Housing Specialist - Family Shelter DS

Housing Specialist

Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) operates family shelters providing safe, supportive, and dignified transitional housing for families with children experiencing homelessness. Our shelter programs are guided by a trauma-informed, strengths-based philosophy and offer a comprehensive continuum of services—including case management, housing placement, recreation, and supportive programming—to help families achieve stability and permanent housing as quickly as possible. All shelter staff are expected to uphold BCS's commitment to equity, cultural humility, and client-centered care.

The Housing Specialist is responsible for providing intensive housing-focused services to families in the shelter, with the primary goal of securing permanent housing as quickly as possible. This role requires in-depth knowledge of NYC housing programs, subsidy options, and landlord engagement, and works in close collaboration with case managers to create individualized housing plans.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct housing assessments with families upon entry to identify barriers, goals, and eligibility for housing subsidies and programs.
• Develop and maintain individualized Housing Support Plans in collaboration with case managers and families.
• Monitor housing plan progress and update documentation in CARES and shelter management systems.
• Assess eligibility for housing vouchers, CityFHEPS, LINC, HCV, and other subsidy programs.

Housing Placement and Landlord Engagement

• Conduct housing searches and maintain relationships with landlords, real estate agents, and housing referral networks.
• Assist families with apartment applications, lease negotiations, and landlord communications.
• Accompany families to apartment viewings and support move-in logistics, including connections to furniture and household goods resources.
• Facilitate referrals to aftercare and housing stability services post-placement.

Service Coordination and Compliance

• Collaborate with case managers, DHS, and partner agencies to remove barriers to housing placement.
• Ensure compliance with DHS housing placement benchmarks and documentation requirements.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and case conferences.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of all client contacts and services provided.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, or a related field required; MSW or related Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of two years of experience in housing placement, case management, or social services, with at least one year working in shelter or homeless services.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with NYC housing subsidy programs (CityFHEPS, HCV, LINC, etc.), DHS regulations, and CARES system strongly preferred.
• Skills: Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and advocacy skills. Excellent documentation and organizational abilities.
• Other: Bilingual ability (Spanish or another language spoken in the community served) strongly preferred. Candidates will be subject to a criminal background check in accordance with applicable law, including NYC Fair Chance Act requirements.

BCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.