Housing navigator, Social Work

Lifelong is a community health organization on a mission to make health and food accessible. We remove barriers to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness and injustice alone.

We lead with heart. Our respect for people drives our mission. For 40 years, Lifelong has fought health inequities so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Our comprehensive services include food and nutrition, healthcare navigation, aging and disability support, and connection to housing and other vital resources.

Position Overview:

The Housing Navigator provides community-based supportive services to individuals who are experiencing, or have recently experienced, homelessness and are now living in private market or scattered site housing. The Housing Navigator engages participants at scattered sites, community locations, other non-congregate settings and other locations as requested throughout King County. The maintains a caseload of participants receiving KCRHA housing assistance and delivers services focused on both active outreach to engage individuals not yet stabilized, and housing retention support for those recently housed.

Participants frequently present with histories of chronic homelessness and co-occurring mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and chronic illness. Services are delivered using Housing First and harm reduction principles within a trauma-informed framework to ensure low-barrier, participant-centered support. The Housing Navigator collaborates with participants, property management, service providers, and community partners to promote long-term housing success and self-sufficiency.

This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt, union position that is 100% on-site and in the field throughout King County. Standard business hours are 08:30AM – 5PM Monday – Friday.

Essential Duties:

Outreach & Engagement Conduct regular visits to clients in private market housing.

Build rapport and maintain ongoing relationships with individuals who may be resistant to or have had prior negative experiences with service systems.

Perform initial needs assessments, including housing history, health status, benefit eligibility, and barriers to housing stability.

Complete coordinated entry assessments (e.g., VI-SPDAT or successor tool) in accordance with King County Continuum of Care (CoC) standards and KCRHA program requirements.

Housing Retention & Stability Maintain an active caseload of participants receiving KCRHA housing assistance; provide consistent, frequency-appropriate contact based on participant acuity.

Develop individualized housing stability plans in partnership with each participant, incorporating their stated goals and identified needs.

Support participants with housing applications, landlord communication, lease renewals, and early and ongoing tenancy stabilization.

Address issues that may jeopardize housing placement, including lease violations, neighbor conflicts, and loss of income or benefits.

Collaborate with property management to support successful tenancy and resolve concerns while advocating for participants.

Assessment, Goal Setting & Service Coordination Conduct ongoing assessments of participant needs across housing, health, financial stability, employment, and overall wellbeing.

Develop and regularly update goal-oriented service plans that reflect participant priorities and program requirements.

Coordinate access to community resources, including behavioral health services, medical care, benefits enrollment, employment supports, and legal aid.

Assist participants in navigating public systems including DSHS, Social Security Administration, Medicaid/Apple Health, and other entitlement programs.

Advocacy & Crisis Intervention Provide advocacy on behalf of participants with landlords, service systems, and community partners.

Deliver timely crisis intervention; coordinate with behavioral health, medical, and emergency response partners as needed.

Respond to urgent participant needs with flexibility, applying de-escalation skills and sound professional judgment.

Documentation & Compliance Maintain timely, accurate case notes and service records in HMIS and any additional electronic case management platforms required by the program.

Complete all required program documentation in accordance with KCRHA, funder, and organizational standards.

Comply with all applicable regulations including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part
2.Participate in case conferencing, team meetings, and coordinated entry processes.

Community…