Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Founded in 1980, Urban Resource Institute (URI) is the nation’s largest provider of domestic violence shelter and support services and a leading provider of housing and services for families experiencing homelessness. Across 24 shelters in New York City, URI provides safe housing for nearly 4,000 individuals and their pets every night and serves more than 40,000 people annually.

URI’s work is grounded in survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care. In addition to emergency and transitional housing, URI delivers a robust continuum of Justice Initiatives—including economic empowerment, legal education and advocacy, prevention and youth programming, and abusive partner intervention—designed to break cycles of violence, instability, and poverty. URI also develops permanent affordable and supportive housing, advancing long-term pathways to safety, healing, and stability for families and communities.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Case Manager provides housing search and supportive services to clients to promote self-sufficiency, integration into the community, and permanency in housing.  URI’s RRH Program uses a Housing First approach to help participants obtain and move into permanent housing by identifying appropriate housing quickly, offering flexible rental and other financial assistance related to housing, supporting participants to stabilize in housing, and connecting them to community and mainstream services and supports that can enable them to build on their strengths and meet their needs.  The RRH Case Manager will use a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach to the work with the primary focus of ending homelessness by assisting participants to obtain and maintain permanent housing.  The principal duties are performed both in a general office environment and in the field. 

Salary: $49,000 - $55,000

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct housing needs assessments to connect individuals and families impacted by domestic violence to appropriate permanent housing as quickly as possible. 
• Provide direct, client-driven case management services to help clients resolve or mitigate barriers to securing and maintaining permanent housing, such as rental arrears. 
• Assist with the recruitment of landlords, developers, real estate agents and brokers, and other community social service and housing providers, to identify appropriate apartments for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence.
• Educate landlords and other partners about RRH and its benefits and address potential barriers to landlord participation such as concern about tenant qualifications.
• Identify appropriate housing for program participants as quickly as possible. 
• Assist clients to develop client-driven goals, and housing, financial and self-sufficiency plans that are solution-focused and based on clients’ strengths. 
• Assist with the facilitation of educational workshops for clients on skills needed to acquire and maintain an apartment.
• Assist client with housing applications and act as a liaison to housing authorities and affordable housing programs. 
• Ensure the timely completion of housing packages and tracking of package submissions.
• Assist clients with rent and lease negotiations, and with basic needs at move-in, such as transportation and essential home supplies.
• Conduct apartment inspections to assess whether apartments are safe, sanitary and meet standards.
• Develop a network of community resources to help participants build a support system to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
• Refer clients to community resources, including but not limited to public benefits, healthcare, food supports, legal assistance, credit counseling, and subsidized childcare, to support housing stability and retention.
• Work with clients to identify pathways for increasing earned income after housing placement, including participation in employment support programs.
• Conduct client home visits or other field visits, where appropriate, to monitor progress of clients’ goals and resolve any issues that may lead to tenancy programs, such as disputes with landlords.
• Participate in training on housing identification, housing assistance programs, landlord tenant rights and responsibilities, and other core competencies. 
• Work with supervisor and team to achieve contract outcomes and goals.
• Maintain individual client files, including logs and outcome reports, to document all aspects of case management, assessments, and achievements for participants.
• Assist with reporting requirements, including the use of client file management and data collection systems.
• Engage in timely and accurate data entry into the data management system.
• Special projects and other duties as assigned.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES

• Bachelor’s degree required.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience working on poverty and homelessness issues. 
• Experience working with NYC’s housing programs and placing individuals/families in permanent housing.  
• Experience accessing and communicating within landlord networks, and utilizing effective strategies to recruit landlords.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point), Adobe Acrobat, and Social Media web platforms.
• Knowledge of NYC’s housing programs and subsidies, and ability to strategically access the NYC landlord community and secure permanent housing for clients.
• Demonstrated sensitivity and experience with and/or knowledge of domestic violence within and against disenfranchised communities including individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or HIV-affected, the elderly and individuals with mental health issues.
• Strong analytical, administrative, and written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary, diverse team, maintaining a healthy work environment for staff that encourages professionalism, respect, equality, diversity and continuous improvement.  
• Ability to assess priorities, take initiative, handle multiple assignments, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with people of diverse educational, cultural and professional backgrounds.
• Must be a responsible individual with a reputable character, known to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and cope with stress and crises in a calm manner.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated proactive approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion, be adaptable to various competing demands, and demonstrate the highest level of customer/client service and response.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Forward looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
• Ability to create and maintain systems that enhance organizational efficiency.
• Must possess critical thinking skills, using logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses and can seek alternative solutions, conclusions and approaches to problems which minimize risk to the corporation and persons served.
• Must be willing to travel locally.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be willing to travel within New York City.
• Will be required to read printed and handwritten materials.
• Will be required to manipulate the computer mouse and keyboard.
• Will be required to read information on computer screen.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to enter information in digital forms and spreadsheets.

Urban Resource Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Salary : $49,000 - $55,000