RESOURCE SPECIALIST

Overview The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is the largest organization in the United States dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness. In partnership with other city agencies and nonprofit organizations, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it begins, reduce street homelessness, provide temporary shelter, and connect individuals and families to stable housing with a focus on accountability, empathy, and equity. DHS is committed to continuous improvement and employs innovative strategies to deliver high‑quality services that support a swift transition from shelter to self‑sufficiency. The agency manages hundreds of facilities, a large workforce, and a multi‑billion‑dollar budget to meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Division of Shelter Operations The Division of Shelter Operations oversees day‑to‑day operations of the agency’s Single Adult, Adult Families, and Families with Children shelter systems, both directly run and contracted providers. The work centers on rehousing all shelter populations and implementing programming and shelter initiatives to deliver services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year across the five boroughs. Responsibilities Build relationships across diverse communities to provide new opportunities for clients and the community‑based homeless population regarding housing alternatives to shelter, and support community partners in delivering those opportunities. Conduct outreach, interviews, recruitment, and screening for housing alternatives, working with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendents, neighbors, city agencies, institutional settings, private entities, and other information sources to determine applicant viability. Engage the community and homeless population to provide DHS shelter referrals and educate about housing options or other community resources via mediation, referrals, meetings, and other methods. Collect applicant information (housing history, income), verify documents, perform screening interviews for single adult applicants, and follow up with past housing resources to determine reentry potential. Provide initial recommendations based on a total assessment of the individual’s situation. Conduct field work, including interviews and meetings with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendents, and neighbors. Perform required screenings of applicants who have community housing options, and provide initial psychiatric and substance‑abuse assessments, working with a Behavior Health Specialist as needed. Hours / Schedule 4 pm – 12 am (Thursday‑Monday, Wednesday‑Sunday, Sunday‑Thursday) Minimum Qualifications Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of community‑work experience related to the duties above; or High school graduation or equivalent and six years of community‑work experience related to the duties above; or Education and/or experience equivalent to the first or second option, with at least one year of experience as described in the first option. Preferred Skills Excellent writing and communication, and computer skills. Proficiency with the CARES system. Residency Requirement New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. City employees who have worked for the City for two continuous years may also be eligible to reside in certain surrounding counties. Benefits Public Service Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan‑forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at Equal Opportunity Employment The City of New York is an inclusive equal‑opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment based on any legally protected status or characteristic. Salary $62,868.00 – $72,298.00 #J-18808-Ljbffr