The Bridge offers supportive housing and behavioral health services to vulnerable New Yorkers facing behavioral health and substance use challenges. We provide individuals with the tools they need to pursue their dreams and live meaningful lives. The Bridge envisions a world where adults experiencing serious mental illness can live and thrive within their communities. As a recognized leader in developing and operating supportive housing and community-based programs, The Bridge has 70 years of experience helping New Yorkers with mental illness, including those affected by homelessness, incarceration, and institutionalization.

Scope of Position: The Neighborhood Navigator role is designed for individuals with lived and shared experiences, providing them with the opportunity to work in focus neighborhoods such as Lower East Side (LES)/Chinatown, Central/East Harlem, Chelsea/Hell's Kitchen/Midtown West, and Washington Heights/Inwood. As part of the program, Neighborhood Navigators will engage with individuals who are living or spending time on the streets, often struggling with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Navigators will build trust and relationships within these communities, helping to direct participants toward long-term care and support, ultimately preventing potential involvement with the justice system. Over time, with established trust, Navigators will provide critical linkages to behavioral health care, housing, and other necessary services, playing a key role in supporting individuals toward recovery and stability.

Essential Position Functions:

• Conduct outreach throughout the designated neighborhood, including streets, soup kitchens, drop-in centers, parks, and other places where individuals experiencing homelessness may frequent.
• Engage individuals encountered in outreach areas or referred by partner agencies.
• Complete Immediate Needs Assessments to identify areas where the participant requires assistance or support.
• Provide intensive emotional and practical support as participants take initial steps toward change.
• Build collaborative and trusting relationships with community-based organizations to help participants connect or reconnect with services and support.
• Connect participants with service providers to address needs such as behavioral health treatment, substance use treatment, primary healthcare, entitlements, housing, etc.
• Accompany participants to initial appointments to address barriers and ensure meaningful connections are made.
• Advocate for program participants to achieve personal goals and navigate barriers such as fear, stigma, and communication challenges with community providers.
• Attend and actively participate in training, team meetings, and supervisory sessions.
• Develop short-term, person-centered treatment plans to help participants achieve their goals.
• Perform ongoing needs assessments to ensure continuous community integration and support.
• Monitor and document participants' progress, adjusting plans as needed to reflect their needs and preferences.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of participant information in the electronic health record.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent, or higher.
• New York State Certified Peer Specialist, Certified Recovery Coach/Peer Advocate, or Certified Recovery Coach preferred.
• Experience providing advocacy services to individuals with behavioral health diagnoses (mental illness and/or substance use).
• Experience working with individuals who have experienced homelessness or have been involved or impacted by the legal-justice system.
• Willingness to travel by public transportation through Manhattan; field-based work required. 
• Passion for working in the community.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use personal story and role model recovery to promote personal growth and empowerment.
• Knowledge of resources within communities of focus.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and seek assistance when needed.
• Strong ability to collaborate within a team to work toward shared goals and accomplish tasks.
• Serve as a role model to participants, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to engage with all community stakeholders (participants, families, network, government staff, law enforcement) in a caring, respectful manner, considering cultural differences.
• Capability to manage an ongoing caseload effectively.
• Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs relevant to participants and their families.
• Familiarity with techniques for identifying risk, including crisis management strategies.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

The Bridge Inc. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer