Displacement Prevention Navigator (Independent Contractor (Non-Employee)
Austin, TX
Contracted
Experienced
About El Buen Samaritano
For 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.
El Buen has partnered with Austin Housing’s Displacement Prevention Division to expand the Displacement Prevention Navigator Program. Work is managed by El Buen Samaritano pursuant to a contractual agreement with Austin Housing’s Displacement Prevention Division.
Opportunity Overview
El 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.
Scope
The 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 Responsibilities
Housing Stabilization & Navigation: Assessment, Referrals, and Follow up
Preference will be given to contractors who reside in, have lived in, or have demonstrated experience working in:
This 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 Apply
Submit 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 (grant-funded), with potential renewal
Estimated Level of Effort: Up to 40 hours per month
Location: El Buen Samaritano headquarters and community-based outreach in priority Austin neighborhoods
For 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.
El Buen has partnered with Austin Housing’s Displacement Prevention Division to expand the Displacement Prevention Navigator Program. Work is managed by El Buen Samaritano pursuant to a contractual agreement with Austin Housing’s Displacement Prevention Division.
Opportunity Overview
El 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.
Scope
The 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 Responsibilities
Housing Stabilization & Navigation: Assessment, Referrals, and Follow up
- Conduct culturally responsive housing stability assessments and displacement risk screening
- Provide trauma-informed, person-centered navigation that recognizes the impact of trauma and supports participant choice, dignity, and self-determination
- Provide cultural mediation and language access support, including interpretation/translation as needed, to reduce barriers and support successful system navigation
- Connect households to rental assistance, utilities assistance, home repair programs, legal aid, benefits, food access, health services, education, and workforce resources
- Provide warm referrals and structured follow-up until the case is resolved, the participant declines further contact, or the household becomes unreachable after documented attempts
- Track workflow status of applications and referrals and support households through completion whenever possible
- Document client encounters and outcomes in designated data systems
- Follow 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 stabilization
- Support workflow processes and escalate urgent or complex cases consistent with program protocols and supervisor guidance
- Within 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 channel
- Maintain 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
- Lead at least one Community Resource Fair during the contract term
- Participate in outreach events in priority neighborhoods
- Build awareness of displacement prevention resources through proactive community engagement
- Represent El Buen with professionalism in community settings and support culturally grounded outreach that builds trust and reduces barriers to access
- Participate 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
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation to support program reporting and audit readiness
- Submit 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 improvement
- Participate in evaluation and quality improvement activities as requested, including data integrity checks and process improvements
- Protect client confidentiality and use only El Buen-approved tools and systems
- Complete 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 quality
- Participate in ongoing learning opportunities
Preference will be given to contractors who reside in, have lived in, or have demonstrated experience working in:
- Dove Springs (78744, 78745)
- Montopolis (78741)
- Colony Park / Eastern Crescent (78723, 78724)
- Project Connect Transit Corridors (78702, 78721, 78722)
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Minimum two (2) years facilitating referrals to community resources for families with limited financial, healthcare, or housing stability needs
- Bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish required
- Certification as a Community Health Worker (CHW) OR must obtain CHW certification within six (6) months of contract start
- Demonstrated ability to engage participants with empathy and cultural responsiveness and to provide trauma-informed, person-centered support
- Experience in social services, essential needs, health navigation, or housing stabilization
- Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to manage multiple cases, follow-up timelines, and documentation deadlines
- Strong documentation and organizational skills including ability to use data collection systems to track assessments, encounters, referrals, and outcomes
- Ability to use data systems (e.g., Apricot, Salesforce, or similar) to track assessments, referrals, and outcomes
- Ability to work under pressure and maintain professionalism when assisting participants in crisis
- Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings/weekends
- Valid Texas driver’s license and reliable transportation
- Insurable based on driving record (as applicable to program requirements)
- Motivational interviewing or client-centered counseling experience
- Experience 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 resolution
- Experience in nonprofit, public health, or community-based settings
- Experience with housing stabilization, displacement prevention, eviction prevention, rental assistance, and/or benefits navigation
- Commitment to Quality: Maintains accuracy, thoroughness, and compassion in service interactions and documentation
- Client and Community Focus: Demonstrates cultural humility, empathy, and participant-centered engagement aligned with El Buen’s mission
- Professionalism and Ethical Conduct: Adheres to confidentiality, safeguarding, and accountability expectations
- Communication Skills: Communicates clearly and sensitively across cultural contexts; provides cultural mediation as needed
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Coordinates respectfully with staff and partners to support warm handoffs and shared problem-solving
- Continuous Learning and Growth: Participates in CHW training and continuing education that strengthens trauma-informed, culturally grounded practice
- Judgment, Risk Awareness, and Escalation: Identifies urgent housing risks and follows same-day escalation protocols
This 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 Apply
Submit 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 (grant-funded), with potential renewal
Estimated Level of Effort: Up to 40 hours per month
Location: El Buen Samaritano headquarters and community-based outreach in priority Austin neighborhoods
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