HOUSING COURT SPECIALIST

NYC Department of Social Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 71,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

55a Program

Public Service Loan Forgiveness info

Job summary

NYC Department of Social Services is seeking an Associate Benefits Specialist II for the Housing Court Unit to review payment requests, coordinate with legal advocates, and help prevent evictions.

Position involves working with HRA/DHS partners, with hours 9am-5pm and multiple work locations including Jamaica and Staten Island. Eligible for the 55-a Program; City residency not required.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications include a four-year high school diploma or educational equivalent with 3 years’ direct social/human services experience.
• Bachelor’s degree plus 18 months of experience as Benefits Opportunity Specialist or related social/human services work.
• 60 semester credits may substitute for 9 months of experience, with 18 months of related experience still required.

Responsibilities

• Review and authorize payment of services provided by contracted Advocates and Legal providers for eviction-related cases.
• Review submissions and authorize payment of arrears (rent, mortgage, taxes) and verify information using multiple databases.
• Collaborate with landlords, tenants, attorneys, and Housing Court judges to prevent evictions and expedite outcomes.
• Process authorization requests for rent arrears payments to prevent eviction and intervene in emergencies.
• Maintain chronological logs and complete case disposition reports.

Skills

WMS

POS

HRA Viewer

Written Verbal Communication

Education

High school diploma or educational equivalent

Bachelor’s degree + 18 months Benefits Opportunity Specialist experience

60 credits substitution option

Tools

WMS

POS

HRA Viewer

Job description

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

The Homelessness Prevention Administration (HPA) works to keep New Yorkers in their homes. HPA works with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) and many other organizations and City agencies to assist families and individuals in need in obtaining and maintaining stable, affordable housing.

HPA / Prevention Services/Rental/Assistance Unit (RAU) assists in the prevention of homelessness and provides grants under certain conditions to New Yorkers facing housing emergencies, to prevent evictions. Payments are generally made for rent arrears or new apartment expenses and may also be made for mortgage and property tax arrears. RAU may also authorize other expenses related to the emergency, such as moving costs. RAU’s overall goals are to prevent evictions, and to help applicants/participants remain in their homes.

Benefits

HPA/ Rental Assistance / Housing Court Unit (HCU) is recruiting for three (3) Associate Benefits Specialist II's to function as a Housing Court Specialists, who will:

• Review and authorize contracted Advocates, and Legal provider’s requests for payment of services provided for representing participants facing eviction for non-payment of rent (to include clients/tenants in receipt of FHEPS, CityFHEPS) related matters; review and assess requests for emergency rental assistance received from Benefit Access Centers (BAC).
• Review the legal provider’s submission and authorize payment of arrears (rent, mortgage, taxes) conduct interviews with family heads to determine the need for emergency rent deposits and verify the information utilizing various databases.
• Work closely with attorneys representing both landlords and tenants, as well as with Housing Court judges, to facilitate, expedite, and negotiate the best course of action to prevent evictions; and consult with HRA Office of Legal Affairs.
• Process requests for authorization of payment of rent arrears to prevent participant’s eviction as well as intervene in emergency cases to prevent evictions.
• Maintain chronological logs of activities in order to record case disposition.
• Complete reports

Hours/Shift: 9am-5pm

Work Location(s):

89-17 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica NY

927 Castleton Ave, Staten Island

Minimum Qualifications

• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and three years of full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social/human services or a related setting, providing either: a) client services. b) employment planning/counseling services which involves job development, skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic opportunity programming.
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience as described in one (1) above.
• College credit from an accredited college may be substituted for this experience on the basis of 60 semester credits for 9 months of the work experience described above. However, all candidates must have at least 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or performing social/human services work as described in one (1) above.

Preferred Skills

Working knowledge of WMS, POS, HRA Viewer. Good written and verbal communication skills.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

, $70,646.00 – $81,243.00