Careers

Working at COVO means doing something about homelessness in Central Oregon. COVO’s SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) program focuses on Veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or are at high risk for homelessness. COVO's SSVF team provides real-time support, guidance and solutions to Veterans and their families.

Summary/Objective
The Housing Navigator assists homeless Veterans and their households in finding safe, affordable housing. This position includes community outreach and client support, focused on building relationships with landlords and property managers, and supporting clients in obtaining and keeping safe, stable housing. Responsible for increasing access to both private and public rental markets for Veterans moving from homelessness to permanent housing.

Key Aspects of the Role:

• Work closely with all members of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) team, as well as independent outreach and education efforts throughout the tri-county area (Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson counties).
• Works closely with the SSVF team in developing outreach strategies for engaging landlords
• Provide outreach and education to landlords, property managers and the general public regarding SSVF and other community resources while strengthening collaborations with partner organizations.
• Responsible for building relationships with landlords and create incentives for landlords to prioritize rental to Veterans experiencing homelessness who have barriers to accessing permanent housing.
• Maintain complete client records, daily activity logs, mileage logs, and other reports as directed.
• Maintain landlord relationships and assist to keep database on properties and landlord contacts current.
• Develop outreach materials and agreements with landlords that will provide rental units to help homeless clients access and maintain permanent housing.
• Act as a liaison and mediator for housing issues that may arise.
• Perform unit move-in and move-out inspections as needed.
• Meet with clients to assist with applications, housing search, or other support services.
• Maintain statistics and provide narrative reports monthly as required by the Program Manager.
• Collaborate with Case Managers with coordination of residential support services to ensure clients maintain permanent housing.
• Conduct tenant and landlord education trainings.

Tri- country travel is required for this position (Deschutes, Jefferson & Crook)

Experience and Qualifications of a Successful Housing Navigator:

• High School Diploma.
• Verifiable experience working with indigent and/or at-risk populations (can be a combination of internships, OJT and/or volunteer work).
• Ability to work effectively with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds and disciplines.
• Experience working with landlords and placing homeless households with barriers into permanent housing.
• Knowledge of Landlord/Tenant Laws and Fair Housing Regulations.
• Commitment to creating highly collaborative work environments with both internal and external partners.
• Understanding of the use, storage, and appropriate dissemination of highly confidential information.
• Must have an Oregon Driver's License and current motor vehicle insurance that suffices the Oregon Minimum Liability requirement

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Degree in a Human Service field of study (social work, counseling, psychology, or related field).
• Direct work in the field of veteran services

Being a part of the COVO team means:
Our community of care extends to homeless persons, residents, vendors, consumers, staff, outside agencies, and all people who enter our dwelling places. Thus, we work to avoid making assumptions and generalizations about people. We demonstrate and foster respect for cultural differences. We believe in our ability to listen and learn from one another.

COVO is a community 501 c3 non-profit serving Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties since 2005. COVO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, or any other protected class. 

Job type: Full-time

Pay: From $22.35 per hour

Benefits: Dental insurance, health insurance, paid time off and vision insurance

Work location: In person

If this seems like a good fit click here to email your resume to the HR team.

Working at COVO means doing something about homelessness in Central Oregon. COVO’s SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) program focuses on Veterans and their families who are experiencing homelessness or are at high risk for homelessness. COVO's SSVF team provides real-time support, guidance and solutions to Veterans and their families.

Summary/Objective
This position is responsible for acting as a liaison between the SSVF grantee and the VA or community medical clinic and works with a population of Veterans throughout the tri-county, with complex needs who require assistance accessing health care services or adhering to health care plans. The Health Navigator acts as an advocate for the client, integrating the Veteran’s cultural values into their care plan. The health care navigator assists the Veteran in identifying methods to monitor progress toward meeting health goals and provides ongoing follow-up.

Key Aspects of the Role:

• Work as part of the COVO team providing "client-centered services" with all COVO staff members.
• Ability to receive constructive feedback.
• Ability to communicate professionally, in a positive solution focused way.
• Ability to perform essential responsibilities in person.

