Housing System Navigation Specialist

The Housing System Navigation Specialist will ensure coordination of housing navigation services within the Coordinated Entry System (CES). CES serves households that experience homelessness in Chicago. The HSN Specialist will collaborate with partnering agencies who provide navigation services for CES which includes connecting navigation providers with one another and with housing providers throughout the Chicago Continuum of Care (CoC). The HSN Specialist will promote successful housing outcomes for CES participants by providing resources and ongoing support to housing system navigators. Center for Housing and Health (CHH) is a supporting organization of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. 

The salary for this role is $40,000 to $47,000 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Coordination

• Serve as the first person of contact for inquiries about navigation services
• Coordinate navigation referrals with navigation agencies, Chicago Continuum of Care (CoC) housing providers and the CES matching team
• Work with agencies that have navigators on-staff in providing regular technical assistance to navigators to ensure successful housing outcomes for program participants
• Seek regular input from navigation project leadership to improve navigation services
• Share necessary feedback with project partners regarding challenges and accomplishments
• Develop, refine and implement materials such as scripts and consumer guides for navigators, CES participants and external stakeholders
• In collaboration with the Program Manager and CES team, make recommendations based on federal, state, and local policies and procedures for CHH and Chicago Continuum of Care (CoC) programs
• Create and maintain detailed project documentation and data collection plans and reports

Quality Assurance and Data Entry

• Monitor data for quality control, correct missing or incorrect data on quarterly (i.e., IDHS, HMIS) and yearly reports (i.e., APR HUD)
• Complete data entry in HMIS and the internal CHH Database, as needed
• Manage CES data related to navigation services to understand areas of improvement and overall navigation performance.
• Conduct site visits to CES assessment sites

Meetings and Training Facilitation

• Lead monthly navigation service meetings
• Provide onboarding support and training to new system navigators by providing a CES overview, review roles and responsibilities and offer best practices and likely scenarios
• Attend CES Implementation Team meetings and thought leadership in the ongoing development of the CES Action Plan
• Assist with preparation and development of SIT meetings for special populations to ensure adequate connection to navigation services
• Attend required conferences, trainings, and webinars
• Offer presentations on navigation services to key stakeholder groups including educating external systems as needed

Other

• Assist with agency-wide activities as directed, including Annual Meeting, AIDS Run & Walk, and other special events
• Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, participating in professional organizations
• Protect organization's value and manage risk by keeping information confidential
• Perform other duties as assigned

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in this class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assignment of duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION)
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 1 or more years of Human Services experience OR 3 or more years Human Services experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field
• 1 or more years Case Management experience
• 1 or more years Homeless Services experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability and willingness to take ownership of work activities and ensure that they are completed accurately, efficiently, and in a timely manner
• Ability to provide efficient, quality service to both internal and external customers
• Ability to assess client needs, create plans (i.e., care plans, service plans, treatment plans), facilitate referrals, and follow-up in order to address barriers and ensure service is continuous and comprehensive
• Ability to define, diagnose, and resolve problems
• Ability to use computer and web-based systems (e.g., PC-based tools, Microsoft applications, Web-based applications) to input, access, modify, or output information or to execute programs or analysis

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

None.

​​​​​​WORK ENVIRONMENT + PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment is representative of that found in a general office environment.  Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 10 pounds.) Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.