Housing & Entitlements Specialist (DHS)

African American Planning Commission; New York (NY); On-site; USD 66,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & dental coverage

Vision benefits

Commuter benefits

Paid time off

Life insurance

Long-term disability

403B retirement plan

Debt forgiveness program

Job summary

African American Planning Commission in Brooklyn, NY seeks a Housing Outreach Specialist to identify housing resources and build strong ties with landlords and brokers for resident placements. The role requires engaging residents, aiding them with NYC Housing Connect applications, and coordinating with social services to expedite moves.

Responsibilities include conducting inspections, gathering subsidy documentation, and delivering workshops for residents and partners. Competitive benefits apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 1–2 years of experience or an Associate degree with 2–3 years of experience.
• Familiarity with NYC Shelter System and housing resources is preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for diverse residents and partners.

Responsibilities

• Outreach to identify housing resources and maintain linkages with brokers and landlords.
• Facilitate appointments and accompany residents to apartment viewings.
• Assist residents with housing applications and subsidy documentation.
• Conduct housing inspections and complete pre-clearance forms.
• Coordinate with DHS and HRA to expedite placements and report progress.
• Teach residents how to advocate for permanent housing in the community.

Skills

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Client services

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Associate degree in related field

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Brooklyn Way - Brooklyn, NY, Salary Range: $72949.72 - $72949.72Salary, Reporting Relationships: Housing Specialists report to the Director of Social Services.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Periodically conduct on-the-ground outreach to identify new housing resources.
• Develop and maintain linkages with brokers, landlords, real estate companies, and management offices that lead to housing placements.
• Facilitate appointments and accompany residents to apartment viewings.
• Conduct housing inspections and complete/collect pre-clearance forms for clients who have been approved for apartments.
• Work with brokers/landlords to obtain required documentation for completion of subsidy packages.
• Meet residents regularly (biweekly, monthly) to assess, update, schedule housing viewing opportunities.
• Maintain up-to-date case notes based on meeting with residents regularly.
• Assist clients with completing housing applications through NYC Housing Connect and other identified application portals.
• Work closely with social service team, DHS and HRA to expedite placements and make recommendations for successful moves.
• Assist the Program Director and Director of Social Services to ensure performance objectives, including placements goals for the number of residents rehoused, are met.
• Work with all DHS and HRA staff to ensure client housing needs are being addressed in a timely and thoughtful manner.
• Conduct workshops for residents on the housing search, application, and interview process on an as needed basis.
• Teach the residents how to advocate for themselves when seeking permanent housing in the community.
• Conduct quarterly workshops for landlords/brokers on housing subsidies changes as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by Program Director.

Qualifications

Minimal Qualifications

• Degree Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Business, Liberal Arts, etc.) with at least 1-2 years’ experience or,
• Associate Degree in a related field (Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Business, Liberal Arts, etc.) with at least 2-3 years’ experience.

Other Qualifications

• Familiarity with NYC Shelter System with any population; single adults, mental health, substance use, HIV/AIDS, or any other related field.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills with a focus on providing excellent client services; Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a diverse community of residents, program staff and external partners.
• Ability to exercise good judgement and apply problem-solving skills.
• Experience working collaboratively in a team-oriented and outcome-focused environment.
• Ability to monitor and manage a variety of tasks as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift to 5 pounds at times
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary range and benefits information for this position are being included in accordance with requirements of New York State and City pay transparency laws. Please note that salaries may vary for different individuals in the same role based on several factors, including but not limited to location of the role, individuals’ competencies, education/professional certifications, qualifications/experience and performance in the role.

Compensation

The base salary compensation range being offered for this role is $72,949.72

Benefits

AAPCI provides a competitive benefit package which includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):

• Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical (including prescription coverage), Dental & Vision
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Annual Paid Time Off (23 days)
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Retirement Benefits Plan (403B)
• You may also get your college student debt forgiven tax free on Federal Direct Loans created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF, if you work full-time and after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a Qualifying Repayment Plan.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

AAPCI is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity to all qualified applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.