HOUSING NAVIGATOR – RAPID REHOUSING/DV
Location: Danielson, Connecticut – Broad Street Office
Employment Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required based on participant or program needs.
Hourly Rate: $22.00–$23.00 per hour
POSITION SUMMARY
Access Community Action Agency is seeking a compassionate, organized, and resourceful Housing Navigator to provide housing-based case management and stabilization services to individuals and families enrolled in the Rapid Rehousing program.
The Housing Navigator assists participants with identifying and securing permanent housing, developing individualized housing plans, accessing benefits and community services, and addressing barriers that may threaten housing stability. This position works closely with participants, landlords, property managers, community partners, emergency shelters, and the local Coordinated Access Network.
The position is primarily based at Access’s Broad Street office in Danielson, Connecticut. Local travel to community partner locations, participant residences, housing units, and other Access offices is required. Approved business travel is reimbursed in accordance with agency policy.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Housing-Based Case Management and Stabilization
- Provide housing-based case management services to individuals and families enrolled in Rapid Rehousing.
- Complete intake and enrollment activities for eligible participants referred through the Coordinated Access Network and By-Name List.
- Complete participant assessments and develop individualized housing plans within five business days of program enrollment.
- Review and update housing plans at least quarterly to support housing stability and progress toward participant goals.
- Provide ongoing stabilization services focused on maintaining permanent housing and reducing returns to homelessness.
Housing Search, Placement, and Landlord Engagement
- Assist participants with housing-search activities, including identifying available units, completing applications, coordinating inspections, and supporting lease execution.
- Help participants gather documentation needed for housing placement, rental applications, and benefit eligibility.
- Coordinate housing placements consistent with applicable Department of Housing requirements and low-barrier program standards.
- Develop and maintain professional relationships with landlords and property managers.
- Work with participants and landlords to resolve conflicts, address lease-compliance concerns, and support successful tenancies.
- Provide mediation and tenancy-support services to address housing-related concerns and help prevent eviction.
Benefits, Services, and Community Coordination
- Connect participants with income supports and public benefits, including SNAP, TANF, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicaid, and other applicable programs.
- Coordinate referrals to healthcare, behavioral health, substance-use treatment, employment, education, childcare, transportation, and other community services.
- Support families with children in accessing school enrollment and educational services available under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
- Collaborate with emergency shelters, outreach providers, Housing Problem Solving staff, and other community partners to support rapid exits from homelessness.
Aftercare and Housing Retention
- Monitor participants’ housing stability and proactively address concerns that may threaten tenancy during program enrollment.
- Provide housing-retention support for one month following a participant’s exit from the program.
- Assist participants experiencing lease violations or eviction proceedings by coordinating legal-service referrals, mediation, and alternative housing options when appropriate.
Documentation, Data, and Compliance
- Accurately enter participant information, services, and outcomes into the Homeless Management Information System and other required data systems.
- Maintain complete, accurate, timely, and compliant participant records in accordance with Department of Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, grant, and agency requirements.
- Complete program forms, housing plans, case notes, service documentation, and required reports within established deadlines.
- Support program reporting and performance measures related to housing-placement timelines, length of homelessness, income growth, and housing retention.
- Protect participant information and follow all applicable federal and Connecticut confidentiality requirements and agency policies.
Training and Professional Standards
- Participate in required training, including housing problem solving, harm reduction, de-escalation, cultural responsiveness, and other program-related topics.
- Participate in regular supervision and case consultation to support service quality, professional development, and program compliance.
- Maintain professional conduct and contribute to a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and respectful service environment.
- Perform other duties as assigned consistent with program needs and contract requirements.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field.
- At least two years of professional experience working in human services or with individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
- An equivalent combination of education, relevant employment experience, and applicable lived experience may be considered in accordance with agency policy.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, and confidentiality.
- Strong interpersonal, active-listening, mediation, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively and establish trust with individuals from diverse racial, cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds.
- Ability to provide services using patience, empathy, compassion, and respect.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to help participants address barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing.
- Ability to remain calm and professional in stressful or emotionally challenging situations.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organizational, time-management, documentation, and attention-to-detail skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with agency staff and community partners.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace and the ability to learn program-specific data systems.
- Valid driver’s license and reliable access to a personal vehicle for required local travel.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Experience providing rapid rehousing, housing navigation, housing stabilization, homelessness-response, or community-based case management services.
- Experience working with landlords or property managers and resolving tenancy-related concerns.
- Experience using the Homeless Management Information System or a similar participant-data system.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Hourly rate of $22.00–$23.00.
- Full-time, 35-hour workweek.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance effective the first day of the month following the employee’s first day of employment.
- Employer-paid life insurance.
- Employer-paid long-term disability insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan with an employer match of up to 5%.
- Generous paid time off.
- Reimbursement for approved business travel in accordance with agency policy.
PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS
This position regularly requires sitting, standing, walking, bending, speaking, listening, reading, and using a computer and other standard office equipment. The position may occasionally require lifting or carrying up to 20 pounds.
The Housing Navigator must be able to travel to Access offices, participant residences, housing units, community partner locations, and other environments that are not controlled by Access. The work environment generally has a moderate noise level and may include office, residential, and community-based settings.
Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position.
ABOUT ACCESS
Access Community Action Agency is committed to creating opportunities that empower under-resourced individuals, families, and communities to achieve and sustain economic stability.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Access Community Action Agency is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religious creed, age, sex, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, workplace hazards to reproductive systems, or any other status protected by federal, Connecticut, or applicable local law.
Access provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities and for other legally protected needs.
Pay: $22.00 - $23.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
