At Rocky Mountain Communities, we believe affordable housing is the foundation for upward mobility and community is what helps people flourish. For more than 30 years, we’ve provided a variety of resident services programming ranging from hosting in-house community events, to providing summer activities and after school programming, to partnering with local organizations for resident services and resources.
The resident services model in 2025 was Peer Support, a model originated in the context of addiction and recovery communities, where individuals with lived experience provided emotional and practical support to people going through similar challenges. This approach is grounded in the belief that shared experience fosters trust, empathy, and hope, which are critical for recovery. Over time, the concept expanded beyond addiction treatment into mental health and other social service settings.
In 2026 we are excited to introduce an important new Resident Services role: Community Navigator. This role is designed to meet residents where they are, offering practical support, community-based programming, and trusted guidance that helps residents access resources and stay connected to what they need most. We continue to highly value Community Navigator’s lived experiences as a basis for connection and report.
Why a Community Navigator—and why now?
Community Navigators are suitable for the environment RMC operates: large, long-term residential communities with diverse needs and varying levels of stability. Community Navigators are non-clinical, flexible, and community-oriented, which allows them to support all residents with an array of resources.
Navigators focus on practical, day-to-day needs like rental assistance, benefits access, food and clothing resources, youth and family support, and community engagement. Their role emphasizes prevention, connection, and accessibility, making it possible to reach hundreds of residents through workshops, events, resource coordination, outreach and early intervention. This model scales naturally across properties, aligns with RMC’s mission, and creates an equitable and sustainable way to serve the entire community.
What does a Community Navigator do?
Under the supervision of our Director of Resident Services, and in close collaboration with Property Management, the Community Navigator coordinates and delivers community-centered services that support:
- Housing stability
- Financial wellness
- Employment and education goals
- Food access
- Health and wellness resources
- Youth and family supports
- Connections to other community resources
This role blends one-on-one support with community-building programming because stability isn’t only about solving a problem in the moment. It’s also about feeling connected, informed, and supported over time.
What this role is—and what it is not
The Community Navigator is a non-clinical role focused on practical support, relationship-building, and community programming.
This role does not:
- Provide clinical care or therapy
- Diagnose, treat, or counsel residents
- Handle crisis situations directly
When residents have clinical, crisis, or therapeutic needs, Community Navigators help connect them to the right professionals and partner organizations. Clear boundaries help ensure residents receive appropriate support while maintaining safety and clarity for everyone involved.
At Rocky Mountain Communities, being a Community Navigator means showing up with consistency, listening with care, and helping residents take practical steps toward stability, while also creating moments of joy, belonging, and neighbor-to-neighbor connection. The role reflects what we believe to be true: housing stability is strongest when residents feel supported and connected. Community Navigators help residents not only remain housed but also feel rooted, empowered, and part of a community where they can thrive.
