Displacement Prevention Navigator (Independent Contractor (Non-Employee)

About El Buen SamaritanoFor over 35 years, El Buen Samaritano (El Buen) has been a trusted community resource for Latino and immigrant families in Central Texas. Serving more than 30,000 individuals annually through culturally relevant food access, health literacy, education, and economic mobility programming, El Buen is a welcoming space where families grow into their own power and unleash their potential.Austin Housing (City of Austin) creates and preserves housing opportunities to stabilize communities. Austin Housing has partnered with El Buen Samaritano to implement the Displacement Prevention Navigator Program and manage recruitment, training, and support of Navigators helping residents in neighborhoods at-risk of displacement.Opportunity OverviewEl Buen seeks a community-based Independent Contractor to serve as a Displacement Prevention Navigator. The Navigator provides frontline housing stabilization support to households at risk of displacement through proactive engagement, culturally responsive intake and assessment, navigation to resources, documentation, timely triage and escalation of urgent housing risk, and structured follow-up.This is a flexible, community-facing contract ideal for individuals with strong neighborhood ties, lived experience, or established trust in communities experiencing high displacement risk.The Displacement Prevention Navigator functions as a housing-focused Community Health Worker (CHW) within El Buen's Community Health Worker model and provides culturally and linguistically appropriate navigation, outreach, assessment, referral, and follow-up grounded in trauma-informed, person-centered practice.ScopeThe Navigator provides housing stabilization navigation and referrals while connecting participants to El Buen and partner resources (health, food access, education, and economic supports). The Navigator works collaboratively with staff and community partners to strengthen participant outcomes and contributes to data collection and reporting aligned with program requirements.Key ResponsibilitiesHousing Stabilization & Navigation: Assessment, Referrals, and Follow upConduct culturally responsive housing stability assessments and displacement risk screeningProvide trauma-informed, person-centered navigation that recognizes the impact of trauma and supports participant choice, dignity, and self-determinationProvide cultural mediation and language access support, including interpretation/translation as needed, to reduce barriers and support successful system navigationConnect households to rental assistance, utilities assistance, home repair programs, legal aid, benefits, food access, health services, education, and workforce resourcesProvide warm referrals and structured follow-up until the case is resolved, the participant declines further contact, or the household becomes unreachable after documented attemptsTrack workflow status of applications and referrals and support households through completion whenever possibleDocument client encounters and outcomes in designated data systems Program Coordination: Triage, Escalation, and Risk AwarenessFollow same-day escalation protocols to the Contract Manager (or designee) for urgent housing risks, including eviction notice or filing, imminent lockout, utility disconnect notice with imminent shutoff, unsafe housing conditions posing immediate health or safety risk, domestic violence or safety concerns impacting housing stability, and heightened vulnerability requiring immediate stabilizationSupport workflow processes and escalate urgent or complex cases consistent with program protocols and supervisor guidanceWithin 24 hours of identifying urgent risk, documenting the risk indicator, actions taken, and recommended next steps in the designated system and notify the Contract Manager through the agreed communication channelMaintain organized case records consistent with program documentation standards to support compliance and audit readiness Within 24 hours of identifying urgent risk, document the risk indicator, actions taken, and recommended next steps in the designated system and notify the Contract Manager through the agreed communication channel Community Outreach & EngagementLead at least one Community Resource Fair during the contract termParticipate in outreach events in priority neighborhoodsBuild awareness of displacement prevention resources through proactive community engagementRepresent El Buen with professionalism in community settings and support culturally grounded outreach that builds trust and reduces barriers to accessParticipate in at least two (2) outreach activities per month (event, tabling, partner meeting, canvass, or neighborhood activation), unless an alternate plan is approved by the Contract Manager based on program needs Evaluation & ReportingMaintain accurate and timely documentation to support program reporting and audit readinessSubmit monthly activity summaries (# of households/individuals served, intakes/assessments, closed-loop referrals, trends, barriers, and follow-up needs)Accurately collect and enter data aligned to program measures to demonstrate effectiveness and support continuous improvementParticipate in evaluation and quality improvement activities as requested, including data integrity checks and process improvementsProtect client confidentiality and use only El Buen-approved tools and systems TrainingComplete required onboarding and program orientation (within two weeks of contractual agreement signature.Complete Community Health Worker (CHW) certification training (if not already certified) El Buen will pay for certification.Maintain CHW certification in good standing (including continuing education/CEUs as required by the certifying body and applicable to the contractor's certification timeline)Engage in CHW learning that strengthens trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and equity-based practice and supports consistent navigation qualityParticipate in ongoing learning opportunities Priority NeighborhoodsPreference will be given to contractors who reside in, have lived in, or have demonstrated experience working in:Preference will be given to contractors who reside in, have lived in, or have demonstrated experience working in:Dove Springs (78744)Montopolis (78741)Colony Park (78724)Project Connect Transit Corridors (See map for full project area) QualificationsHigh school diploma or equivalent requiredMinimum two (2) years facilitating referrals to community resources for families with limited financial, healthcare, or housing stability needsBilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish requiredCertification as a Community Health Worker (CHW) OR must obtain CHW certification within six (6) months of contract startDemonstrated ability to engage participants with empathy and cultural responsiveness and to provide trauma-informed, person-centered supportExperience in social services, essential needs, health navigation, or housing stabilizationStrong organizational and time-management skills; able to manage multiple cases, follow-up timelines, and documentation deadlinesStrong documentation and organizational skills including ability to use data collection systems to track assessments, encounters, referrals, and outcomesAbility to use data systems (e.g., Apricot, Salesforce, or similar) to track assessments, referrals, and outcomesAbility to work under pressure and maintain professionalism when assisting participants in crisisAbility to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings/weekendsValid Texas driver's license and reliable transportationInsurable based on driving record (as applicable to program requirements) Preferred Motivational interviewing or client-centered counseling experienceExperience organizing or supporting community outreach events (resource fairs, tabling, canvassing, or neighborhood activations)Experience coordinating referrals with multiple partner agencies and documenting follow-up to resolutionExperience in nonprofit, public health, or community-based settingsExperience with housing stabilization, displacement prevention, eviction prevention, rental assistance, and/or benefits navigationCore Competencies (CHW I–Aligned)Commitment to Quality: Maintains accuracy, thoroughness, and compassion in service interactions and documentationClient and Community Focus: Demonstrates cultural humility, empathy, and participant-centered engagement aligned with El Buen's missionProfessionalism and Ethical Conduct: Adheres to confidentiality, safeguarding, and accountability expectationsCommunication Skills: Communicates clearly and sensitively across cultural contexts; provides cultural mediation as neededTeamwork and Collaboration: Coordinates respectfully with staff and partners to support warm handoffs and shared problem-solvingContinuous Learning and Growth: Participates in CHW training and continuing education that strengthens trauma-informed, culturally grounded practiceJudgment, Risk Awareness, and Escalation: Identifies urgent housing risks and follows same-day escalation protocols Contractor TermsThis is an independent contractor engagement, not an employment position. Contractors are responsible for their own taxes and benefits. Compensation will be based on an agreed hourly or monthly rate and is contingent on satisfactory completion of services and documentation.Background check and Safeguarding certification are required.To ApplySubmit a cover letter, resume and complete a brief statement of interest highlighting your connection to priority neighborhoods and experience supporting families at risk of housing instability.Posting will close on Friday, March 20, 2026.Term: 12 months, with potential renewalEstimated Level of Effort: Up to 40 hours per monthLocation: El Buen Samaritano headquarters and community-based outreach in priority Austin neighborhoodsPowered by JazzHR