Early AM Housing Outreach Specialist (Downtown)

Goddard Riverside Community Center; New York (NY); On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Goddard Riverside Community Center in New York City seeks a Housing Outreach Specialist to support adults experiencing street homelessness. The role uses a harm-reduction approach to help clients access transitional and permanent housing.

Responsibilities include intake, assessment, service planning, advocacy, referral and escort services, and data entry in agency databases. Flexibility in hours and strong communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Experience with homelessness and/or mental health populations is advantageous.
• Ability to work with a harm-reduction framework and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Serve as case manager for adults experiencing homelessness, with a goal of placement into transitional and permanent housing.
• Perform intake, assessment, service planning, advocacy, referral and escort services.
• Maintain client records and enter data in agency databases.
• Provide follow-up case management to promote housing retention and outcomes.
• Coordinate referrals and collaborate with team and external partners.

Skills

Housing first understanding

Harm reduction

Multitasking

Interpersonal skills

Written/verbal communication

Team player

Good judgement

Microsoft Outlook

Streetsmart/MOCapp/CARES

Education

Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Streetsmart

MOCapp

CARES

Job description

Program Description: Goddard Riverside invests in people & strengthens community, serving more than 20,000 people throughout New York City with a variety of programs for all ages. We work within a social justice framework to create a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families. Goddard is a partner within the Manhattan Outreach Consortium (MOC) a borough-wide initiative to serve the unsheltered community. The Uptown team serves the UWS and UES of Manhattan and collaborates with various community partners and healthcare agencies throughout Manhattan. The catchment area includes W. 59th – W. 110th Street & E. 59th – E. 96th Street, river to river. The Downtown team serves lower Manhattan and collaborates with various community partners and healthcare agencies throughout Manhattan. The catchment area includes 23rd St and below, river to river.Position Summary: The Housing Outreach Specialist works creatively and effectively in the community to engage individuals living on the street through outreach by utilizing a harm reduction approach. The position serves as a case manager for adults experiencing street homelessness, with the goal of placement into transitional and permanent housing. The position works collaboratively across teams and organizations to achieve this goal.Schedule: Monday-Friday 5:30am-1:30pmHourly Rate: $22.25 - $25.77Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account.Role, Responsibilities, and Essential DutiesServe as case manager for adults experiencing homelessness, with a goal of placement into transitional and permanent housingPerform intake, assessment, service planning, advocacy, referral and escort servicesMaintain client case records and enter data in computer database using handheld and desktop computersProvide follow-up case management for clients placed in housing, to promote retention and document outcomesAttend staff meetings, case conferences, training programs and supervision meetings; participate in program evaluation and improvementCoordinate team’s multiple referral sources for caseload additionsEnsure referred clients are properly documented in MOCapp and connected to an assigned Housing Outreach SpecialistParticipate in outreach trips to identify and communicate with unsheltered individualsDrive outreach van and take public transportation when neededParticipate in at least four (4) overnight quarterly counts of homeless individuals living on the streets of Manhattan, including the HOPE countOther duties as requiredQualifications/Educational RequirementsBachelor’s Degree preferredPrior experience with the homeless and/or mentally ill population preferredValid driver’s license and a driving record that meets the agency’s auto insurance guidelines (including at least one year as a licensed driver and no suspensions within the last 3 years)Flexibility in work hours; available to work evening, overnight and weekend shifts as requiredSkills, Knowledge and AbilitiesUnderstanding of housing first and other harm reduction modelsAbility to multitaskStrong interpersonal skillsStrong written and verbal skillsTeam playerGood judgementComputer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should be:Proficient in Microsoft OutlookExperience with, or ability to learn, computer databases such as Streetsmart, MOCapp, and CARESPhysical RequirementsFrequent walking and standingAbility to lift up to 30 lbs, including client belongingsWork EnvironmentIndoors and outdoors; all weathersWe are committed to building an inclusive workplace community grounded in respect for differences. We support hiring a broadly diverse team of qualified individuals who will contribute to our organizations.Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.