Senior Housing Specialist

About the Role

The Senior Housing Specialist plays a lead role within Care For the Homeless’ Rapid Re‑Housing (RRH) program, a HUD Continuum of Care‑funded initiative serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness across all five New York City boroughs. The position delivers participant‑centered housing services—including unit identification, landlord engagement, lease‑up support, housing stability counseling, and crisis intervention—while serving as a resource and informal mentor to junior Housing Specialists. Work is conducted within a Housing First framework and must comply with HUD regulations, HMIS documentation standards, and CFH program policies.

Responsibilities

• Housing Search & Unit Procurement: Conduct proactive outreach to landlords, brokers, and property managers to build a pipeline of affordable, HUD‑eligible units; guide participants through viewings, applications, and negotiations; assess unit habitability for HUD Housing Quality Standards; facilitate lease‑up processes; maintain unit tracking tools for Stability Voucher/Section 8 pipelines.
• Participant Services & Case Coordination: Manage an active caseload, provide direct services aligned with individualized housing stability plans, conduct home visits and check‑ins, coordinate warm referrals for mental health, substance use, employment, and other supports; deliver counseling on financial literacy, tenant rights, and NYC rent‑stabilization regulations.
• HMIS Documentation & Compliance: Enter and maintain accurate data in Foothold AWARDS (HMIS) per HUD standards; complete intake assessments, housing plans, progress notes, move‑in/out records, and case closures; ensure electronic and physical files meet HUD interim rule and CFH confidentiality standards; assist with data quality reviews and audit preparation.
• Leadership & Team Support: Mentor Housing Specialists and Leasing Assistants on complex cases, landlord negotiations, and HUD compliance; support onboarding of new staff; participate in team meetings, case conferences, supervisory check‑ins, and trainings; assist the Director of CoC Programs with special projects and quality‑improvement initiatives; act as point of contact when primary Housing Specialist is unavailable.
• Community & Broker Relations: Represent the RRH program at community events, housing fairs, broker outreach, and stakeholder meetings; maintain positive relationships with landlord partners; stay current on NYC affordable‑housing policies, including Section 8/Stability Voucher changes, FHEPS, LINC, and other rental assistance programs.
• Other Duties: Perform related tasks as assigned to ensure efficient department operation.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, or a related field (preferred).
• Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of directly relevant experience in housing services, case management, or homeless services, with demonstrated unit procurement and landlord engagement; prior HUD CoC‑funded program experience strongly preferred; experience using Foothold AWARDS or another HMIS platform preferred.
• Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of HUD Housing First principles, RRH program requirements, and 24 CFR Part 578 regulations; familiarity with NYC affordable‑housing landscape, including Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers, Stability Vouchers, FHEPS, and other rental subsidy programs.
• Skills: Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building abilities; excellent organizational skills for managing a high‑volume caseload and documentation under deadlines; proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience with housing tracking tools or HMIS platforms preferred.
• Abilities: Sound judgment, professional boundaries, empathy, and confidentiality; ability to travel throughout the five boroughs for home visits, unit inspections, and outreach.

Pay

$85,000 – $90,000

Languages

Bilingual English/Spanish/French strongly preferred.