HOUSING SPECIALIST

NYC Department of Social Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Department of Social Services seeks a Principal Administrative Associate II as a Housing Specialist within HASA Housing Services. The role focuses on coordinating housing placements for HASA consumers across scattered-sites and congregate shelter housing.

You will perform programmatic research, provide technical assistance to vendors and staff, and develop housing specifications while coordinating case conferences and analyzing housing options for clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 2 years clerical/administrative experience, including supervisory duties.
• Associate degree or 60 credits with 3 years of clerical/administrative experience, including supervisory duties.
• High school diploma with 4 years of clerical/administrative experience, including supervisory duties.
• Educational or experiential equivalence with required supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Monitor vacancies and contracts for HASA housing placements (SS, CSH) using spreadsheets and databases.
• Conduct programmatic research on HASA housing facilities and referrals for consumer placement.
• Provide technical assistance to vendors and inter-agency staff to meet housing goals.
• Write housing specifications addressing location, housing type, accessibility, and residency type.
• Provide projections of apartment availability and conduct facility inspections.
• Calculate needs for new apartment expenditures and housing cost projections for residents.

Skills

Administrative experience

Supervisory experience

Clerical skills

Education

Baccalaureate degree

Associate degree or 60 credits

High school diploma

Education/experience equivalent

Tools

MS Excel

MS Access

Office Suite

Job description

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE

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 HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) is the primary mechanism within the Human Resources Administration (HRA) which expedites access to essential benefits such as medical, social, financial, and vocational programs to more than 32,000 individuals living with HIV, as well as 8,000+ affected families.

HASA provides intensive case management, rental assistance, emergency and permanent supportive housing, and assistance with applying for public benefits and services including Medicaid, food stamps, and cash assistance. HASA also provides vocational services that prepare clients for employment. With counselors to help identify barriers to employment, clients can select vocational goals and receive support. Other HASA services include home care and homemaking services, mental health and substance use screening and treatment referrals, transportation assistance, referrals to community-based organizations, and SSI or SSD application and appeal.

HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) is recruiting for one (1) Principal Administrative Associate II, to function as a Housing Specialist in HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) Housing Services, who will:

• Monitor vacancies and assigned contracts that provide HASA consumers placement in Scattered-Sites (SS), and Congregate Shelter Housing (CSH) through various automated tracking mechanisms (i.e., spreadsheets, excel, and access programs).
• Conduct programmatic research on HASA and managed housing facilities and referrals to determine consumer compatibility for SS, CHS, or any other housing options available, by utilizing data collection inclusive of placement indicators, contractor vacancy reports, placement reports and case review.
• Provide technical assistance to vendors, inter- intra-agency staff, case managers, medical and political advocates by imparting information to assist them in attaining agency goals of consumer placement. Analyzing factors that affect service delivery; reviewing and periodically updating Agency/City policies, procedures, and social service dictates regarding HASA housing requirements; scheduling and facilitating case conferences between vendors, clients and HASA Case Managers.
• Write housing specifications for placement by researching the facilities schematics inclusive of facility location, type of housing offered (long-term vs. temporary), accessibility for physically challenged (elevators vs. walk-ups), and type of residence (whether family or single household), with perspective clients.
• Provide projection of pre-existing apartment/housing conditions that will determine apartment availability received from SS and CSH facilities: attends and conducts facility and apartment unit inspections to confirm facilities analysis on prospective apartment availability utilizing various parameters such as inspection evaluations, contractor repairs completion dates, homelessness factors, and shelter placement mandates.
• Calculate the needs of accepted cases and refer them to supportive social service linkages that will assist in new apartment expenditures (i.e., furniture allowance, grants, utility connection fees, and moving expenses) and calculate housing cost projections for residents based on current cost-of-living trends, family needs, public assistance allowances and guidelines.

Hours/Schedule: 9am-5pm

PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOC - 10124

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty; or
• An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience described in “1” above; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and four years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience as described in “1” above; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above. However, all candidates must possess the one year of administrative or supervisory experience as described in “1” above. Education above the high school level may be substituted for the general clerical/administrative experience (but not for the one year of administrative or supervisory experience described in “1” above) at a rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 6 months of experience up to a maximum of 3 year.

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 generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.