Housing Specialist

CAMBA; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

CAMBA is seeking a motivated individual for a position focused on assisting clients in attaining housing and entitlement-related goals. The role involves working closely with case managers and clients to provide support and resources. Responsibilities include conducting workshops, maintaining client confidentiality, organizing presentations, and following up on client progress. Ideal candidates should have experience in social services, possess strong organizational skills, and be committed to helping clients achieve self-sufficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience in client liaison and social services.
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist case managers by being a client liaison with outside organizations.
• Help clients in attaining their Housing and Entitlements related goals.
• Develop curriculum for shelter residents on various related topics.

Job description

Program Overview

CAMBA operates six family homeless shelters funded by New York City Department of Homeless Services. Each shelter offers clients a supportive, structured, therapeutic, safe, and drug‑free facility. CAMBA’s Flagstone Family Center provides comprehensive case management services to 158 families who are in a Tier II transitional residence program for homeless families.

Position Overview

The person filling this position is expected, under close supervision, to: (1) assist case managers by being a client liaison with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, housing, social services, legal issues, etc. housing and public benefits; (2) assist clients in attaining their Housing and Entitlements related goals by identifying and locating community resources for clients and by making referrals to appropriate services both within and outside CAMBA; including the following:

• Maintain professional relationships with clients and client confidentiality.
• Practice Universal Precautions/Standard Protocol & Procedures.
• Comply with any and all Federal, State, City and CAMBA security and privacy policies intended to protect the security and privacy of individually identifiable health information.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with clients and client confidentiality in order to engage them in case management services.
• Develop curriculum to address shelter residents’ Housing, Independent Living Skills and Entitlement related needs including permanent housing search process and options.
• Develop a series of monthly Housing readiness workshops.
• Develop and maintain a Bulletin Board that serves to provide relevant Housing related information.
• Provide individualized and group counseling on housing and entitlement related topics.
• Organize and schedule presentations by local “housing experts” and/or landlords.
• Provide support, training and coordination of the peer counselors.
• Select appropriate instructional procedures or methods such as individual training, group instruction, self‑study, lectures, demonstrations, simulation exercises, role play, and computer‑based training.
• Establish linkages with community‑based organizations, realtors, brokers and landlords.
• Conduct marketing and outreach presentations regarding the program to recruit clients and resources.
• Follow‑up with clients and with referral organizations regarding client contact and progress with referral organization.
• In collaboration with the case manager(s), work with clients to break through barriers to client goals and to assist clients in advocating for themselves and in moving toward self‑sufficiency.
• Monitor clients' progress toward their goals (i.e., dates achieved) via regularly scheduled telephone contact and/or face‑to‑face home and office visits, and document via progress notes.
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• Create and maintain client files and make copies of all client documents.
• Assist case managers to schedule appointments for clients with referral organizations.
• Assist case managers to escort clients to appointments (apartment viewings, public benefits, educational, medical, social service, etc.).
• Assist clients in completing applications for benefits and entitlements, and may process applications on clients' behalf.
• May follow‑up with clients for a period of time after successful completion of their primary goals to assure client stability.
• May input client data and client progress information into automated database.
• Tasks may be modified, expanded and/or assigned over time.