Summary
Description
Apply by: 9/19/2024
This is a grant funded position that is funded through September 2026. However, there may be an opportunity to remain on staff after that date.
Provide direct services to individuals and families in need of stable, permanent housing. While working closely with Lakewood Police Department’s Homeless Navigators, this position will help clients on a pathway to successfully prepare for, locate, and maintain permanent housing. This position is responsible for building partnerships with landlords, supportive service organizations, county and municipal partners and internal city staff to develop resources and pathways to permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills are needed to provide an effective, individualized approach to navigating individuals from unstable housing situations to safe, stable, housing.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Responds to inquiries from and works with individuals experiencing homelessness to create goals and a plan of action/strategy to exit homelessness, as well as facilitate and support them in their efforts to obtain resources and services.
- Provides direct service to customers by assisting with transportation and coordination of in-person meetings between customers, landlords and involved professionals for potential housing placements; facilitates communication via phone calls, emails, and other methods of communication, provides referral and resources support, entry and exit follow up plan development, and participation in individualized service and support teams.
- Completes VI-SPDATs and HMIS intake forms to access barriers.
- Gathers and maintains information on resources and eligibility requirements for services available to individuals and families. Gathers qualitative and quantitative data from individuals and families regarding services. Prepares and reviews documents (case notes, meeting information); collects and distributes information; responds to navigation inquiries from individuals, families, and professionals.
- Conducts meetings with landlords and other professionals to facilitate obtaining resources and services, including housing, education, mental health, employment, etc.
- Assists clients in their search for housing, filling out rental applications, interpreting leases and understanding tenant rights and responsibilities.
- Assists clients and Lakewood’s Homeless Navigators with other housing-related assistance such as deposit assistance and eviction prevention, etc.
- Provides impartial and non-biased consultation, advocacy, and extensive independent review of an individual's and/or family's needs in support of successful exiting from homelessness.
- Provides post-housing placement case management including assistance with establishing utilities, banking, paying bills, voucher recertification, good neighbor/tenant practices and other assistance to ensure clients remain successfully housed.
- Drafts various written documents, including presentations, reports, memos on homelessness initiatives, programs and services and documents interactions with people experiencing homelessness to include recommendations from the Homeless Navigation Program and referrals for services and resources.
- Assists in implementation of regional projects and programs that impact individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
- Compiles and presents data to internal and external stakeholders, community partners and clients.
- May perform a variety of special projects, including researching national evidence-based practices in the areas of housing strategies; interpreting complex data and information and drafting documents/reports to present findings/understandings/recommendations in simplified and easily understood formats.
- Works within the regional navigation team and other regional boards, committees, and groups to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Jefferson County Homeless initiative, including participating and serving on subcommittees.
- Attends training and keeps abreast of changes/practices impacting resources and services for people experiencing homelessness and best practices in the field of homeless/housing navigation.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Reporting Relationships
- Supervision Received: Housing and Thriving Communities Manager
- Supervision Exercised: Variable, contract and volunteer staff as needed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of local homeless and housing navigation resources, coordination and regulation.
- Ability to read, interpret and analyze complex documents, reports, statistics, journals and papers to draft reports and make recommendations.
- Knowledge of or the ability to learn current and best practices working with the homeless population.
- Knowledge of and the skill to interact tactfully with members of diverse populations with varying socioeconomic status.
- Strong judgment and problem-solving abilities to work with citizens, businesses and others in emotional/stressful situations.
- Ability to self-direct, handle multiple assignments concurrently and meet frequent deadlines.
- Ability to maintain databases and enter, organize, and track data accurately.
- Ability to budget, track and evaluate program costs.
- Facilitation and presentation skills to deliver information to various groups.
- Attention to detail and advanced organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to commute to various field sites.
- Ability and skill to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Ability to work nights and weekends.
- Ability to maintain confidential information.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to express ideas and facts.
- Ability to listen to others and facilitate an open exchange of ideas.
- Ability to collaborate with a variety of municipal, county, non-profit, faith-based systems, and other applicable agencies to coordinate systems and deliver program goals.
- The ability to work with individuals with diverse economic, cultural, racial and mental backgrounds, to occasionally include people who are combative, in crisis or mentally ill.
Technology Skills
- Knowledge of or ability to learn Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and other statistical software.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
Education and Experience
- Education: A bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field. Preferred: Master’s in social work or related field.
- Experience: Three or more years’ job-related experience including training in trauma informed care, poverty, homelessness issues and/or working with vulnerable populations. Experience using HMIS and administering VI-SPDAT preferred.
Certification/Licenses/Specialized Training
- Valid drivers license and acceptable motor vehicle record
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Must successfully complete and maintain required state or departmental physical standards and certifications.
LIGHT WORK: Exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work
Physical Demands
- Bend or position self to move items from higher place to lower place or vice versa
- Sit, stand or be stationary
- Talk, hear, converse, communicate, or exchange information
- Use of hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion to handle, pinch, grasp, move, feel, and inspect, etc.
- Walk, ascend, descend on both even and uneven terrain
- Vision to include distance, depth perception, peripheral and color
Environmental Conditions may include
- Work is performed in an office the majority of the time, with occasional trips to the field.
- May involve attending meetings outside of regular business hours.
Physical Requirements – No Physical Needed
- Lift, carry, push, pull, move, or positions from all levels up to 30 lbs. with or without assistance
The City of Lakewood is a drug-free workplace that provides employment opportunities in compliance with all pertinent federal, state, and local laws. All Lakewood employees are expected to work and complete all tasks in a safe manner consistent with training, standard operating procedures, City or Department policies, and common sense. Working in a safe manner includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and complying with all City and/or Department safety rules. Horseplay on-the-job is strictly forbidden. The failure to work in a safe manner, use PPE, follow standard operating procedure, or comply with a safety rule will result adverse employment consequences ranging from verbal discipline to termination from employment, including any applicable reduction in benefits under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act. Employees are also expected to encourage safe work practices by all co-employees, and to report any unsafe work practices immediately to a supervisor.
The City of Lakewood celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion in all areas of our workforce. Accordingly, the city is committed to creating, nurturing and sustaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our community and employees.
Pay Range
$28.16-$36.59
Background and reference checks will be conducted for all regular and some variable/seasonal positions.
