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Actively supports and upholds the City’s stated mission and values. The Housing Navigator provides intensive housing case management to participants in Section 8 Programs such as Emergency Housing Vouchers, Mainstream Vouchers, and VASH Vouchers, with a focus on clients experiencing high levels of difficulty in navigating the intricacies of applying for and maintaining assisted housing. The Housing Navigator performs eligibility interviews, determinations, inspections, unit transfers, and interim and annual reexaminations as well as providing landlord support and general client support with the goal of continued housing.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

Supervisory: This job does not have formal supervisory responsibilities.
Budgetary: This job does not have budgetary responsibilities but carries out day-to-day activities within approved budget.
Strategic Planning: This job does not have strategic planning responsibilities but carries out day-to-day activities in order to reach the stated goals and objectives.
Policies/Procedures: This job has partial responsibility for policies and procedures at the program level (assists with developing, implementing, and interpreting).
Compliance: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
Council Communications: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Council’s adopted priorities and direction.
Reporting: This job has partial responsibility for reporting to Federal/State/Local agencies at the program level (gathers information, completes reports, and assists in addressing discrepancies in reporting).

Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
Serve as the main housing liaison and advocate between local Continuum of Care (CoC), Front Door Coordinated Entry partners, landlords, housing specialists, applicants, and clients. Responsible for receiving and assessing referrals from Front Door.
Provides intensive support to help clients rent and live successfully in the private housing market including assisting the client in gathering required documents; mitigating barriers such as transportation, credit reports, utility arrears and unfavorable landlord references; and assisting in problem resolution with landlords and program participants.
Conducts pre-lease briefing sessions.
Advocates on client’s behalf with regard to leasing issues and compliance with regulatory and lease requirements.
Performs initial housing inspections and re-inspections for compliance with Federal housing quality standards (HQS/UPCS-V).
Conducts landlord recruitment and outreach to encourage renting to clients receiving housing assistance.
Assists client households related to financial management and household budgeting
Processes initial lease-ups, unit transfers, interim and annual reexaminations for housing assistance.
Interviews participants for recertifications, explains housing program obligations, verifies information on the reexamination/recertification forms, and determines continued eligibility of participants.
Calculates HAP payment amounts, tenant rents and utility reimbursements.
Negotiates repayment agreements for approval by Assistant Housing Director.
Issues Housing Choice Vouchers to applicants, clients requesting to move, clients exercising portability options, or who require a smaller or larger unit.
Responds to landlord inquiries and concerns about specific contracts and the Section 8 programs in general.
Initiates and executes Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contracts.
Initiates Termination of Assistance of families for non-compliance, non-performance, or other grounds in conformance with established Housing Authority policy and procedures.
Maintains participant and landlord files and documents historical record for each participant file.
Generates and mails correspondence or notices to landlords and participants for appointments, changes in rent, termination of assistance, etc.
Prepares and distributes incoming/outgoing mail and files necessary information into client’s files.
Provides data entry for all adjustments or changes to participant data.
Prepares monthly reports to advise supervisor of caseload status.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing all other duties assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Two years of college level coursework in public administration, social work, psychology, political science or related field.
Two years of experience with a social service agency, public agency, or equivalent public contact office, or direct leasing and management of properties or in a position
Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, psychology, political science or related field.
Social Service experience with direct client interactions.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of legal, ethical, and professional rules of conduct.
Knowledge of principles of record keeping, case files and records management.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Must possess, or obtain upon employment, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to deal effectively and tactfully with clients, realtors, property owners, community partners, staff and others in connection with application processes, lease negotiations, conflict resolutions, lease violations and other issues which arise in connection with client case work.
Knowledge of general office, clerical and office management practices and procedures, business English, and basic arithmetic. Excellent oral and written skills.
Ability to learn and utilize Housing Authority policies, procedures and practices pertaining to Section 8 programs.
Excellent research and analytical skills.
Skill in operating general office machines, including computer equipment.
Experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams and other housing software etc.
Ability to learn Housing Authority admissions and occupancy software.
Ability to understand and follow moderately complex written and oral instructions.
Ability to clearly communicate and relate to persons of diverse backgrounds and abilities including with other employees, landlords/property managers, applicants and participants.
Ability to recognize housing barriers and link clients with resources to overcome such barriers.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is principally sedentary, but may involve some physical exertion, such as kneeling, crouching, or lifting to obtain files, records, and office supplies, and eye strain from working with computers and other office equipment.
Work involves the normal risks or discomforts associated with an office environment and are usually in an area that is adequately heated, lighted and ventilated.

City of Flagstaff

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Housing Navigator