Housing Navigator bei SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC

Description

At the San Diego Rescue Mission, we are driven by a profound belief in compassion, service, and the transformative power of Jesus' love. Our mission goes beyond charity; it is a calling to love our neighbors and provide hope and healing to those experiencing homelessness. We are committed to creating a holistic approach to recovery and rehabilitation, ensuring that our programs serve as safe havens for men, women, and children in need

Position Summary

The Housing Navigator plays a key role in furthering the Mission’s commitment to excellence in service and Christlike compassion. This position supports program objectives, ensures operational integrity, and reflects our values in every interaction with clients, staff, and the public. The Housing Navigator plays a vital role in helping individuals experiencing homelessness secure stable, permanent housing. This position focuses on locating available housing units, building relationships with landlords, and facilitating lease agreements for program participants transitioning into housing. The Housing Navigator connects clients to safe and stable housing by identifying opportunities, building relationships with landlords, and facilitating the leasing process. This role supports clients with applications, coordinates with case managers for wraparound services, and maintains an up-to-date housing database while promoting trauma-informed, client-centered care.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and research available housing opportunities throughout San Diego County.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with landlords, property managers, and housing providers.
• Liaise between clients and landlords to facilitate lease agreements and negotiate move-in terms.
• Assist clients in completing rental applications and preparing necessary documentation for tenancy.
• Coordinate with case managers and community partners to ensure wraparound services are in place prior to move-in.
• Maintain an up-to-date housing database and track housing placements, landlord contacts, and vacancies.
• Support and participate in ministry-wide activities and chapels as applicable. 
• Collaborate cross-functionally to uphold trauma-informed practices and ensure client dignity.
• Participate in housing-focused case conferencing and contribute to coordinated entry processes.

Staff Expectations

As a representative of San Diego Rescue Mission, all employees are expected to:

• Adhere to the Statement of Faith, upholding biblical principles in all aspects of work and life.
• Be prepared to share the hope you have in Christ. As a representative of Christ, be ready to gently and respectfully share the Good News of Jesus Christ at all times.
• Live out the Mission, Vision, and Values of the SDRM by safeguarding the Mission, pursuing the Vision, and reflecting our core values—Faith, Compassion, Excellence, and Integrity—in both your personal and public life. Remain focused on serving, demonstrating a deep desire to see God transform the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
• Intentionally spend time in God’s Word, prayer, staying rooted in a biblical community (local church, ministry, small group) to deepen your relationship with Christ.
• Model servant leadership in all interactions, encourage and support SDRM staff in their walk with Christ, putting the needs of others before yourself.
• Foster a coachable, approachable, and humble spirit, remaining open to feedback, growth, and guidance.

Qualifications

Education

• Minimum: [e.g., Associate’s Degree or equivalent experience]
• Preferred: [e.g., Bachelor’s in Social Work, Theology, Psychology, or related field]
• Lived experience of homelessness counts towards education and experience 

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years working in a nonprofit, ministry, or human services environment
• Experience working with individuals facing homelessness, trauma, or addiction preferred

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to function effectively in a dynamic, faith-based environment
• Strong communication and administrative skills
• Capable of maintaining emotional resilience in challenging client situations
• Strong understanding of local housing systems, landlord-tenant law, and fair housing regulations.
• Excellent negotiation, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a dynamic housing portfolio.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• This role may require walking, standing, lifting up to 25 lbs, and working irregular hours, including evenings or weekends.
• Environment includes residential program sites and client-facing spaces.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The San Diego Rescue Mission (SDRM) Is both an equal opportunity employer and a Christian Ministry. We conduct hiring without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, sex (which included breastfeeding, or a medical condition related to breastfeeding), marital status, parental status, military status, veteran's status, pregnancy, medication condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, disability or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

However, as a registered non- profit religious organization, SDRM does reserve the right to discriminate in hiring persons whose lifestyle is contradictory to Biblical principles.

Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 702 942 U.S.C 2000e (a)), SDRM has the right to, and does hire only candidates who agree with SDRM's Statement of Faith and conduct themselves in accordance with our religious beliefs.

Background Check Disclaimer

SDRM conducts background checks in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act, and the California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act. If you accept a position with SDRM, as part of your conditional offer of employment, you will be asked to submit to a virtual background check AND a California Livescan Fingerprint.

You will be provided the following notifications as an example:

1. You will be provided with appropriate written notice of the company's intention to obtain information by way of a background check and will give applicants and employees the opportunity to obtain a free copy of any report obtained.

2. Applicants and employees will be asked to authorize a background check before such check is performed.

Drug Screen Disclaimer

SDRM is a Nonprofit Religious Organization and as such, we require all employees to submit to our drug screen as a condition of employment once they have accepted a position with SDRM. Because of our religious affiliation, we do not allow employees to use or consume recreational or medicinal marijuana, along with all other federally recognized substances. You will be notified prior to any employment decisions if your drug screen is returned with negative findings. Refusal to submit to testing will result in disqualification of further employment consideration.

E-Verify Statement

San Diego Rescue Mission participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Please note that we do not use this information to pre-screen job applicants.