Housing Specialist, Magnolia House Women’s Shelter

Who We Are: CAMBA is a community of staff, volunteers, clients, donors, neighbors and partners who work together to build an inclusive New York City, where all children and adults have access to the resources and supports, they need to thrive. We take a comprehensive approach by offering more than 180 integrated programs in: Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. We reach almost 80,000 individuals and families, including almost 13,000 youth. CAMBA serves a diverse cross section of New Yorkers from new mothers in Brownsville to job seekers in the Rockaways. More than half of our clients are immigrants and refugees from around the globe. Over 85% of our families are living in poverty, reflecting the challenges faced by nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers today.

CAMBA operates 6 single adult shelters and 6 family shelters and one drop in center. Each shelter offers clients a supportive, structured therapeutic, safe, and drug-free facility. Homeless (often mentally-ill and substance-abusing) men and women are provided with comprehensive services to stabilize their condition in order to successfully transition into to permanent and/or supported housing.

CAMBA’s Magnolia House is located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn serves 200 single women at any given time. The majority of these clients are diagnosed with mental illness, some dually with chemical addictions as well.

Position: Housing Specialist

Reports To: Case Manager Supervisor

Location: Brooklyn, NY

What The Housing Specialist Does

The person filling this position is expected, under general supervision, to: (1) immediately formulate a plan and prepare clients for permanent housing placement; (2) engage individuals requiring social service assistance; (3) interview and evaluate clients, formulate Independent Living Plans and goals; and (4) locate and refer to appropriate community resources for clients; including the following:

• Maintain professional relationships with clients and client confidentiality.
• Practice Universal Precautions/Standard Protocol & Procedures.
• Comply with any and all Federal, State, City and CAMBA security and privacy polices intended to protect the security and privacy of individually identifiable health information.
• Serve as a liaison with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, housing, social services, legal issues, etc.
• Assist clients in attaining their Housing related goals by identifying and referring clients to appropriate services both within and outside CAMBA.
• Conduct housing search efforts for each housing ready client referred (i.e., referrals to housing providers, contact landlords, search for apartment listings, etc.).
• Develop curriculum to address clients’ Housing and Independent Living related needs including, permanent housing search process and options.
• Develop and facilitate a series of Housing Workshops.
• Develop materials to be posted on a Bulletin Board that serves to provide relevant Housing related information.
• Provide individualized counseling on housing related topics.
• Organize and schedule presentations by supportive housing programs, local real estate experts and/or landlords.
• Provide housing related support, training and coordination with the other social services staff.
• Establish linkages with community-based organizations (i.e., supportive housing programs, DHS Housing Unit, etc.) and local landlords.
• Review all approved housing packages to determine appropriateness of housing providers.
• Escort clients to appointments (i.e., housing interviews, apartment move-ins, housing fairs, etc.)
• Ensure that quality housing placements are achieved via web-site checks (DOB, HPD) and all payments to landlord/utilities are up-to-date with apartment in move-in condition.
• Follow-up with clients for a period of time after move-out to assure client stability.
• Conduct initial intake and assessment of clients’ needs and periodic re-assessments.
• Create and maintain client electronic and paper files.
• Prepare initial psychosocial evaluation and update according to regulations.
• Obtain and maintain relevant documentation and release forms from clients (i.e., birth certificate, proof of income, medical documents, release of Personal Health Information, etc.).
• In collaboration with clients, conduct periodic revisions of independent living plans including short-term and long-term client goals.
• Assist clients in attaining their goals by identifying community resources and by referring clients to appropriate services both within and outside CAMBA (i.e., On-site medical services and psychiatric services, etc.).
• Work with clients to break through barriers to their goal(s) attainment.
• Assist clients in advocating for themselves in order to gain housing stability.
• Recommend and implement strategies to persuade clients to participate fully in the process in order to transition into permanent housing.
• Monitor clients' progress toward their goals via regularly scheduled face-to-face contacts/sessions.
• Document all client encounters via progress notes using DHS CARES Database and printout notes for client’s paper file.
• Ensure CARES Database is updated to reflect client request for services (i.e., car fare, appointments, passes, referrals, etc.).
• Follow-up with clients and with referral organizations regarding client contact and progress with referral organization.
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• May act as client liaison/client advocate with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, housing, legal issues, etc.
• May schedule appointments for clients with referral organizations.
• May assist clients in completing applications for benefits and entitlements and may process applications on clients' behalf.
• May prepare marketing materials for the program.
• Tasks may be modified, expanded and/or assigned over a period of time.
  
  

Education, Licenses And/or Certifications Required

• Bachelor's degree (e. g., B.A., B.S.W.) and/or equivalent experience.
  
  

Minimum Experiences And Skills Required

• May be required to become First Aid/CPR certified.
• May be required to become certified in overdose prevention.
• Bi-lingual preferred.
  
  

Pre And/or Post Employment Requirements

• TB test required
  
  

Compensation: $47,000-$51,500 annually

When salary ranges are listed, the range would represent the low and high end for the applicable position & program. The salary offered would be based on various factors unique to each program and candidate. This includes but is not limited to experience, education, budget and/or program size, internal equity, skills and other factors that may be required for the position and organization.

Status: Full-time (35 hours per week)

Benefits: CAMBA offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid time off (vacation, personal, and sick time), and paid holidays.

CAMBA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace. People of color, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are encouraged to apply. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, marital or veteran status, pregnancy status or sexual orientation.