Community Resource Navigator

Community Resource Navigator (Shelter Staff)

Reports to: Shelter Managers
Hours: Mon – Fri 8am-5pm (40 hrs/week FULL TIME)
Schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri:
Chestnut Tree inn;
Tue‑Thurs:
Gresham Women’s Shelter
Status: Non-Exempt
Compensation: $20.62 - $23.98/hour, DOE
Location: East Portland & East Multnomah County – Gresham Women’s Shelter and Chestnut Tree Inn motel shelter
Duration: Permanent

$20.83/yr - $24.23/yr

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references.

For over 30 years, Our Just Future (formerly Human Solutions), has been working to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by empowering families and helping them build pathways out of poverty.

The Community Resource Navigator supports shelter participants in increasing stability by connecting them to housing pathways, community services, and essential resources. This role focuses on navigation rather than financial assistance, helping participants understand available housing options, complete required documentation, and engage with the appropriate housing providers and systems.

Working closely with shelter staff, participants, and partner agencies, the Navigator identifies individual needs, provides light case support, and coordinates referrals to housing programs, social services, healthcare, employment supports, benefits, and other community‑based resources. This position strengthens collaboration between agencies, improves access to services, and helps reduce the barriers participants face when navigating complex housing and social service systems.

While the role does not include direct financial assistance or dedicated housing case management, the Navigator plays a key part in resource coordination, housing readiness support, and connecting participants to external housing providers and programs. The position also assists with developing new resource partnerships and service pathways that enhance participant stability and community integration. In collaboration with the Grant Coordinator, the Navigator identifies resource gaps and supports the exploration of funding opportunities that expand services and meet emerging participant needs.

• Participant Support & Navigation
  • Collaborate with participants to identify needs, strengths, and goals, and support them in developing flexible, participant‑directed action steps.
  • Provide housing navigation support by helping participants understand available housing pathways, complete required documentation, and connect with external housing providers and county systems.
  • Assist participants in accessing essential community resources, including healthcare, benefits, behavioral health services, employment supports, and basic‑needs programs.
  • Build supportive, trusting relationships with participants using Trauma‑Informed Care, Assertive Engagement, Motivational Interviewing, and culturally responsive practices.
  • Provide grounding, de‑escalation, and crisis support to participants who may be experiencing acute stress or instability.
• Coordination & Community Partnership
  • Develop and maintain relationships with partner agencies, service providers, and community programs to enhance referral pathways and reduce service gaps.
  • Coordinate with internal shelter staff to share information, align support strategies, and ensure consistent, collaborative service delivery.
  • Bring in community resources, informational materials, and service providers based on expressed participant needs.
• Housing Readiness & System Navigation
  • Assist participants in gathering and organizing documents required for housing programs (e.g., IDs, income verification, disability documentation).
  • Complete the Multnomah Shelter Screening Tool (MSST) with participants as part of Coordinated Access vulnerability assessments, following county guidelines, confidentiality standards, and data entry requirements.
  • Support access to Coordinated Entry, Diversion programs, Rapid Re‑Housing partners, Permanent Supportive Housing pathways, and other external housing resources.
• Documentation, Data, & Reporting
  • Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation of participant…