Housing Navigator

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do. 

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Are you looking to have an impact on more than just a company’s bottom line? Then we’d love to hear from you!

We are now hiring for a full-time Housing Navigator at our Calumet office.  

SALARY: The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $47,000 and $53,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide outreach and engagement to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community, including shelters, encampments, drop-in centers, and other locations where unhoused individuals may be present.


• Deliver direct, in-person housing support and stabilization services to persons experiencing homelessness, including crisis intervention, problem-solving, emotional support, advocacy, life skills development, and referrals to community resources.


• Conduct strengths-based assessments to identify client needs, barriers to housing, and immediate stabilization concerns, and respond using short-term, client-centered interventions.


• Maintain a strong working knowledge of Metropolitan Family Services programs and relevant community-based housing, healthcare, and supportive service resources; facilitate referrals and linkages as appropriate.


• Administer required assessments, housing tools, and outcome measures in accordance with program and funder requirements.


• Accurately document services, case notes, and outcomes in HMIS and client files in a timely and complete manner.


• Participate in required supervision, team meetings, training, and program or agency-wide meetings.


• Adhere to contract, grant, and program expectations, including timelines, performance measures, and reporting requirements.


• Respond appropriately to crisis and emergency situations involving clients, following agency policies and procedures.


• Establish and maintain professional relationships with community partners, service providers, and referral sources; represent Metropolitan Family Services and the housing program effectively in the community.


• Provide linkages to essential support services such as transportation assistance, childcare resources, clothing, and employment or benefit supports, as applicable.


• Remain informed of current trends, best practices, and policy developments in homelessness and housing services; participate in ongoing professional development opportunities.


• Perform other duties as assigned based on the needs of the program or site.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated ability to render adequate service to clients and to organize and manage job efficiently.


• Requires mobility to work with community-based caseload.


• Ability to maintain assigned community and home-based services.


• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.


• Must be highly organized and knowledge of Excel to track data.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent plus 4+ years’ work experience or associate’s degree plus 2+ year work experience, preferably in the field of homelessness services or in a social service-related capacity required. 


• Experience working directly with individuals or families experiencing homelessness in outreach, housing navigation, or supportive services settings required.


• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field preferred. 


• Experience in social services and/or the field of gender-based violence preferred. 


• Bilingual/bicultural preferred and may be required for particular programs or sites

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screening and criminal background checks. 

TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Driving for work required with transportation of clients in a personally owned vehicle. Travel between sites required. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal. The employee must be able to walk up and down stairs to clients' apartments. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package. Find out more by clicking here!

Some highlights include:

• Medical Coverage, Guardian Dental Coverage, and VSP Vision Coverage.


• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.


• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.


• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

And so much more! Make sure you click here to see the full suite of benefits offered!

MORE ABOUT US:

Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.