Housing Advocate

My Place Home For The Homeless; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Job summary

A dedicated non‑profit organization is seeking a Housing Advocate in Buffalo, NY. The ideal candidate will have a background in social work and experience in advocating for unhoused individuals. Responsibilities include assessing client needs, providing resources, and developing supportive programs. This role works 40 hours weekly and offers health insurance and paid holidays.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, with a Master's preferred.
• Licensed or certified by the state is a plus.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with multiple cases.

Responsibilities

• Assess client needs and develop support strategies.
• Provide resources and maintain relationships with support networks.
• Advocate for clients and communicate effectively with various stakeholders.

Skills

Written and spoken communication skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Time management skills

Motivated for community involvement

Empathetic and supportive

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology or related field

Master's degree in social work (preferred)

Job description

Benefits

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement

Job Title

Housing Advocate

Organization

My Place Home for the Homeless, Inc.

Location

Buffalo, NY

About Us

My Place Home for the Homeless, Inc. is a dedicated non‑profit organization focused on providing comprehensive support to individuals experiencing homelessness. We offer both temporary/emergency housing and permanent supportive housing, along with essential resources such as job training, mental health and medical services, and access to transportation. Our mission is to empower individuals to regain stability and self‑sufficiency through compassionate care and community‑based solutions.

Job Overview

We are seeking a diligent Housing Advocate focused in supporting unhoused/homeless clients in maintaining consistent living conditions. This role conducts housing search assistance, provides referrals, and safety plans. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of homelessness and housing policy.

Responsibilities

• Assess client needs and develop strategies to help the client.
• Provide support and resources for clients; maintain good working relationships with support networks, government resources, and community resources.
• Research and refer client resources such as health and childcare services.
• Assign social workers to respond to crisis situations that affect vulnerable or mentally unstable adults.
• Evaluate and study programs, services, and resources for quality and client needs.
• Determine the correct course of action when helping clients, whether it be with a social worker, psychologist, or medical doctor.
• Create programs and services to benefit clients and the community.
• Listen and provide help and advice for impacted adults.
• Caring for the well‑being of clients and helping a wide range of clients, including people with serious illnesses, addictions, disabilities or who have been neglected.
• Organize and influence community and policymakers to develop programs, policies, and services to assist in social work.
• Advocate and raise awareness on behalf of clients and the needs of the community and local services.
• Assist clients by providing a family social worker, clinical social worker, school social worker, or healthcare social worker.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, healthcare or medical and related fields; Master's degree in social work preferred; supervised practicum or internship preferred.
• Licensed or certified by state board, according to regulatory standards, is a plus.
• Possesses superb written and spoken communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with colleagues, community leaders, policymakers and others.
• Excellent time management skills; organized and able to prioritize.
• Motivated to take on additional community involvement projects and solve problems.
• Comfortable in a fast‑paced environment with multiple cases.
• Able to organize and manage large amounts of files, schedules, dates, and information.
• Self‑directed and able to work without supervision.
• Comfortable with building personal relationships and dedicated to helping others.
• Empathetic and supportive with mentorship and leadership skills.
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).
• Able to work nights and weekends (when required).
• Able to travel to meet with clients or partners in care (locally primarily but possible to attend trainings or seminars outside city limits).

Salary is subject to level of education and or experience. This position works 40 hours a week. We offer employer‑sponsored health insurance (employee only) and paid holidays.

My Place Home for the Homeless, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including individuals who have experienced homelessness, to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.