Senior Housing Specialist

Care For the Homeless; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Care For the Homeless is seeking a Senior Housing Specialist to lead RRH efforts across NYC. You will identify units, engage landlords, and support lease-up while ensuring HUD compliance and Housing First principles.

You will mentor junior team members, coordinate with CoC program staff, and deliver housing stability counseling and cash literacy guidance to participants. Willingness to travel across five boroughs required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, or related field (preferred).
• 3–5 years of experience in housing services, case management, or homeless services.
• Experience with HUD CoC-funded Rapid Re-Housing or similar programs preferred.
• Knowledge of HUD Housing First principles and NYC rental assistance programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with HMIS platforms preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish/French strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead housing search and unit procurement to build a pipeline of HUD-eligible housing across NYC boroughs.
• Provide housing stability counseling and case management to participants.
• Coordinate with Care Coordinators and external providers for wraparound supports.
• Maintain HMIS documentation in Foothold AWARDS and ensure compliance.
• Mentor junior Housing Specialists and support onboarding.
• Represent CFH at community events and broker outreach.

Skills

Landlord engagement

Case management

Housing stability counseling

Client advocacy

Bilingual communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, or related field

Job description

The Senior Housing Specialist plays a lead role within Care For the Homeless’ Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) program, aHUD Continuum of Care (CoC)-funded initiative serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness acrossall five New York City boroughs. This position is responsible for delivering high-quality, participant-centered housingservices including unit identification, landlord engagement, lease-up support, housing stability counseling, and crisisintervention while serving as a resource and informal mentor to junior Housing Specialists on the team. The Senior Housing Specialist operates within a Housing First framework, ensuring compliance with HUD regulations, HMISdocumentation standards, and CFH program policies at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Housing Search & Unit Procurement

• Conduct proactive outreach to landlords, brokers, and property management companies to recruit andmaintain a pipeline of affordable, HUD-eligible housing units across NYC boroughs.
• Guide program participants through the housing search process, including apartment viewings, applicationsupport, and landlord negotiations.
• Review and assess unit habitability to ensure compliance with HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) priorto lease execution.
• Facilitate lease-up processes, including preparation of occupancy agreements, review of lease terms, andcoordination with legal counsel as needed.
• Maintain and update the department’s unit tracking tools, including the Stability Voucher/Section 8/housing vouchers pipeline tracker, ensuring accuracy in unit availability, application status, and move-in
• timelines.

Participant Services & Case Coordination

• Carry an active caseload of program participants, providing direct services aligned with individualizedhousing stability plans.
• Conduct regular home visits and check-ins to assess housing stability, address barriers, and coordinatesupportive services as needed.
• Collaborate with Care Coordinators and external service providers to facilitate warm referrals for mentalhealth, substance use, employment, and other wraparound supports.
• Deliver housing stability counseling, financial literacy guidance, and tenant rights education to programparticipants.
• Support participants in understanding and exercising their rights under NYC rent stabilization, DHCRregulations, and applicable tenancy law.

HMIS Documentation & Compliance

• Enter, update, and maintain accurate and timely data in Foothold AWARDS (HMIS system of record) inaccordance with HUD data standards, CFH policies, and CoC reporting requirements.
• Complete required program documentation including intake assessments, housing plans, progress notes,move-in/move-out records, and case closures.
• Ensure all files electronic and physical are maintained in accordance with HUD interim rule and CFHconfidentiality standards.
• Assist with data quality reviews and prepare case-level documentation for internal audits, HUD monitoringvisits, and CoC performance reporting.

Leadership & Team Support

• Serve as an informal resource and mentor to Housing Specialists and Leasing Assistant offering guidance on
• complex cases, landlord negotiations, and HUD compliance questions.
• Support onboarding of new Housing Specialist and Leasing Assistant staff, including sharing programworkflows, HMIS documentation practices, and community resource knowledge.
• Participate in team meetings, case conferences, supervisory check-ins, and department-wide trainings.
• Assist the Director of CoC Programs with special projects, quality improvement initiatives, and thedevelopment or revision of program materials and tools.
• Serve as a point of contact for participants and landlords when the Housing Specialist is unavailable,ensuring continuity of service.

Community & Broker Relations

• Represent CFH’s RRH program professionally in community settings, housing fairs, broker outreach events,and external stakeholder meetings.
• Maintain positive, ongoing relationships with landlord partners to support housing placement and retention.
• Stay current on NYC affordable housing landscape, including changes to Section 8/Stability Voucher policies,FHEPS, LINC, and other rental assistance programs applicable to the RRH participant population.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to ensure the efficient operation of the department.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Health, or a related field(preferred).

Experience:

• Minimum of 3–5 years of directly relevant experience in housing services, case management, orhomeless services, with demonstrated experience in unit procurement and landlord engagement.
• Prior experience working within a HUD CoC-funded program (Rapid Re-Housing, PermanentSupportive Housing, or similar) strongly preferred.
• Experience using Foothold AWARDS or another HMIS platform preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of HUD Housing First principles, RRH program requirements, and 24CFR Part 578 regulations.
• Familiarity with NYC’s affordable housing landscape, including Section 8/Housing ChoiceVouchers, Stability Vouchers, FHEPS, and NYC rental subsidy programs.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with demonstrated ability to engage andretain landlord and broker partnerships.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage a high-volume caseload and maintainaccurate documentation under deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience with housing trackingtools or HMIS platforms preferred.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain professional boundaries, and navigate complexparticipant situations with empathy and confidentiality.
• Ability to travel throughout the five boroughs to conduct home visits, unit inspections, andcommunity outreach.

Pay:

$85,000 - $90,000

Languages:

• Bilingual English/Spanish/French strongly preferred.