Housing Navigator at Tulsa Community Foundation – Tulsa, Oklahoma

About the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium

Tulsa is home to the only higher education consortium of its kind in the state of Oklahoma. The Tulsa Higher Education Consortium (THE Consortium) is an organization of multi-institutional, cross-sector partnerships that meaningfully improve students’ journeys towards degree completion, professional independence, and economic mobility. Its members include nine Tulsa-area colleges and universities (College of Muscogee Nation, Langston University, Northeastern State University, OSU-Tulsa, OU-Tulsa, Rogers State University, Tulsa Community College, University of Tulsa, and Southern Nazarene University-Tulsa) and seven affiliate partners (Tulsa Community Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, the City of Tulsa, the Tulsa Regional Chamber, ImpactTulsa, The Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce, and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education). The Tulsa Higher Education Consortium’s mission is to advance student learning, improve student success, achieve equity in outcomes, and meet workforce needs by working collaboratively to increase higher education opportunities in the region. THE Consortium serves as a convener, connector, and communicator for its members, allowing for synergy and true collaboration centered around supporting Tulsa-area students on their postsecondary journeys. More information about THE Consortium can be found at www.tulsahighered.com .

Job Summary: The Housing Navigator position is a grant-funded position that will support students experiencing homelessness and housing instability to connect to on-campus and community-based resources, and access temporary or permanent housing in Tulsa. The Housing Navigator will also lead a Housing Community of Practice in order to educate and develop innovative support for students experiencing homelessness. The Housing Navigator works directly with young adult students (ages 18-25) to help link them with community resources and services to successfully transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct intake with college students (clients) experiencing homelessness to collect necessary data through vulnerability assessments, life skills assessments, interviews, case histories and observation to assure appropriate navigation to needed resources; work with college and university staff to identify campus resources available to students.
• Provide individualized case management services to build on strengths and meet the needs of clients and self-monitor quantity and quality of services provided to clients.
• Develop and maintain contacts in the community to assure broad-based awareness of resource programs available to assist students with mental and medical health, social, legal and economic needs. Working directly with other housing providers, and actively participating in community wide efforts to end homelessness (i.e. – A Way Home for Tulsa, Housing Solutions, and affiliates)
• Provide clients and parent(s)/caregiver(s) with information, educational materials, and direct referrals necessary to connect them with a wide variety of local and state resources to assist with their issue(s); provide follow up to determine and report quantity and quality of service provided to referred clients.
• Enter and maintain timely, accurate and complete data into THE Consortium and records and external databases (Homeless Management Information System) regarding pertinent demographic information.
• Participate actively in program meetings, and other program activities offering information, insight and suggestions relevant to the program/THE Consortium quality and improved services.
• Perform a wide variety of administrative functions as required to assure that program services are implemented in a manner that demonstrates quality and discretion.
• Demonstrate the highest levels of customer service orientation and welcoming acceptance for all clients, visitors and staff to assure that the behavior modeled as a THE Consortium representative is congruent with the organization’s mission and values.
• Maintain statistical, financial, and narrative reports on a monthly basis.
• Lead and facilitate Housing Community of Practice made up of higher education employees and community partners.
• Increase linkages between post-secondary education systems and services for students experiencing homelessness
• Assist students in their housing search, including applying for apartments, negotiating with potential landlords, making referrals to clearinghouses or other housing location services, and accompanying participants to apartment viewings as needed
• Assist students with housing applications including preparing/obtaining any needed documentation and tracking application status
• Advocate on behalf of students to expedite their access to housing
• Perform outreach services and attends collaborative meetings and networks with other agencies and coalitions

Minimum Qualifications:

• Proficient in record keepings including tracking, maintaining, and reporting statistics according to program guidelines and requirements.
• Strong project management skills with ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks/deadlines.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking and serving as a meeting leader and facilitator.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Database experience (Homeless Management Information System) strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with HUD programs and Tulsa Housing Solutions
• Leasing, property management, or other housing-related experience
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with many groups of people
• Experience working with K12 and/or higher education institutions
• Outstanding ability to lead and drive change, including influencing and motivating others through relationship building.
• Service minded with strong desire to work with THE Consortium members and community partners to provide responsive, respectful customer service.
• Ability to work efficiently and successfully with minimum supervision.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities, specifically in the mental health and/or chemical dependency field.

Educational Requirements

• Associates or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Some relevant work experience in similar non-profit, education, or community development organizations.

Physical and Logistics Requirements

• Position requires sitting, or standing, and working with a computer for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to travel independently between multiple work sites within a day.
• Some travel required, occasional overnight travel.
• Must maintain a valid driver license and auto insurance.

Hours and Location

• This position is primarily 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break.
• Attendance of occasional evening community events may be required.
• This position includes a mix of virtual and in-person work settings due to regular site and campus visits, in-person, hybrid, and virtual meetings.
• This is a 2-year grant funded position

Salary Range: $45,000-$52,000 based on qualifications and experience

About our Benefits

As part of our overall compensation package, we offer work/life flexibility, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and a generous retirement contributions designed to support you and your family.

Details:

100% employer paid medical, dental, and long-term disability for full-time employees only. Option to add vision and dependents.

401K employee and employer contributions.

Paid time off to support you while you are out of the office.

Paid holidays so our employees can spend time with those they care about

Employer paid AD&D life insurance, with employee options to add supplemental life insurance.