63400c1-31181-38995763
