Housing Specialist (Central Park West)

Children's Rescue Fund; New York (NY); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Rescue Fund is seeking a Housing Specialist to coordinate client case management and secure permanent housing for families in New York City. Based at our Central Park location, you will guide clients through NYCHA forms, DHS procedures, and housing program requirements, while collaborating with brokers, owners, developers, and program partners.

You will monitor paperwork, maintain case records in CARES, conduct housing searches, provide housing education, and support clients to meet

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Associate degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Counseling, Criminal Justice, or Human Services is strongly preferred, and at least a High School Diploma/GED is required
• At least one year of experience in social services, counseling, crisis intervention, family services, preventive services, or housing services is required
• Valid New York State driver's license and an insurable driving record is required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and must be computer literate in Microsoft Office

Responsibilities

• Explain the New York City Department of Homeless Services - Client Responsibility Procedures to clients during the Housing Intake
• Ensure all clients sign the Permanent Housing Agreement within 10 days of arrival
• Maintain open lines of communication with the Director of Social Services and Case Managers to resolve issues
• Ensure clients complete and return the Apartment Review and Client Apartment Rejection Form
• Inform clients of the need to visit/view two apartments per week and document it
• Complete housing applications within 90 days of eligibility and forward to destinations on time
• Use CARES to complete intake assessments, service plans, housing and transfers, and progress notes
• Review information from DHS, HRA, ACS, Probation, and DHS in CARES
• Update information in CARES in a timely fashion
• Document and follow up on housing appointments and permanent housing applications
• Verify housing rejections and reasons
• Accompany families on housing searches when appropriate
• Provide ongoing housing education through workshops or counseling
• Provide lists of suitable apartments per Domestic Violence status when applicable
• Meet or exceed Housing Placement Goals set by DHS
• Review DSS/APD housing placements weekly
• Complete reports as required

Skills

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Crisis intervention

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's or Associate in Social Work / related field

High School Diploma / GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Housing Specialist is responsible for all facets of client case management as it relates to a client's efforts to secure permanent housing. The Housing Specialist will use HPD incentives for finders' fees to brokers and owners and develop contacts with both not-for-profit and for-profit housing developers. This role is responsible for ensuring that all clients are familiar with New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) forms and procedures, as well as the procedures for all other housing programs offered. This role is responsible for working at our Central Park location in New York, NY to enable the successful relocation of families to permanent housing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or an Associate's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Counseling, Criminal Justice, or Human Services is strongly preferred, and at least a High School Diploma/GED is required
• At least one (l) year of experience in social services, counseling, crisis intervention, family services, preventive services, or housing services is required
• Valid New York State driver's license and an insurable driving record is required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and must be computer literate in Microsoft Office

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Must fully understand the New York City Department of Homeless Services - Client Responsibility Procedures, and be able to explain it to clients during the Housing Intake
• Must ensure that all clients sign the "Permanent Housing Agreement" form within 10 days of their arrival
• Maintain open lines of communication with the Director of Social Services and Case Managers to resolve any issues that might prevent a client from securing permanent housing
• Ensure all clients are completing and returning the "Apartment Review" and/or the "Client Apartment Rejection Form"
• Inform all clients of their responsibility to "visit/view two (2)" apartments per week and support this with documentation
• Ensure all relevant housing applications are fully completed within 90 days of a family becoming eligible for shelter services, forwarded to their designated destinations on-time, and that a copy is maintained in the case record
• Utilize the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) - Client Assistance and Re-housing Enterprise System (CARES) to complete family intake assessment, service plan/independent living plan, housing, next step conferences/transfers, incident reports, progress notes, etc.
• Utilize the DHS Client Assistance and Re-housing Enterprise System (CARES) to review accessible information from the Human Resource Administration, Administration for Children Services, Department of Probation, Department of Homeless Services, etc.
• Utilize the DHS Client Assistance and Re-housing Enterprise System (CARES) to ensure that all information is updated in the system in a timely fashion as required by DHS
• Document and follow-up on all housing appointments and permanent housing applications
• Verify all housing rejections, including the reason for such rejection
• Accompany a family on housing searches when appropriate
• Provide on-going housing education to clients through workshops and/or individual counseling
• If applicable, provide clients with a list of suitable available apartments in a location consistent with a client's "Domestic Violence" status, and advise clients of their responsibility for seeking additional apartments on their own
• Meet and/or exceed the Housing Placement Goals set by the New York City Department of Homeless Services
• Review the DSS/APD Housing placements and projected placements weekly
• Complete reports as required

OTHER REQUIREMENTS (including Physical Demands)

• May be required to work long hours and a varied schedule
• Traveling throughout various locations in the New York City area
• Lifting and moving objects weighing up to 30 pounds several times a week
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

EEO Statement - Children's Rescue Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.