The Outreach / Housing Navigator serves as a housing advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness across the Greater Grand Traverse Region. The Outreach/Housing Navigator works within the community’s Homelessness Crisis Response system to Identify and Engage individuals, link them with resources, and assist them in securing permanent housing as quickly as possible.
Essential Functions:
- Meet clients where they are to work on getting them into housing.
- Refers clients to other agencies and programs for basic and specialized needs.
- Prepare and maintains require documentation, including housing and person documents and reports.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Support the mission and vision of Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan.
- Perform work in a safe manner by observing all Goodwill safety policies and procedures.
- Interact with all Goodwill team members, clients, and customers in a professional manner.
- Respect the diversity of others, including but not limited to, those with cultural, ethnic, and gender differences, individuals experiencing homelessness, and persons with visible and non-visible disabilities.
- Ensure the confidentiality of all persons served.
- Provide outreach and engagement services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Greater Grand Traverse Area.
- Practice Diversion away from homeless services as appropriate.
- Assess client’s immediate housing needs (VI-SPDAT, TAY-VI-SPDAT or F-VI-SPDAT).
- Link clients with crisis housing (emergency shelter) as appropriate.
- Understand all processes and procedures of the homeless response system, including Coordinated Entry, Homeless Prevention, IST/Prioritization of Supports, Chronic Homelessness, Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), Project Based Vouchers (PBV), Domestic Violence, Veteran’s Services, Youth Services, etc.
- When appropriate, complete in-depth assessment (SPDAT or F-SPDAT) to help determine housing and rental assistance interventions.
- Collaborate with clients to develop individualized housing and budget plans.
- Link clients with appropriate resource referrals (e.g. Mental Health, employment, etc.) and assist client in engaging services.
- Complete client related data tracking information, including case notes and complete HMIS entries. Maintain a 95% Data Quality standard on all HMIS entries.
- May be required to drive company vehicle for purposes of:
- transporting clients to various appointments, such as medical visits, job interviews, or social service agencies.
- running errands on behalf of clients or the organization.
- traveling to different neighborhoods or communities to provide information about available services, conduct workshops, or engage with community members.
- transporting supplies, equipment, or materials between different locations, such as offices, shelters, or community centers.
- Must adhere to all driving policies and regulations, including maintaining a valid driver's license, following safety protocols, and keeping accurate records of mileage and expenses.
- Continually seek ways to improve program practices, policies and procedures.
- Adhere to all Goodwill Northern Michigan and Goodwill Housing Department policies and procedures.
- Grant writing and reporting as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned by manager.
