Housing Navigation Specialist

About Community Housing Network

Community Housing Network (CHN) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing homes for people in need through proven strategies of homeless prevention, housing assistance, affordable housing development, community education, advocacy, and referrals. Since 2001, CHN has served as the leading housing resource nonprofit organization in southeast Michigan and serves thousands of families and individuals annually who are facing homelessness, people with disabilities, low-income households, and other vulnerable Michigan residents.

***Community Housing Network is building thriving communities and overcoming homelessness and housing instability ****through a work environment dedicated to empowering a work/life balance success through our Core Values: Inclusion, Integrity, Innovation and Passion. *

Community Housing Network provides excellent employment opportunities with competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefit package. All full-time employees enjoy a rich package of benefits including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• 401k
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance (Full-Time Salary staff)
• Voluntary Products: Short Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Accident
• Generous Vacation and Medical Leave Time

Community Housing Network is an equal-opportunity employer recognized by the Detroit Free Press as a Top 100 Workplace and honored as a Crain's Cool Place to Work.

Housing Navigation Specialist

Department: Housing Navigation

Reports to: Housing Navigation Supervisor

Employment Status Classification: Full-Time Salary; Exempt

Job Description Summary:

The Housing Navigation Specialist is responsible for intake coordination, eligibility verification, housing search, lease management, and recertification for program participants. The Specialist will actively participate in the coordinated entry system as well as the larger service network as needed.

**Essential Functions: **

Facilitate intake for potential program participants, assessing eligibility and guiding them through the application process.

Develop individualized housing plans in collaboration with participants.

Help participants mitigate issues with credit reports, utility arrears, criminal records and other issues which may impact housing eligibility.

Refer participants to appropriate affordable housing that aligns with their needs and geographic preferences.

Provide information and instructions to participants regarding how to search for housing, complete housing applications, tenant rights and responsibilities and how to be a good neighbor.

Provide ongoing support to program participants, addressing inquiries, providing guidance, and connecting them with resources, as needed.

Coordinate all aspects of the lease signing process (for new participants and those moving), including negotiations with landlords, paperwork preparation, and inspection requests.

Foster positive relationships with landlords and property managers to secure housing opportunities and maintain partnerships.

Collaborate with internal departments and community partners to obtain required documents and verifications for program applications.

Maintain participant records; document all participant case updates within 24 hours.

Represent the organization at community events, resource fairs, and landlord networking gatherings to promote program awareness and engagement.