Housing Specialist

Project Renewal is a leading non-profit organization with the mission of building supportive communities where people achieve dignity and independence, renewing their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Our comprehensive and integrated 24/7 programs are designed to offer the holistic care our clients need. With a staff of 950+ and an annual budget of $140 million, Project Renewal is one of the larger social service nonprofits in New York City.

Title: Housing Specialist

Program: Ana's Place


Salary Range : $48,000 - $50,000 per year


Program Description:

Ana's Place is a 108 bed 24/7 emergency shelter for homeless men diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance abuse. Our comprehensive services include case management, individual and group counseling, recreational activities and housing placement assistance. Additionally, psychiatric services are provided Monday through Friday, staffed by a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, and a licensed practical nurse.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties of the Housing Specialistinclude but are not limited to the following activities:

• Utilizing vacancy rosters provided by the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) and other housing providers identifies vacancies throughout the five boroughs. It selects possible housing options for clients to apply for placement.
• Reviews, in collaboration with the Case Managers, the application package for each client to be sure documents are complete and the psychological evaluation is current, assists the client in applying to the housing provider, and performs appropriate follow-up on the submitted application.
• Review the Overnight Report daily to become aware of new clients to be scheduled for orientation and to know if any clients have missed curfew and possibly a scheduled appointment for housing placement. Performs appropriate follow-up in either situation.
• Conducts weekly individualized and group meetings for clients, focusing on housing placement issues and guiding them through the housing application process.
• Visits housing providers' facilities to develop and maintain a positive working relationship with them and to get as much information as possible for the clients applying for placement.
• Prepares clients for housing interviews, conducting mock interviews sessions, accompanies them on tours of facilities, and in general coordinates and facilitates the referral process.
• Coordinates escort services for groups of clients going for housing placement interviews.
• Reviews and updates the tracking system for submitted applications, interviews, and selections or denials. Performs follow-up to any denial of housing applications submitted to providers.
• Conducts weekly on-site housing workshops.
• Maintains and participates in the weekly Partners for Permanency (PAP) case management conferences.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Shelter Director.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, but a Master's degree in Social Work is preferred.
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience working with homeless adults with substance and illicit drug abuse issues with objectives toward securing permanent housing for them.
• Knowledge of low-income housing in New York City as well as special needs housing, including the NY/NY Supportive Housing and Section 8 housing.
• Knowledge of case management software as well as a proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word and Excel

Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer. Its long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, gender (see separately issued Gender Discrimination policy for more detail), physical or mental disability, age (18 and over), military status, arrest record, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.