Housing Specialist

Hourly Rate Commensurate With Experience.

Hybrid: 4 days in office/1 day remote

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Social Services/Social Services Supervisor , the Housing Specialist provides assistance and support to achieve permanent housing placement for all clients.  Th e Housing Specialist also provides and documents clinical case management services for assigned clients according to the requirements of Urban Pathways and all regulatory and funding agencies. The Housing Specialist will be an active listener and provide high quality customer service and respond by exhibiting cross-cultural awareness with the ability to promote and contribute to an equitable and inclusive anti-racist organizational culture and environment.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Program/Facilities

• Provide s support and guidance to program staff in the execution of all housing related tasks including but not limited :
• Review s , complete s , and make s recommendations, when necessary, on all housing applications including but not limited to : HRA 2010e , General Population , LINC, HPD, etc.
• Manage s and track s all housing packages submitted to housing providers including DHS, OMH, HPD , etc .
• Provide s on-going follow-up to program staff and clients regarding housing status.
• Assist s clients with completing relevant applications for housing subsidies and programs, and advocate s on behalf of clients to ensure that they receive the appropriate housing and housing subsidies.
• Liaise s with potential landlords and/or rental agents to ensure that potential housing meets city and agency standards.
• Ensure s successful and safe transition of clients into permanent housing and provide s local community resources to clients if needed.
• Assess es client housing interview skills and assists them to achieve competency in presentation and interviewing skills.
• Escorts client s to housing interviews as needed.
• Provides comprehensive case management services for assigned clients including, but not limited to:
• Entitlements
• Housing
• Employment/Education/Vocational Training
• Medical, mental health treatment, and substance abuse services
• Social and community integration
• Provide s counseling and support to clients on and on-going basis including, but not limited to:
• Crisis intervention
• Training and support on client daily living skills, as required
• Assistance in problem solving, as required
• Conflict resolution
• Advocacy
• Assesses client needs, develops service plans and/or service referrals to achieve client self-sufficiency.
• Conducts field work including, but not limited to home visits, escorting clients to appointments, and outreach.
• Facilitates client groups and staff training as required .
  
  

Administrative

• Maintains housing tracking placement forms and reconciles all placement using client database system(s) .
• Tracks and completes housing logs on a weekly basis.
• Prepares and verifies monthly housing placement report s .
• Maintains and submits all necessary documentation and reports accurately, timely , and as required by Urban Pathways, regulatory and funding agency policies and procedures including but not limited to:
• Enters progress note s after each client meeting within 48 hours and/or as mandated by Program
• Completes Intake/Admission documentation within 24 hours of client admission and/or as mandated by Program.
• Documents assessments in client records within required timeframe (not applicable for Outreach Program)
• Updates information in client records, as required .
• Documents incidents and distributes related notices within 24 hours and/or as mandated by Program .
  
  

Community Relations

• Develops and maintains relationships with community services and resources .
• Networks with providers within and outside the DHS System to develop partnerships and housing referral opportunities.
• Attend s and participate s in external meetings with funding agenc ies , community groups, and housing providers.
  
  

Communication

• Communicate s verbally and in writing in a professional manner at all times
• Respond s to all communications including telephone, email and other oral and written inquiries in a timely manner.
• Attend s staff meetings, training , and supervisory sessions as required .
  
  

Perform s all other duties as assigned and as required .

Qualifications , Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required . Master’s degree in s ocial w ork or another related field preferred.
• A minimum of two year s of clinical individual or group counseling experience preferred.
• Experience with NYC housing subsidies and programs required .
• Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness, substance use disorder, and involvement with the justice system preferred .
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency in Google Suite & Microsoft 365, Videoconference, & technical online skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to problem-solve and be resourceful.
• Foreign language skills a plus.
• A proactive person-centered approach.
• Experience in working with diverse communities.
  
  

Capabilities

• Required to work a flexible schedule including weekends, holidays, and evenings.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, push, pull, lift (up to 25 lbs.).
• Desire to perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Comfortable with using public transportation to travel to and from various programs sites.
  
  

Licenses

• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record a plus.
• Valid hou sing license or certification if applicable.