Workforce & Housing Navigator
Lake Elsinore, CA
Full Time
Experienced
The Happier Life Project (THLP)
Position: Workforce & Housing Navigator
Location: On-site & Field-Based – Lake Elsinore, CA
Status: Non-exempt
Schedule: Full-Time, (Flexible; evenings/weekends as needed)
Compensation: $24.00 - $30.00 per hour, DOE
Reports To: Reentry Program Manager
About The Happier Life Project (THLP)
The Happier Life Project is a recovery community organization dedicated to supporting diverse communities in their journey toward healing and recovery. Our mission is to empower individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use issues, and mental health challenges. Through peer-led recovery support, education, and advocacy, we work to reduce stigma, shift perspectives, and create a future where recovery is normalized, valued, and embraced as a transformative journey.
Position Overview
The Workforce & Housing Navigator plays a key role in The Happier Life Project’s Community Reentry Initiative, supporting justice-involved individuals as they transition from incarceration to stable housing, employment, and community reintegration.
This position provides individualized, trauma-informed, and participant-centered support across THLP’s full housing and service continuum, including recovery residences, peer-run respite, transitional housing, community partner placements, and Housing First–aligned options when appropriate.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary, peer-led reentry team, the Navigator supports participants in securing housing, accessing employment pathways, reducing reentry barriers, and achieving long-term stability in alignment with Adult Reentry Grant (ARG) outcomes and BSCC requirements.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a compassionate, organized, and solutions-oriented professional who is deeply committed to supporting justice-involved individuals in rebuilding stability, dignity, and opportunity.
This individual brings a balance of lived or professional experience, strong community knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex housing and employment systems while maintaining clear boundaries, documentation standards, and accountability.
The successful candidate is comfortable working in the field, adapting to changing participant needs, collaborating across teams, and supporting participants through barriers related to housing access, employment, and reentry transitions.
Role Boundaries
This position is a direct service and coordination role. The Workforce & Housing Navigator does not function as a house manager, disciplinary authority, or final decision-maker regarding safety determinations, exits, or grant compliance. Accountability for grant reporting, audits, and final program decisions remains with THLP management
Key Responsibilities
Housing Navigation & Stabilization
Workforce Development & Employment Support
Reentry Coordination & Community Integration
Documentation, Data & Quality Assurance
Professional Practice & Organizational Alignment
Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Core Competencies
Cultural Competency
Benefits
The Happier Life Project is a healing-centered, peer-led organization committed to staff wellness, growth opportunities, and culturally grounded leadership development.
Funding & Continuation Statement
This is a grant-funded position with an initial term. Continuation beyond the initial funding period is anticipated and actively planned, contingent upon funding renewal, program performance, and organizational growth.
Employment is at-will.
Equal Opportunity & Accessibility
The Happier Life Project is an equal opportunity employer and values lived experience and inclusion. We are committed to providing equitable access to employment and reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees, consistent with California and federal law.
Fair Chance Act Notice
The Happier Life Project complies with the California Fair Chance Act and considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with state law.
Position: Workforce & Housing Navigator
Location: On-site & Field-Based – Lake Elsinore, CA
Status: Non-exempt
Schedule: Full-Time, (Flexible; evenings/weekends as needed)
Compensation: $24.00 - $30.00 per hour, DOE
Reports To: Reentry Program Manager
About The Happier Life Project (THLP) The Happier Life Project is a recovery community organization dedicated to supporting diverse communities in their journey toward healing and recovery. Our mission is to empower individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use issues, and mental health challenges. Through peer-led recovery support, education, and advocacy, we work to reduce stigma, shift perspectives, and create a future where recovery is normalized, valued, and embraced as a transformative journey.
Position Overview
The Workforce & Housing Navigator plays a key role in The Happier Life Project’s Community Reentry Initiative, supporting justice-involved individuals as they transition from incarceration to stable housing, employment, and community reintegration.
This position provides individualized, trauma-informed, and participant-centered support across THLP’s full housing and service continuum, including recovery residences, peer-run respite, transitional housing, community partner placements, and Housing First–aligned options when appropriate.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary, peer-led reentry team, the Navigator supports participants in securing housing, accessing employment pathways, reducing reentry barriers, and achieving long-term stability in alignment with Adult Reentry Grant (ARG) outcomes and BSCC requirements.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a compassionate, organized, and solutions-oriented professional who is deeply committed to supporting justice-involved individuals in rebuilding stability, dignity, and opportunity.
