Housing Specialist
About the role
The Housing Specialist is responsible for all facets of client case management as it relates to a client’s search for and securing permanent housing. This individual assists clients in their search for and securing permanent housing, uses HPD incentives for Finders’ Fees to brokers and owners, develops contacts in the Bronx and other boroughs with not-for-profit and for-profit housing developers, ensures clients are familiar with NYCHA forms and procedures and other housing programs, articulates NYC Department of Homeless Services – Client Responsibility Procedures during Housing Intake, ensures clients sign the Permanent Housing Agreement Form within 10 days of arriving at Icahn House, maintains open-line communication with the Director of Social Services/Caseworkers, ensures completion and return of Apartment Review and/or Client Apartment Rejection Forms, articulates clients’ responsibility to visit/view two apartments per week with documentation, ensures housing applications are completed appropriately within 90 days of family eligibility for shelter services and forwarded to designated destination with a copy maintained in the case record, utilizes DHS CARES for intake assessments, service plans, housing, next step conferences/transfers, incident reports, progress notes, reviews accessible information from HRA, ACS, Probation, DHS, ensures timely updates in CARES, documents and follows up on housing appointments and permanent housing applications, verifies housing rejections with reasons, accompanies families on housing searches when appropriate, provides ongoing housing education through workshops and/or individual counseling, provides clients with a list of suitable available apartments consistent with domestic violence status (if applicable) and advises clients of their responsibility to seek additional apartments, meets or exceeds Housing Placement Goal set by NYC DHS, reviews DSS/APD housing placements and projected placements weekly, and completes required reports.