• Develop a trusting and working relationship with the veteran/veteran’s household seeking help.
• Conduct non-clinical assessments of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others.
• Collaborate with the team and the Veteran to identify and address systems challenges for enhanced care coordination as needed.
• Act as main point of contact for connecting veterans to VSO for VA disability assessments.
• Maintain an understanding of the impacts and process of living transitions including transitioning to assisted living.
• Perform unit move-in and move-out inspections as needed.
• Assist veterans in communicating their preferences in care and personal health-related goals to facilitate shared decision-making of the Veteran’s care.
• Serve as a resource for education and support for Veterans and families and help identify appropriate and credible resources and support tailored to the needs and desires of the Veteran.
• Participate in the development of the Veteran’s care plan with emphasis on community services, outreach, and referrals needed for the Veteran.
• Obtain/Maintain OHP Assister ID. Enroll eligible clients into OHP.
• Provide case management for clients by identifying available resources, strengths, and supports that can support the goals in their individualized health plan, as well as any risk factors and unmet service needs.
• Regularly review care plan goals with the Veteran, conduct regular non-clinical barrier assessments, and provide resources and referrals needed to support adherence. Evaluate the effectiveness of resources and referrals provided and make appropriate modifications to ensure the provision of high-quality care and interventions.
• Maintain all required SSVF documentation in participants' confidential case records and enter all client information into the HMIS and Apricot databases in a timely and accurate fashion as outlined in the SSVF Policy Guide and COVO Policy Guide.
• Identify systemic barriers within the organization, communicate with organizational leadership about these barriers, and works collaboratively to find viable solutions.
• Attend Veterans events, Program Trainings, and any other relevant training opportunities, as assigned to keep current on needs, solutions, and barriers.
• Complete all necessary documentation to ensure compliance with funding requirements and agency quality assurance standards.
• Cultivate positive relationships with relevant funding and monitoring entities, faith-based organizations, social service providers, and other community partners. Participate in appropriate community collaborations.
• Interacts with all clients, staff, and Board with high ethics and accountability.
• Accountable to HIPAA standards for client privacy and confidentiality.
• Maintain a compressive understanding of all SSVF policies, practices, guidelines and actively participate in trainings.
• Actively participates in weekly all staff meetings and daily case manager meetings.
• Maintain a satisfactory driving record and acceptable vehicle insurance to transport donations, food boxes, meet with clients and deliveries of TFA checks, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Tri- country travel is required for this position (Deschutes, Jefferson & Crook) 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions.

Experience and Qualifications of a Successful Health Navigator:

• Bachelor’s degree in a Medical or Human Service field of study (social work, counseling, psychology, or related field) OR four or more years providing direct services to Veterans, preferred.
• Verifiable experience working with indigent and/or at-risk populations (can be a combination of internships, OJT, and/or volunteer work).
• Knowledge of community resources, specifically related to healthcare, in Central Oregon.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills including basic office programs and the ability to learn and utilize appropriate database programs.
• Ability to relate effectively and without judgment to diverse individuals.
• Commitment to creating highly collaborative work environments with both internal and external partners.
• Understanding of the use, storage, and appropriate dissemination of highly confidential information.
• Must have Oregon Driver's License and current motor vehicle insurance that suffices the Oregon Minimum Liability requirement.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience serving Veterans/Veteran families or homeless populations preferred
• Experience and knowledge of VA services and benefit programs preferred

Being a part of the COVO team means:
Our community of care extends to homeless persons, residents, vendors, consumers, staff, outside agencies, and all people who enter our dwelling places. Thus, we work to avoid making assumptions and generalizations about people. We demonstrate and foster respect for cultural differences. We believe in our ability to listen and learn from one another.

COVO is a community 501 c3 non-profit serving Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties since 2005. COVO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, or any other protected class. 

Job type: Full-time

Pay: From $23.44 per hour

Benefits: Dental insurance, health insurance, paid time off and vision insurance

Work location: In person

If this seems like a good fit click here to email your resume to the HR team.