Aftercare Specialist - Jamaica, Queens

Anthos Home•New York, NY

11d•$65,000 - $70,000•Onsite

About The Position

Anthos|Home is seeking an experienced social service professional to serve in the new role of Aftercare Specialist. The Aftercare Specialist will work in a team reporting to the Vice President of Aftercare. In this role, the Aftercare Specialist will be responsible for working with Participants for a year after they move into their new home to ensure housing stability after placement. Aftercare at Anthos|Home is light touch and housing led, but is critical to ensuring that Participants are adjusting well, having a good housing experience, and maintaining their obligations as a tenant. The Aftercare Specialist is the primary point of contact for tenants post-move-in, and should also work closely with the Participant’s support network including the Fair Futures Coach, Preventive Services case worker and/or Health Home Care Manager, and the Property Provider, as needed.

Requirements

The Aftercare Specialist must be a people person who loves working with others and solving problems.
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field, and/or 4-6 years of experience working with people in the housing and human service sector.
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent verbal, written, communication and negotiation skills
Willingness to travel and make multiple visits in the community
Ability to use public transportation or meet the same travel requirements with reasonable accommodation
Ability to ascend/descend stairs, as some work locations may not have accessibility to an elevator, or meet the same requirements with reasonable accommodation
Experience with community-based outreach
Ability to utilize critical thinking skills in decision-making situations, good organizational and record-keeping skills, and good independent judgment
Proficiency in MS Word, Salesforce, Excel, and PowerPoint
Passion for the mission of the organization
Ability to work in a diverse environment

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in Spanish/English
Some familiarity with the NYC housing market and voucher system

Responsibilities

Monthly phone contact, and quarterly in-person in-unit contact to ensure general overall safety and wellness of the participant.
During monthly phone check-ins ascertain how the Participant is adjusting to their new home and address any rent arrears and utilities issues. Ask about building security, any pending repair or maintenance issues and check on communication with the Property Provider.
During quarterly home visits ask about all the items listed above, and inspect the unit for general maintenance and any need for repair.
Inquire about the Participant’s benefits and employment status;
Provide referrals to community resources, as needed, for issues related to financial literacy, mental health, wellness, legal, and other areas of support;
If needed, reach out to members of the Participant’s support network such as the Fair Futures Coach, or Preventive Services provider. Any problems or concerns about the Property Provider should be shared with the Housing Acquisition team.
In the eighth month the Aftercare Specialist should begin the process of providing housing voucher recertification support.
Liaise between program participants and property owners, and facilitate meetings and communication as needed;
Attend meetings and case conferencing as needed to ensure collaborative supports are being provided to the participants to ensure stability
Respond to housing and tenant-related emergencies during normal business and after hours.
Maintain thorough and accurate progress notes and correspondence while maintaining the confidentiality of program participants, staff, and organizational information at all times.
Facilitate a “warm handoff” between Participants and Property Providers in coordination with the Aftercare Operations Team.
Complete tasks and provide support within the Aftercare Team on an ad hoc basis.