Youth Housing Assistance Navigator at Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

22 Jun, 26

Salary

21.0

Posted On

24 Mar, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Harm Reduction, Housing Stabilization, Case Management, Outreach, Financial Coaching, Budgeting Education, Crisis Intervention, De-escalation, LGB&T Community Knowledge, Interpersonal Communication, Verbal Communication, Written Communication, Documentation, Advocacy, HIV Screening, HCV Screening

Industry

Hospitals and Health Care

Description

Hawai’i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC) provides harm reduction-focused services to marginalized populations in Hawai’i, including people living with and/or affected by HIV, hepatitis, substance use, homelessness, and the transgender, LGBQ, and the Native Hawaiian communities. HHHRC bridges gaps and helps individuals access essential resources such as housing, health care, entitlements, and treatment. We foster health, wellness, and systemic change in Hawai’i and the Pacific through outreach, care services, advocacy, training, prevention, education, and capacity building. Primary Purpose: The Youth Housing Assistance Navigator provides targeted housing stabilization services to prevent homelessness among at-risk youth and young adults, with primary responsibility for implementing the Targeted Housing Assistance Program (THAP). Through proactive, individualized support, the Navigator promotes housing stability, financial independence, and long-term self-sufficiency. In addition, the position serves as a key linkage between LGB&T youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness and community service systems, responding comprehensively to participant needs through outreach, referral, coordination, and case management to ensure access to safe housing and supportive services. Reporting Relationship: Reports to: Housing & Outreach Manager Supervises: N/A Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Targeted Housing Assistance Program (THAP): * Orient youth to program guidelines and eligibility requirements, including support with accessing direct cash assistance. * Provide individualized financial coaching, budgeting education, and ongoing money management support. * Assist youth in developing comprehensive and sustainable housing plans. * Maintain accurate documentation and ensure compliance with program policies and reporting requirements. * Support youth in data collection and storytelling efforts to document outcomes and program impact. Youth Services Navigation & Outreach: * Conduct street-based and online outreach in areas frequented by LGB&T homeless youth. * Provide one-on-one support services to encountered youth to enhance linkage services. * Assist program participants in acquiring emergency supplies including food, clothing, bedding, medicine, and hygiene. * Provide linkage to additional HHHRC services including substance use, behavioral health and clinical services. * Take program participants through financial (general assistance, SNAP), medical, and mental health systems to connect them with services, as needed. * Provide outreach and supportive services for mobile crisis unit during assigned weeks and in partnership with the Hui including responding to crisis calls. * Conduct intake and assist in assessment, counseling, and referrals for health and social services. Make appointments for program participants and escort them to such appointments as needed. * Provide counseling, consultation, and crisis intervention as needed. Encourage medication adherence as appropriate. * Assist with family and social relationships as appropriate. Teach communication and social skills development, as needed. * Provide HIV & HCV screening and linkage. * Provide supportive case management and navigation services for each program participant, and cross-train in community health outreaching to provide back-up and coverage for homeless outreach workers and community health outreach workers as needed. * Advocate on behalf of program participants to ensure equity of treatment. * Complete required documentation and reporting requirements for program activities, adhering to outreach guidelines, maintaining records of all program participant cases, and ensuring that records are kept confidential. * Work with other HHHRC outreach workers to provide a coordinated system of care to the program participants. * Perform other duties as needed and assigned. Duties are subject to change. General Responsibilities: * Contribute to a safe, creative, enthusiastic, and cooperative working environment for all. * Work as a team with other staff and support team members. * Maintain appropriate professional and ethical standards while serving as a representative of HHHRC. * Observe and comply with rules and regulations – such as HHHRC Code of Conduct, Drug-Free Workplace – and other administrative policies of HHHRC. * Abide by all policies and procedures of the HHHRC Health & Safety Program and the Quality Management Program. * Comply with HHHRC confidentiality policy, HIPAA requirements, cultural competencies, and rights to persons served, as well as CARF standards. * Demonstrate steadfast understanding of, and commitment to, the Mission, Vision, and Values of HHHRC. Work Hours: * Monday - Friday, 8:30am and 5:00pm, with some evening and weekend attendance for required events, night outreach, and weekend outreach. * Flexible schedule required – some evenings, over-nights, and weekends may be required for on-call duties. Working Conditions/Physical Demands: * Office environment: indoors, air-conditioned. * Outreach environments: outdoors, including sidewalk and off-road homeless encampments. * Long hours sitting using office equipment and computers, which can cause muscle strain. * Regular use of computers keyboards, telephone, and operating office equipment. * Navigating uneven off-road paths, sometimes at an incline. * Essential physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, finger dexterity, seeing, hearing, speaking, reaching above, at, and below shoulder, and frequent gripping of an object. * Occasional physical activities: stooping, bending, squatting, twisting body, and lifting. * Occasional lifting and carrying of supplies and equipment (up to 25 pounds). * Must be able to walk for long periods of time to engage in street-based outreach. Required Qualifications: Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: * Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.). * Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. * Strong crisis intervention and de-escalation skills. * Knowledge of the LGB&T community, especially LGB&T youth. * Non-judgmental attitude and the ability to respect the knowledge, actions, and feelings of others. * Demonstrated ability to work productively, both independently and as part of a team. * Capability to work well and thrive professionally in an atmosphere of significant diversity, working with marginalized populations. * Ability to handle difficult interactions with care, compassion, and assertiveness with the confidence to work alone. * Capacity to relate effectively to people of a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. Education/Experience: * High School degree/GED, or equivalent work experience. * One or more years of professional and/or personal experience with homelessness. Preferred Qualifications: * Associates degree, or undergraduate degree, in Social Work or related field. * Experience working with youth ages 16-24 years old. * One or more years of experience in the human services field. * Extensive knowledge of O’ahu including supportive services and resources. * Training in substance abuse, harm reduction, and dual diagnosis. Required Work Cards/Certifications: * Valid Hawaii Driver’s License and clean Driver’s Abstract. * TB Clearance * Hep B Clearance and/or Vaccination * Must pass Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services eligibility screening. Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Responsibilities

The Navigator primarily implements the Targeted Housing Assistance Program (THAP) by providing individualized housing stabilization services, financial coaching, and developing sustainable housing plans for at-risk youth and young adults. Additionally, the role involves extensive street-based and online outreach to LGB&T homeless youth, providing linkage to various supportive services, and conducting crisis response.