Consumer Advocate, Safe Options Support (SOS), Staten Island

Breaking Ground•Staten Island, NY

About The Position

The Consumer Advocate works with people experiencing street homelessness and living with chronic medical conditions in Staten Island. The role aims to connect clients with appropriate social and medical services, improve their health and wellbeing, and help them secure appropriate housing solutions. Reporting to the Clinical Coordinator, Safe Options Support, the advocate builds relationships with clients using motivational interviewing to encourage progress toward self-identified housing, health, and other goals. Most of the shift is spent in the field, traveling by automobile and/or on foot to conduct street outreach, accompany clients to appointments, and follow up on service referrals. The advocate conducts assessments, supports clients in self-directed service planning, and enters required data into databases. The SOS program relies on cross-system collaboration for data sharing, care-plan coordination, and access to community-based resources.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Minimum of 2 years of related experience.
Knowledge of local benefit agencies, such as Public Assistance, and familiarity with substance use, mental health, immigration, and employment resources.
Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams.
Valid NY, NJ, or CT driver’s license with a good driving record, as defined by Breaking Ground.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience with homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues, and willingness to appropriately use that experience to build client rapport and develop service connections.
Bilingual.

Responsibilities

Engage with identified people experiencing homelessness and living with chronic medical conditions in Staten Island.
Use lived experience, as appropriate, to build rapport and develop service connections.
Conduct required assessments.
Support clients in self-directed service planning and work with them toward their self-identified goals.
Attend clinical supervision and training.
Maintain records in compliance with agency, City, and State standards.
Collaborate with the Parks Department, NYPD, DSNY, MTA, and other agencies.
Accompany clients to appointments and follow up on service referrals.
Enter required data into required databases.
Perform other duties as assigned.