Housing Navigator Specialist

About Covenant House New York

Join a Legacy of Hope and Empowerment at Covenant House New York!

For over 50 years, Covenant House New York (CHNY) has been at the forefront of transforming lives by providing comprehensive shelter, housing, and wrap-around support services for vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. As the largest provider of these essential services in New York City, CHNY impacts the lives of over 1,500 young people aged 16-24 every year.

At CHNY, our doors are open to all young people in need, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Our dedicated team offers various services, including shelter, housing, education, employment, health, mental health support, youth development, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. We operate with harm reduction and trauma-informed principles to ensure the best care for our youth.

But our mission goes beyond immediate support. We are passionate advocates for systemic change, influencing public policy, and raising awareness of the critical issues surrounding youth homelessness. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe refuge and empower young people to build a brighter future founded on compassion, unconditional love, and absolute respect.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of countless young people. Join a team that inspires long-term transformation and hope.

About the role

As a member of the Permanent Supportive Housing Program, the Housing Navigator Specialist is responsible for the coordination lead of the Housing Navigation Program funded by HUD whose goal is to secure permanent housing through any city, federal or state vouchers for Covenant House youth or any referred youth from the continuum.  Reporting to the Rapid ReHousing Program Coordinator, the Housing Navigator Specialist is an energetic, creative, and diligent team member that will work closely with program staff across all sites that includes case managers, resident advisors and a cadre of specialty staff including mental health staff and employment/ educational specialist.

What you'll do

(Responsibilities to include but not limited to the following)

• Maintain a caseload of 20 young adults providing them with housing services that include aftercare services and developing individualized service plan toward permanent housing

• Aftercare support will include referrals to wrap around services such as mental health, medical, educational and employment and support around budgeting and rental payments

• Work closely with CHNY teams and externals providers in the continuum to ensure referrals and enrollment benchmarks are met

• Secure permanent housing for young adults utilizing Section 8, CityFHEPS, Federal, State or any other city issued vouchers to source apartments in the community

• Attend all COC HUD Navigator trainings and meetings internally and with external City and state agency partners

• Lead for technical assistance to program teams regarding voucher applications, processes and outcomes

• Lead in working with program teams around housing plan and housing search

• Escort youth to any housing related searches and/ or housing appointments as needed

• Lead liaison with working and building relationships with brokers and landlords; reviewing and signing of lease

• Conduct housing inspections, either in-person or virtually, as needed for CHNY youth

• Trained in utilizing CAPS, Soars and CHNY ETO systems and any other identified data system

• Provide program teams with information regarding preparation and submission of lease packet and benefits for which youth are eligible (e.g., Enhanced One Shot Deals); review lease packets as needed

• Maintain internal tracking of all activities 

• Provide education on tenant rights, responsibilities, and housing processes.

• Coordinate apartment searches, interviews, and applications.

• Navigate rental subsidy and inspection processes.

• Secure move-in assistance and coordinate with landlords.

• Assist with landlord applications, broker fees, security vouchers, and moving expenses.

• Perform other duties as needed and assigned

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred

• Experience with youth and housing programs, including City FHEPS ,Section 8 voucher programs, and other city, state or federal vouchers strongly preferred

• Excellent written, oral and reading skills required

• Ability to be entrepreneurial and pro-active, and an interest in helping to co-create new programs, systems and processes required

• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience working directly with young people through approaches that emphasize resiliency, strength based youth development, and trauma informed care required.

• Strong multi-tasking skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects at once required.

• A strong focus on child protection and ensuring the safety of residents required.

• Experience working with diverse groups required.

• Overall flexibility in work schedule required, including weekends, evenings and holidays as needed.

• Strong leadership/management skills and an upbeat, energetic demeanor required.

• Dedicated to the mission of Covenant House.

Benefits

Covenant House New York offers a rich package of benefits, including but not limited to:

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• Life & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short-term and Long-term disability insurance 
• Eligibility for medical benefits begins on the date of hire
• PTO includes three weeks of vacation in the first year, ten holidays, 13 sick days, five personal days, and birthday days off
• 403b with employer contribution after 12 months