Housing Specialist (Community Health Worker – Reentry Services)

A New Way of Life Reentry Project (ANWOL) promotes healing, power, and opportunity for formerly incarcerated people by taking a multifaceted approach to mitigating the effects of, and ultimately eliminating, mass incarceration. Since 1998, ANWOL has provided safe housing, workforce development, case management, pro bono legal services, family reunification support, leadership development, and community-based advocacy to help justice-impacted individuals rebuild their lives and thrive after incarceration.

Guided by our core values, we believe in building community, motivating, and centering all women. We recognize that every person has inherent value and holds the power of possibility and transformation within them. We advocate for public resources to be invested in opportunities for healing and growth rather than in prisons and punishment. We center the voices of formerly incarcerated people to lead solutions to the incarceration crisis. We understand that when one family member is incarcerated, the entire family is impacted and the healing process must include them all.

Our holistic approach addresses the interconnected barriers to successful reentry, including housing, employment, healing, and family restoration.

The Housing Specialist will join our Housing Department and play a vital role in supporting justice-impacted individuals as they transition back into the community. Rooted in dignity, safety, trust, and cultural humility, the Housing Specialist helps participants overcome barriers such as housing instability, employment, healthcare access, mental health needs, and legal challenges.

This role provides health navigation, social service referrals, and peer mentorship to empower participants on their journey to self-sufficiency. By fostering connection and stability, the Housing Specialist promotes healing and long-term success for formerly incarcerated individuals in Los Angeles County.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Engage and build trusting relationships with individuals recently released from incarceration or involved in the justice system.
• Provide peer support and mentorship to promote self-sufficiency, healing, and community integration.
• Conduct needs assessments and help clients develop individualized reentry and wellness plans.
• Connect participants to resources, including housing, health care, substance use treatment, mental health services, ID restoration, and employment opportunities.
• Assist with applications for benefits such as Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and housing programs.
• Accompany clients to critical appointments, including probation/parole check-ins, court hearings, and medical or behavioral health visits.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate peer support groups and life skills workshops.
• Collaborate with internal staff, legal advocates, clinicians, and community partners to provide wraparound support.
• Document all client interactions and track progress toward goals using agency-approved systems.
• Participate in outreach and education efforts inside jails, courts, and community-based settings.
• Represent the organization and advocate for reentry-informed practices at community meetings and events.

Qualifications Required:

• Lived experience with the criminal legal system strongly preferred.
• High school diploma or GED required; associate’s or bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 1–2 years’ experience working with reentry populations, peer navigation, or case management.
• Knowledge of Los Angeles County reentry services, public benefits, and social service systems.
• Ability to engage participants with empathy, accountability, and cultural humility.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Bilingual language skills are a plus (e.g., Spanish).
• Proficient in basic computer use, data entry, and mobile applications.
• Must have reliable transportation and the ability to travel throughout Los Angeles County.