Yhdp Housing Navigator

Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Act as a primary point of contact for youth and young adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are referred to, contact, or are identified through outreach for the YHDP program.
• Complete intake applications, eligibility screening, individualized assessments, and required documentation; support entry into Coordinated Entry and ensure required Coordinated Entry documentation is maintained in the participant file.
• Assist youth in understanding available housing options, including Transitional Housing and Rapid Re-Housing, and support participant choice based on eligibility, Coordinated Entry prioritization, individual needs, and unit availability.
• Provide housing navigation services, including identifying housing barriers, developing strategies to address barriers, locating appropriate housing opportunities, assisting with housing applications and required documentation, and supporting youth through the housing search and placement process.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with landlords, property managers, housing authorities, community organizations, schools, county personnel, and other housing and service providers to expand housing opportunities and strengthen referral pathways for youth.
• Communicate with landlords and property managers as appropriate to support housing placement, address barriers, and help resolve issues that may interfere with successful tenancy while maintaining participant confidentiality and choice.
• Connect participants to mainstream and community resources for which they may be eligible, including education, employment/workforce development, health and behavioral health care, substance use services, economic support, childcare, transportation, and other supportive services.
• Coordinate warm handoffs to YHDP case management staff when participants enter Transitional Housing or Rapid Re-Housing and collaborate with the case management team to support continuity of services and long-term housing stability.
• Provide services using youth-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and positive youth development practices, with an emphasis on participant choice, safety, empowerment, and individualized support.
• Monitor and document participant contacts, housing search activities, referrals, progress, outcomes, and other performance measures required by the grant.
• Enter accurate and timely participant and service data into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and maintain records in accordance with HUD, Continuum of Care, HMIS, and Agency requirements.
• Maintain complete, accurate, confidential, and audit-ready participant files and documentation in accordance with HUD, YHDP, Coordinated Entry, State/Federal, funder, and Agency requirements.
• Conduct outreach and educate community partners about YHDP, program eligibility, referral pathways, youth homelessness, and available housing and supportive services.
• Participate in required YHDP, Continuum of Care, Coordinated Entry, HMIS, housing/landlord, and other grant-related meetings and trainings.
• Collaborate with community partners and the local homeless response system to identify gaps and barriers affecting youth access to housing and services and communicate identified needs to program leadership.
• Support the goals of the YHDP Coordinated Community Plan, including Stable Housing, Permanent Connections, Education and Employment, and Social-Emotional Well-Being.
• Understand and articulate program guidelines, eligibility requirements, allowable services, and requirements established by HUD, the Continuum of Care, and other funding sources.
• Ability to travel throughout the service area for outreach, participant meetings, housing searches, landlord engagement, unit-related activities, and other job-related responsibilities.
• Prepare and enter rental assistance payments into the appropriate database or payment system for review and approval in accordance with YHDP, HUD, and Agency requirements.
• Prepare, enter, and track purchase orders and other program-related payment requests for eligible participant expenses.
• Obtain and maintain required supporting documentation for rental assistance, security deposits, utilities, and other eligible housing-related costs.
• Coordinate with landlords and property managers to obtain leases, W-9s, payment information, invoices, and other documentation necessary to process housing-related payments.
• Review payment requests for completeness and ensure required…