POSITION: Housing Specialist

REPORTS TO: Executive Director of Residential Services

CLASSIFICATION: Full Time

STATUS: Salaried Non-Exempt

General Description: The Housing Specialist provides assistance, information and support to participants throughout the residential programs in an effort to find safe, appropriate housing of participants’ choice, using subsidies and/or other available resources to maintain residential stability. The Housing Specialist promotes participants’ self-sufficiency, integration in the community and permanency in housing.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

· Assesses participants' eligibility in determining their housing and service needs.

· Identifies and seeks to eliminate housing barriers including performing budget counseling.

· Assists participants with the search for available properties and negotiating terms on behalf of participant.

· Collaborates with government agencies, community organizations and property owners.

· Develops, cultivates and maintains housing resources which includes establishing relationships with landlords and brokers.

· Ensures that participants understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

· Investigates and resolves client and landlord issues.

· Provides information and refers participants to additional support programs or services.

· Transports participants as deemed necessary, including but not limited to open

· houses/apartment viewings and/or lease signings.

· Prepares and maintains daily logs, records, activity documentation and reports and issues residency letters, as needed.

· Understands and adheres to program rules and restrictions.

· Manages a caseload that consists of participants from multiple sites/different boroughs.

· Conducts weekly site visits to program sites, meeting with the identified participants and property managers.

· Hosts on-site housing-ready workshops.

· Assists with the closure of cases.

· Completes pro-active follow up home visits to ensure stability and further progress towards self-sufficiency; this includes support, advocacy, reducing isolation, listening, problem solving and identification of resources to assist with reintegration of participants in the community.

Education:

· Bachelor’s Degree in a human services, social work or related field.

· Minimum of 3-years' experience as a Housing Specialist with homeless and/or underserved populations.

Skills & Abilities:

· Knowledge and belief in the “Housing First” philosophy and strategies.

· Knowledgeable about the New York City housing market, entitlement programs, social service agencies and community services, including current housing subsidies and public benefits programs.

· Knowledge of regulatory standards and property management.

· Good communication, interpersonal and listening skills.

· Strong analytical, mediating and negotiation skills.

· Excellent organizational and case management skills with ability to manage multiple caseloads from different sites.

· Sensitive to intersectionality, different cultures, housing equality and a demonstrated ability to work within a social/racial justice framework.

· Creative thinker/adaptive personality.

· Commitment to empowering others to solve their own problems.

· Conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.

· Ability to establish and set appropriate limits with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence.

· Ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers or professionals.

· Capacity to maintain a role to empower participants and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.

· Bilingual preferred.

· Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word and Excel).

· Knowledge of Foothold Technology/AWARDS software system a plus.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $47,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Bronx, NY 10474: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person