Housing Specialist (45025)

SUMMARY

Managing and directing a comprehensive program of support, safety and success for residents that include housing, counseling, benefit entitlements, program placement, health and educational programs and comprehensive case management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct fieldwork to outreach and to identify new housing resources.

• Develop and maintain linkages with brokers, landlords, real estate companies, and management offices that lead to housing placements.

• Facilitate appointments and accompany residents to apartment viewings. This may include utilizing public transportation to and from appointments.

• Conduct housing inspections and complete/collect pre-clearance forms for clients who have been approved for apartments.

• Work with brokers/landlords to obtain required documentation for completion of subsidy packages.

• Meet residents regularly (biweekly, monthly, etc.) to assess, update, and schedule housing viewing opportunities.

• Maintain up-to-date housing case notes based on meeting with residents regularly. All notes should get entered into CARES/HOME.

• Assist clients with completing housing applications through NYC Housing Connect and other identified application portals.

• Work closely with social service team, DHS and HRA to expedite placements and make recommendations for successful moves.

• Assist the Director of Social Services and Shelter Director to ensure performance objectives, including placements goals for the number of residents rehoused, are met.

• Work with all DHS and HRA staff to ensure client housing needs are being addressed in a timely and thoughtful manner.

• Responsible for completion and submission of HRA-2010E applications.

• Coordinating housing contracts, referrals and follow-up to service providers including, but not limited to DHS.

• Adhere to DHS timeframes for permanent housing placements.

• Attend required DHS meetings.

• Having flexible work hours to meet the needs of the clients (ex. Working at least two late nights or more if needed).

• Conduct workshops for residents on the housing search, application, and interview process on an as needed basis.

• Teach the residents how to advocate for themselves when seeking permanent housing in the community.

• Coordinate quarterly workshops for landlords/brokers on housing subsidies changes as needed.

• Assist with resident move outs which includes lifting, loading and unloading residents’ property.

• Assist with shelter audit and compliance including preparing for State, City and other inspections (DHS, OTDA and Callahan).

Qualifications

• Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree preferred. Two (2) plus years’ experience working as a housing Specialist. Working with housing vouchers and entitlements. Two (2) plus years’ experience working with mentally ill, medically frail or homeless population. Exceptional knowledge of regional housing, supportive housing, Section 8 and other rental assistance programs.

• Skills: Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Strong PC skills including Word & Excel. Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred.