Housing Stability & Retention Specialist

Breaking Ground; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Breaking Ground seeks a Housing Retention Specialist to provide light-touch services focused on long-term housing stability. You will maintain a caseload of up to 20 households, conduct weekly home visits, and coordinate benefits, services, and referrals to preserve housing stability and reduce evictions.

Strong interagency collaboration is essential for success. The role emphasizes preventative support, benefit subsidies, and connection to community-based services, with an on-site emphasis in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field required.
• MSW preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with formerly homeless individuals and families.
• Housing-based case management experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of behavioral health and harm-reduction approaches.
• Strong collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular home visits to tenants' apartments and escort to appointments.
• Perform initial and ongoing assessments to create service plans.
• Assist in obtaining entitlements and benefits (Public Assistance, SSI/SSDI, vouchers, SCRIE/DRIE).
• Promote financial literacy through group programs and individual sessions.
• Refer households to Homebase or other rental assistance programs.
• Educate on lease responsibilities and safe neighbors, rent obligations, safety.
• Collaborate with building management to address concerns.
• Refer tenants to primary care and behavioral health services.
• Support education and job training including GED resources and resume help.
• Provide DV/IPV support and safety planning; connect to services.
• Track school attendance and interventions as needed.
• Maintain records per agency and City/State standards.

Skills

Housing-based case management

Behavioral health understanding

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Microsoft Teams

Electronic case records

Problem-solving

Willingness to learn new programs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

MSW preferred

Tools

Foothold/AWARDS

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Breaking Ground seeks a Housing Retention Specialist to provide light-touch services focused on long-term housing stability. You will maintain a caseload of up to 20 households, conduct weekly home visits, and coordinate benefits, services, and referrals to preserve housing stability and reduce evictions.

Strong interagency collaboration is essential for success. The role emphasizes preventative support, benefit subsidies, and connection to community-based services, with an on-site emphasis in