Housing Specialist

Compensation Range: $26/hr - $31.25/hr commensurate with experience 

Benefits:
We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.

Overview:

The Housing Specialist assists shelter residents in securing permanent housing and achieving successful exits from shelter through housing search, landlord engagement, subsidy utilization, and housing placement activities.

Responsibilities:

Primary:

• Secure permanent housing opportunities for shelter residents by assisting clients with CityFHEPS, Section 8, NYCHA, HASA, and supportive housing applications.

Secondary:

• Build and maintain landlord, broker, and housing provider partnerships, coordinate apartment viewings and housing packages.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

1. Achieve or exceed monthly permanent housing placement targets established by the agency and DHS scorecard.
2. Maintain timely and complete housing application packages, resulting in successful housing approvals and move-ins.

Other functions that may be needed with this position include:

• Conduct follow-up contacts with placed clients to promote housing stabilization and retention.
• Prepare housing placement reports and performance data for management review.
• Provide advocacy with government agencies, landlords, and community partners on behalf of clients.
• Coordinate with Case Managers and Social Services staff to address barriers to housing placement.
• Provide housing readiness, tenant education, and lease compliance guidance to clients.
• Develops and cultivates housing leads and resources with real estate brokers, private landlords, and management companies.
• Maintain accurate housing placement records, reports, and case notes in agency and DHS-required systems.
• Escort program clients to view apartments.
• Participate in client case conferences to discuss housing options and needs.
• Enthusiastically take part in advocacy and direct actions to end the twin crises of homelessness and HIV/AIDS.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED required, and a bachelor’s degree preferred.
• At least two years of work experience as a Housing Specialist for a non-profit organization.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Ability to work with the street homeless and formerly unhoused populations.

Job candidates should be aware that scammers may pose as employers and create fake job postings in order to extract personal information from individuals for financial gain. Housing Works will never ask job candidates for personal information, such as social security numbers or bank account details, over the phone. If you suspect that a job posting may be fake or wish to confirm that a job posting from Housing Works is genuine, please contact us at recruitment@housingworks.org

Housing Works was founded in 1990; With a long-term commitment to AIDS advocacy. Housing Works established New York State’s first harm reduction-based, OASAS-licensed outpatient drug treatment program. Other services include Health Home care management, behavioral health, and syringe exchange programs. A pioneer in the social entrepreneurship movement, Housing Works operates 10 high-end thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a much-loved Bookstore Cafe in Soho. For more information, visit www.housingworks.org

Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works’ New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (“RWDSU”). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a “CBA”) between Housing Works and the RWDSU

Salary : $26 - $31