Navigator (Homeless Prevention Project)
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROJECT:
CCLS’s Homelessness Prevention Project is an interdisciplinary, whole-person pilot project within our Housing Team that will address both the legal and social needs of housing clients, with a specific focus on low-income students and their families, students without parents or guardians, and students who are aging out of foster care. The goals of the Project are to promote housing stability, empower clients to effectively participate in their legal cases, and end the cycles of poverty that cause their legal issues. The Project will integrate the provision of legal services across substantive teams at CCLS (e.g., Housing and Health Teams), as well as the provision of non-legal services, such as assisting clients with accessing benefits and other social services. The Project will also entail outreach to target communities at community college and K-12 school sites. In addition to providing more impactful direct services to our housing clients, the Project will deepen CCLS’s understanding of our client community and help us to more effectively respond to their needs.
NAVIGATOR:
Under the direction of the Homelessness Prevention Supervising Paralegal, the Homelessness Prevention Navigator will be key to ensuring CCLS addresses each client’s legal and social needs as comprehensively as possible, both directly and in collaboration with other agencies and organizations. Navigators will meet with each client to evaluate their situation, and develop a comprehensive, individualized service plan. Navigators will then guide implementation of that plan, helping the client engage with CCLS’s internal legal teams and external community and governmental partners. Other duties may arise that satisfy the EAF Homelessness Prevention grant, which will fund this position.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Superior interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills;
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in the legal rights and social needs of low-income people, elderly and disabled persons;
• Ability to speak, read, and write fluently in Spanish or Hmong, strongly preferred.
• Ability to follow CCLS policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of, experience with, or ability to learn housing law;
• Ability to conduct client interviews and investigations, to reason analytically, to problem-solve, to write persuasively, and to advocate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with others in a small unit setting;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse groups of individuals and organizations including ability to provide leadership within a culturally diverse environment; must maintain effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels and with the public;
• Competency/experience with PC systems and standard software (Microsoft Office, Access, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other relevant databases);
• Reliable transportation, a valid CA Drivers’ License with appropriate car insurance.
DUTIES:
• Conduct intake of new clients both in person and remotely;
• Interview clients and assess legal, social, medical, educational, psychological and other needs;
• Develop a service plan to assist each client or family for resolution of all legal or social problems affecting their well-being;
• Work with other CCLS advocates to ensure the delivery of high-quality legal services based on the Homelessness Prevention Project service model, described above;
• Coordinate communication and advocate on behalf of clients with government and social service agencies, medical and legal professionals, in addition to all others that may provide assistance for clients to achieve resolution of their problems;
• Attend weekly Homelessness Prevention Team case review meetings;
• Participate in community outreach and education events;
• Interface with other CCLS and California advocates on issues of mutual interest;
• Form productive relationships with client groups and community-based service providers; • Carry out CCLS policies and procedures;
• Data collection and reporting as required; • Attend training and keep abreast of changes in the law;
• Perform other duties as assigned.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, and three professional references (including at least one supervisor OR a reference from an agency with which you partnered) to:
Debra D. McKenzie
Director of Administration
Central California Legal Services
2115 Kern Street, Suite 200 Fresno, California 93721