Job Description
About Us
We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing homes for those in need through proven strategies such as homeless prevention, housing assistance, affordable housing development, community education, advocacy, and referrals. Since 2001, we have been a leading housing resource in southeast Michigan, serving thousands of families and individuals facing homelessness, people with disabilities, low-income households, and other vulnerable residents.
Our mission is to Open Doors and Transform Lives, fostering a work environment that promotes work/life balance success through our Core Values: Inclusion, Integrity, Innovation, and Passion.
We are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness, which includes:
- Creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace to provide better services for participants and staff.
- Utilizing a trauma-informed approach to build rapport with vulnerable populations.
- Providing educational resources related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and fostering a platform for conversation.
We offer excellent employment opportunities with competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. Full-time employees enjoy a rich package of benefits including:
- Health Insurance
- Dental
- Vision
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
- 401k
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Products: Aflac, Short Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance
- Generous Vacation and Medical Leave Time
We are an equal-opportunity employer recognized as a Top 100 Workplace by the Detroit Free Press and honored as a Crain's Cool Place to Work.
Housing Resource Community Coordinator
**Department:** Programs
**Reports to:** Housing Navigation Supervisor
**Employment Status:** Full-Time Salary, Exempt
**Salary Range:** $42,120.00 per year
**Job Description Summary:**
The Housing Navigation Specialist is responsible for intake coordination, eligibility verification, housing search, lease management, and recertification for program participants. The Specialist will actively participate in the coordinated entry system as well as the larger service network as needed.
**Essential Functions:**
- Facilitate intake for potential program participants, assessing eligibility and guiding them through the application process.
- Develop individualized housing plans in collaboration with participants.
- Help participants mitigate issues with credit reports, utility arrears, criminal records, and other issues that may impact housing eligibility.
- Refer participants to appropriate affordable housing that aligns with their needs and geographic preferences.
- Provide information and instruction to participants on how to search for housing, complete housing applications, understand tenant rights and responsibilities, and be a good neighbor.
- Routinely follow up with all participants on caseload to ensure they are making progress toward tasks related to obtaining or retaining housing.
- Provide ongoing support to program participants, addressing inquiries, providing guidance, and connecting them with resources as needed.
- Coordinate all aspects of the lease signing process (for new participants and those moving), including negotiations with landlords, paperwork preparation, and inspection requests.
- Complete annual recertifications for current program participants, negotiating renewal lease terms and processing rent recalculations as necessary.
- Foster positive relationships with landlords and property managers to secure housing opportunities and maintain partnerships.
- Collaborate with internal departments and community partners to obtain required documents and verifications for program applications.
- Maintain participant records and document all participant case updates within 24 hours.
- Represent the organization at community events, resource fairs, and landlord networking gatherings to promote program awareness and engagement.
- Attend recommended trainings and conferences to ensure the development of a knowledge base.
**Qualifications and Skills:**
- Experience in housing programs, conducting intakes, property management, or related fields preferred.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with experience interacting effectively with vulnerable populations (e.g., people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, at-risk of homelessness, and those with mental or physical health disabilities).
- Bachelor's degree in social work or a human services-related field; lived experience, or two years of human service-related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and services.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Working knowledge of the Coordinated Entry System and other community resources and services related to housing and supports is essential.
- Proficient computer skills, well-organized, proactive, and self-directed. Must also be attentive to details and able to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- Valid driver's license and personal automobile coverage limits minimum: Bodily Injury $100,000 each person, $300,000 each occurrence, Property Damage $100,000 each occurrence.
**Travel:**
Travel is required within the communities served.
We reserve the right to require a motor vehicle record check for any employee where driving is an essential function of the position.
**Work Environment and Physical Demands:**
This position includes fieldwork, in-office work, and remote work (from a home office).
While performing the functions of this job, the position is both sedentary and at times requires the ability to be active, including standing, walking in the outside elements, getting in and out of a vehicle, bending, lifting and/or arranging files and office products and supplies, and may require the employee to periodically stand on a short step stool to access files.
**Agency Expectations:**
- Commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and adherence to organizational values.
- Adhere to agency policies and procedures.
- Demonstrate exceptional communication and organizational skills.
- Maintain a positive and respectful attitude.
- Demonstrate flexible and efficient time management and the ability to prioritize workload.
- Consistently report to work on time and prepared to perform the duties of the position.
- Have a strong work ethic that equally prioritizes the needs of participants and the needs of the organization.
- Proactively and effectively communicate knowledge gained from education/training/conferences to others in the organization through presentations, emails, and conversations.
- Execute all duties within the framework of Housing First and trauma-informed care principles.
- Prioritize cultural understanding, respect, resilience, adaptability, conflict resolution, and resourcefulness.
- Uphold the organization's core values of integrity, inclusion, innovation, passion, and vision.
**Disclaimer:**
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary: $ 42,000.00 43,000.00 Per Year
Job Tags
Full time, Temporary work, Remote job, Work from home, Home office, Flexible hours,