This individual brings a balance of lived or professional experience, strong community knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex housing and employment systems while maintaining clear boundaries, documentation standards, and accountability.
The successful candidate is comfortable working in the field, adapting to changing participant needs, collaborating across teams, and supporting participants through barriers related to housing access, employment, and reentry transitions.
Role Boundaries
This position is a direct service and coordination role. The Workforce & Housing Navigator does not function as a house manager, disciplinary authority, or final decision-maker regarding safety determinations, exits, or grant compliance. Accountability for grant reporting, audits, and final program decisions remains with THLP management
Key Responsibilities
Housing Navigation & Stabilization
- Conduct comprehensive housing assessments to identify participant needs, preferences, and readiness.
- Support housing placements across THLP-operated and partner housing options, including recovery residences, peer-run respite, transitional housing, supportive housing, and Housing First–aligned placements when appropriate.
- Coordinate rental assistance, move-in costs, utilities, and housing-related supports as allowable under ARG.
- Collaborate with housing staff, peers, and community partners to ensure safe and stable placements.
- Provide tenancy stabilization support and assist participants with transitions between housing models as needs evolve.
Workforce Development & Employment Support
- Provide individualized workforce navigation, including job readiness, career exploration, and goal setting.
- Assist participants with resume development, interview preparation, and job search strategies.
- Coordinate transportation support for employment-related activities.
- Facilitate connections to employers, job fairs, hiring events, and workforce partners.
- Support participants in addressing employment barriers related to justice involvement.
Reentry Coordination & Community Integration
- Support warm handoff and engagement following release from incarceration.
- Assist participants with parole and probation reporting and compliance, as appropriate.
- Coordinate with THLP program teams and community partners to address reentry barriers holistically.
Documentation, Data & Quality Assurance
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all services provided.
- Ensure data collection supports ARG performance measures, quarterly BSCC reporting, and audits.
- Participate in case reviews, supervision, trainings, and quality improvement activities.
- Adhere to THLP policies, confidentiality standards, and BSCC requirements.
Professional Practice & Organizational Alignment
- Deliver services using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and participant-centered practices.
- Uphold ethical boundaries and professional standards.
- Model THLP’s mission, core values, and peer-led philosophy.
- Support cross-program collaboration to strengthen THLP’s reentry ecosystem.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of THLP’s mission.
Required Qualifications
- Associate’s degree in human services, social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field (Bachelor’s preferred).
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience providing direct services in reentry, workforce development, or housing navigation.
- Knowledge of housing systems, rental assistance programs, and employment resources.
- Experience working with justice-involved populations.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage caseloads, and prioritize tasks.
- Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and insurance.
- Ability to lift up to 30 lbs and work flexible hours as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, criminal justice, or a related field
- Lived experience with justice involvement, recovery, or system navigation (highly valued)
- Experience working with BSCC-funded programs or similar state/federally funded grants
- Familiarity with Housing First principles, recovery housing models, and reentry best practices
- Experience coordinating with probation, parole, workforce boards, or housing authorities
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
- Experience using case management systems and grant-required data platforms
Core Competencies
- Trauma-informed and healing-centered service delivery
- Housing navigation and tenancy stabilization
- Workforce development and employment coaching
- Reentry systems navigation and coordination
- Professional boundaries and ethical practice
- Documentation accuracy and compliance awareness
- Collaboration across multidisciplinary and peer-led teams
- Problem-solving, adaptability, and participant advocacy
Cultural Competency - Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency and sensitivity to the needs of diverse populations.
- Experience working alongside Latino, Indigenous, Native American, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, justice-involved, and low-income communities from a trauma- and healing-informed lens.
Benefits
The Happier Life Project is a healing-centered, peer-led organization committed to staff wellness, growth opportunities, and culturally grounded leadership development.
- Vacation, Sick Leave & 13 Paid Holidays
- Health, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance
- Retirement & FSA
Funding & Continuation Statement
This is a grant-funded position with an initial term. Continuation beyond the initial funding period is anticipated and actively planned, contingent upon funding renewal, program performance, and organizational growth.
Employment is at-will.
Equal Opportunity & Accessibility
The Happier Life Project is an equal opportunity employer and values lived experience and inclusion. We are committed to providing equitable access to employment and reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees, consistent with California and federal law.
Fair Chance Act Notice
The Happier Life Project complies with the California Fair Chance Act and considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with state law.
Apply for this position
Required*