Community Navigator / Community Navigator Lead

Impact Justice advances safety, justice, and opportunity through boundary-breaking work that honors and empowers people and is changing expectations about what we can accomplish together. We imagine, build, and scale innovations, leverage research and other knowledge to connect the desire for change with informed action, and work to shift the narrative so that decision-makers and the public understand what’s at stake and what’s possible.

We are a diverse and allied staff of reformers, transformers, abolitionists, and dreamers who bring a wide range of knowledge, skill, and life experience to the challenging work we undertake together. We’re committed to living our values and to creating the kinds of equitable and inclusive team environments internally that we fight to help create in our broader communities. This includes providing opportunities to all job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, criminal history, disability, or genetics. The organization strongly encourages people of color, individuals who identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer communities, and individuals impacted by the legal system to join the team. A majority of individuals on our current executive team identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ.

About the Homecoming Project

Using the sharing economy model, the Homecoming Project (THP) at Impact Justice (IJ) pairs individuals returning home from prison with welcoming community residents (hosts) who have a room in their homes to spare. The Homecoming Project pays each host a daily stipend for housing the participant for up to 6 months. And, THP participants are provided a community navigator that works to connect them to the resources, supports, and wraparound services necessary for community re-entry. This innovative reentry housing project began in the Bay Area in 2018 and to date has housed over 140 returning individuals into homes within the community. The Homecoming Project is currently in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and Los Angeles County.

Check us out here.

Who You Are

You have an orientation and belief that criminal justice involvement should not be an impediment to employment, career, and personal growth opportunities. You have experience working directly with vulnerable and marginalized populations.

That said, we know there are great candidates who may not think they fit into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that is you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself! And if you’re a formerly incarcerated individual, someone who has a family member who is or has been incarcerated, or otherwise have direct experience with the criminal legal or juvenile legal systems, we will be particularly excited to hear from you.

What You Will Do

The anticipated start date for this position is June 16, 2025. You will report to the Program Manager for The Center. You’ll be the owner of being the main point of contact for your caseload of active Homecoming Project participants returning to the community from prison, and your core responsibilities will be to:

• Case Management – manage a caseload of up to 25 participants including: tracking, recording, and updating participant notes; providing ongoing support including regular check-ins; maintaining progress notes; with participants, create individual reentry plans; coordinate wraparound supports.
• Interviewing and Matching – conduct participant assessments and matching (via teleconference or in-person); assist with compatibility meetings between people living in host homes and participants.
• Participant Accessibility– You will be accessible to participants via phone or text. This means being accessible during your working hours to participants; and supporting participants and hosts to resolve conflicts, as needed.
• Parole Agent Engagement – You will contact/engage with a participant’s assigned parole agent. This may include contacting agents to update on participant housing/reentry changes.
• Partnerships – You will research, network, and engage with potential referral/service provider organizations to provide warm-hand offs.

Additional Responsibilities for Lead

• Coverage– You will provide additional coverage when other Community Navigators are out of the office. This will require more flexibility/availability on the weekends/holidays, as needed.
• Training – You will train THP Community Navigators in Homecoming community navigation and case management processes.
• Review and Guidance – You will support other Community Navigators by reviewing their case notes, caseloads and overall professional guidance.
• Support – You will provide support to the Program Manager of The Center including: aiding in planning additional supportive services and training for The Center and the Homecoming Project.

Education / Experience Level

Successful candidates typically have at least three years of work experience in direct service with the reentry population or other marginalized communities.

Required Qualifications

1. Case management experience: Skilled in developing and managing independent case plans, writing clear case notes, and using case management systems. Experienced in making referrals, advocating for clients, supporting them through reentry, holding them accountable to goals, and maintaining confidentiality throughout.
2. Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal strengths, and rapport-building abilities. Experienced in motivational interviewing, networking, relationship-building, de-escalation, and conflict resolution.
3. Time Management: Proven ability to meet deadlines.
4. Computer Literate: Ability to use Google Suite and learn other information database systems, such as Salesforce, quickly.
5. Problem-solving: High level of critical/analytical/interpretive thinking and problem-solving skills.
6. Values-driven: Direct experience with the criminal justice system—personally or through family—is strongly valued. Alternatively, candidates should bring lived or professional experience working with justice-involved individuals or marginalized communities. We seek individuals whose commitment to our mission is rooted in real-world connection to the people we serve.
7. License and Vehicle: A valid Driver’s License with a clean and reliable vehicle, with current registration and proof of insurance.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Certifications: In Harm Reduction, Case Management, and/or Counseling
2. Professional Experience: Experience in the housing or human services, social work, psychology, or related field; or working in or with the reentry population.

Reentry Experience: Deep understanding of the transitional reentry process and the challenges faced by people returning from incarceration. Experience with rental housing programs serving formerly incarcerated individuals.