Position: Homeless Services Navigator (HSN)
Program/Location: Homelessness Prevention & Interventions Services (HPIS) Dept. – CES Connectors Program / Watsonville Office but will provide services/attend meetings throughout the county.
Status: Full-Time; Limited Term Position through 06/2025
Hours per week: 40 hours per week, may include occasional evenings or weekends.
Salary: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour
Benefits: Medical (employee share of cost depending on plan selected), vision, life, dental (employee pays half of dental) insurance, Retirement plan (401K plan after six months), 24 days annual leave to start, and 13 paid holidays per year.
Reports to: HPIS Department Programs Coordinator
To Apply: Submit resume and cover letter to HR@cabinc.org or apply on-line at Indeed.com ASAP; Open until filled
Note: Selected applicants must be available to complete employment application in person before receiving invitation to interview.
Overview: The Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc. (CAB) has been the County’s designated Community Action Agency since 1965, with the mission to eliminate poverty and create social change through advocacy and essential services. CAB does so through the 4 program pillars of community building, employment, immigration and homelessness prevention and intervention services that serve over 10,000 people per year, with a staff of over 50 employees. CAB’s Homelessness Prevention & Intervention Services (HPIS) Department programs are a core component of The Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc. and includes the Rental Assistance Program (RAP), Youth Homeless Response Team (YHRT), Watsonville Works! (WWks!), South County Coordinated Entry System (CES) Connector(s) and the Transitional Age Youth Housing Navigation (TAY NAV) program.
Duties: Under the direction of the HPIS Programs Coordinator, the Homeless Services Navigator will work in partnership with the City of Watsonville and the City Police Service Specialist to provide outreach to unsheltered homeless individuals in the Watsonville area. They are responsible for a caseload of clients and all activities related to their case. The Homeless Services Navigator will play a role in the new Coordinated Entry System (CES) by assisting people experiencing homelessness to identify opportunities that will help them in their search for stable and affordable housing. The Homeless Services Navigator will work with participants to complete a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) and develop a Housing Action Plan (HAP) to identify specific steps towards securing housing and meeting other identified needs. The HNA is also used to determine eligibility for the limited permanent housing resources within the Housing for Health Partnership (H4HP) Response System. This Homeless Services Navigator will work as part of CAB’s outreach team in South Santa Cruz County.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with homelessness, housing services or at-risk youth.
• Knowledge and familiarity with the Santa Cruz County network of health, social service, and related agencies.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment, ability to engage in multiple concurrent projects.
• Some lived experience.
• Training in motivational interviewing and/or trauma informed care.
• One year eligibility/case management experience (paid or volunteer).
• Experience with HMIS.
• Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bilingual and biliterate (Spanish/English).
• Human/Social Services Coursework, A.A. or B.A. in Social Work or related field or equivalent experience.
• Basic math and map reading skills and the ability to keep accurate records.
• Proficient computer skills (MS Office Suite and Outlook). Culturally competent and interested in working with diverse vulnerably unhoused persons.
• Commitment to non-judgmental, housing first service provision and empowering client choice.
• Strong initiative and willingness to pitch in as needed, outstanding follow-through with tasks.
• Ability to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner.
• Clean driving record, current DL, vehicle & vehicle insurance.
• Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach and routinely safely lift up to 25 pounds.
  CAB embraces the values of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The hired candidate will adhere to CAB’s standard of upholding the agency’s mission, values and code of ethics through a commitment to confidentiality and communication. This position is categorically funded by grants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition (cancer related), marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age (over 18), veteran status, gender, gender expression, pregnancy, or any other non-merit factor unrelated to job duties. AA/EOE
  Job Type: Full-time
  Pay: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Language:

• spanish (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Watsonville, CA 95076 (Required)

Work Location: In perso

• Provide both in-office and outreach, case management, assessing clients for eligibility according to program guidelines, applying casework skills to identify clients’ strengths and needs, gathering information and managing assigned caseloads.
• Assist clients by providing information and referrals and developing housing stability plans according to client choice.
• Provide health, Medi-Cal and CalFresh information, referral, eligibility, and access assistance as needed by participants.
• Conduct initial triage and safety screenings and direct participants to crisis assistance if needed.
• Engage participants in ongoing meetings to complete the Housing Needs Assessment and problem-solving process.
• Support participants to identify housing outside of the H4HP Response System.
• Create a Housing Action Plan (HAP) with participants who choose to do so; identify priorities to work on that move participants toward housing.
• Support participants prioritized for a referral to a housing program. For participants who receive referrals to housing programs that do not provide case management support, Connectors will help with the housing search and move-in process, including securing required documents completing applications, and securing housing. For housing programs that offer case management support to help participants enter the program, Connectors will help only with securing required documents.
• Maintain an average caseload of no fewer than 15 participants at a time.
• Support the participant in making connections that assist participant achievement of HAP priorities.
• Provide culturally appropriate services.
• Communicate effectively in both written and oral form (Spanish/English).
• Support the goals and standards of CAB and the Homelessness Prevention & Intervention Services (HPIS) Department.
• Address individuals in distress and utilize de-escalation techniques.
• Gather information for statistical reporting purposes and data entry into HMIS.
• Participate in meetings and outreach events/activities as needed and assigned. Collaborate with partners for referrals and service coordination.
• Maintain accurate financial and program records using Microsoft Excel, Teams, Word etc.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures outlined in the CES Policy and Procedure Manual and in any relevant guidance provided by Housing for Health.
• Provide ongoing feedback to the H4H Division to support continuous improvement of the Connector Role and CES process.
• Enter data in HMIS according to established privacy and security standards that is timely, accurate, complete, and high quality.
• Participate in ongoing training, professional development, and the monthly scheduled Connector Learning Collaborative.
• Manage clients through to and include their exit from the program, when participant is no longer active in services or has been enrolled to another program.
• Up to 3-5 times a week, will ride along with a Watsonville Police Department‘s Community Officer to provide resource support to unhoused individuals throughout the Watsonville community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.