Housing Navigator - H2H Program

Lao Family Community Development, Inc. (LFCD) is a community development non-profit agency established in the City of Richmond in Contra Costa County in 1980. Today Lao Family has expanded its operations and service footprint to two additional counties including Alameda and Sacramento. LFCD’s headquarter office is in Oakland, CA. It delivers programs and services from 7 locations in 35 languages. The agency provides both community development real estate facilities and a diverse array of workforce, education, and human service that directly support predominantly low-income US-born high-barrier families and individuals, refugees, immigrants, transitional age youth, seniors, and other special populations such as individuals with disabilities.

Job Summary: LFCD is looking for a Housing Specialist/Case Manager to provide housing supportive services & intensive case management to our Warm Hand-Off AB109 realignment program, and homeless (H2H) program. These services include community outreach efforts to form community collaborations, promote the understating of the program, and build relationships with funders and partners to increase the number of referrals to the program. The candidate will work to create social rehabilitation services, develop client core abilities, enhance soft and hard skills, and coordinate barrier resolution services as needed. The position duties include; outreach recruitment for potential landlords and preparing tenants to place in subsidized housing, case plan & case management, program exit plan for permanent housing, providing ongoing support to these individuals, follow up, and retention services. This position will directly report to the Program Coordinator.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Conduct all program’s intake eligibilities, and verification, obtain all required documents, orientation, assessments, workshops, and peer support coach.
• Build confidence, readiness, and emotional health of participants to address barriers towards stabilizing life and work situations.
• Create individual personal goal plan, housing plan, and savings plan; conduct one-on-one or group peer support coaching, and financial coaching; assist participants to reach their personal goal, and saving goals, and move from transitional housing to permanent housing.
• Assist clients with providing resources and referral assistance including mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, legal assistance, and social adjustment assistance. 
• Work closely with the individual clients for their program outcomes and provide a follow-up service till successfully existed from the program is, and teamwork with the team.
• Establish and maintain relationships with other service providers including banks, credit unions, OHA, landlords, and others housing program providers. Provide landlords orientations on the project value, goals with target population profile, written agreements, and other technical supports to cultivate, build trust and maintain a business relationship with funders, subcontractor partners, landlords, and other community service providers.
• Create and manage landlords’ directory for affordable permanent housing placement and support to program’s clients with their needs. Recruit, interview, and negotiate with landlords to assist clients to find permanent, affordable housing.
• Maintain all programs related documents for monitoring and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations under the project’s requirements.
• Represent LFCD and attend a monthly meeting as needed, participate in case conference/ reentry partners meetings, and housing fair events. Maintain case records/ statistics for program reports.
• Manage the HMIS database and operate as the organization's HMIS liaison. This includes ensuring that client documentation and other identifiers are being uploaded and secured in a timely fashion.
  
• Be a team player in the Oakland HQ office and CARE Campus; work collaboratively with the staff to be present in the office and be available to greet and help walk-in clients.
• Be knowledgeable of the agency’s mission, vision, core values, and strategic plan. Join different agency initiatives to improve program and service quality and to help accomplish the agency strategic plan’s goals and objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field AND a minimum of 1-2 years of experience in a similar role OR at least 4+ years of experience in a similar role. Bilingual and bicultural in any language/culture are highly desired. Candidates with lived experiences of homelessness are encouraged to apply.
• Well-versed in the services offered to those with low and moderate incomes.
• Strong project management and detailed oriented skills to develop, implement and follow a work plan, assess and address risks, and needs, stay on task to complete work due and produce outcomes.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, including making group presentations and facilitating workshops.
• Proficient computer skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database management, and different web browsers.
• Must be enthusiastic, client-centered, creative, dedicated, organized, and motivated to work with low-income, people with multiple barriers to employment, and diverse ethnic and social backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, time management, and able to work well as a team with other staff members and other agencies' staff.  
• Able to travel to meet with service providers and clients, other Lao Family offices such as Oakland, San Pablo, and Sacramento for training, meetings, and other assigned tasks; attend relevant meetings, training, and workshops as needed; may be required to work outside of core operating hours; must have a flexible schedule on some evenings and weekends.
• Must have a valid California Driver's License, clean DMV record, and proof of current auto insurance and registration and must pass a background check.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and work on the computer; use hands to handle or feel and talk or hear; moving objects up to 25 pounds.

Compensation:

The salary is based on experience and education, along with a comprehensive benefits package including health plan/vision, dental, paid vacations, holidays, sick leave, and employer-contributed pension/group life insurance.

To Apply: Submit your cover letter and resume. This position is open until filled and may be closed at any time. 

Lao Family Community Development Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (over 40), disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. LFCD is compliant with the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).