Benefits and Employment Navigator

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Assist Clients directly or on their behalf to facilitate access to benefits and services such as primary medical care, social services, housing, entitlements, and benefits; assist clients with any necessary paperwork, compiling eligibility documentation required by other service providers, and other tasks required to connect clients to needed servicesEngage in outreach efforts with clients including phone calls, emails, outreach letters, and home visits when clients miss an appointment. The VA Benefits and Employment Navigatoris a peer, with lived experience, who assists individuals experiencing homelessness to access mainstream benefits that they are eligible for; like job training, health insurance, Social Security Disability, food stamps, etc.

The VA Benefits and Employment Navigatoris a peer, with lived experience, who assists individuals experiencing homelessness to access mainstream benefits that they are eligible for; like job training, health insurance, Social Security Disability, food stamps, etc. Hiring preference will be given to Veterans. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Assist Clients directly or on their behalf to facilitate access to benefits and services such as primary medical care, social services, housing, entitlements, and benefits; assist clients with any necessary paperwork, compiling eligibility documentation required by other service providers, and other tasks required to connect clients to needed servicesEngage in outreach efforts with clients including phone calls, emails, outreach letters, and home visits when clients miss an appointment. Build rapport with current clients at the overnight shelter to build a caseloadTransport and support Clients with specific needs, mental health limitations, or other barriers to appointments or offices as needed to complete their applications for benefits and servicesEducate and monitor Clients on issues related to applying for benefits and servicesConnect with community resources to arrange job fairs, employment services, and job placement projectsWork collaboratively with case managers to receive referrals for advocacy services, and follow up with case managers about progress on goalsMaintain an up-to-date record of services as dictated by documentation standardsServe as a programmatic representative with outside agencies; conduct necessary outreach effortsCoordinate the provision of HIV and mental health treatment services with case managers and/or counselors of ClientsAttend all-staff meetings, supervision and mandatory trainingsParticipate actively in team efforts, as assignedSpecial Projects as assignedOther duties as assigned Specific Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Authentic interpersonal capacity for empathic understanding and nonjudgmental attitude when engaging with Clients with mental health problemsStrong knowledge of local resources and application processes for benefitsExperience applying for mainstream benefits successfullyExperience working with diverse communities, including LGBT, substance users and communities of color Reporting to this position: None