Consumer Advocate

Check Out These Great Henry Street Settlement•New York, NY

3d•$50,000 - $50,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Third Street Women’s Residence is a critical part of this network, providing transitional shelter and supportive services to 79 homeless women with mental illness concerns who are in need of permanent housing. The staff provides an array of social and housing placement services, working with the residents to enhance and develop life management skills, as well as to manage their mental health conditions. When needed, residents are referred to community-based organizations. The Consumer Advocate (CA) will promote benefit training as a critical component of finding and maintaining housing stability. Working as a member of the interdisciplinary team the CA will facilitate programming to educate residents about available benefits, provide entitlement, education and resources to support obtaining permanent housing and housing permanence.

Requirements

Bachelors required; Master of Social Work (MSW) preferred
Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with indigent and homeless population
Strong Case Management, organizational, problem-solving skills, and Housing Specialist skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Knowledge of computers such as Microsoft office, outlook, etc.
Must be able to travel throughout the five boroughs to service population in the field.
Ability to be flexible with arrival and departures times due to travel time.
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds
Ability to climb stairs (up to six flights)

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Responsibilities

Formulate service plans and goals and assist residents to access and maintain permanent housing
Work intensively with clients by escorting them on apartment searches
Work with all Case Managers/ Housing Specialist to assist clients with reaching and maintaining independence goals
Prepare clients for independent housing and conduct apartment search activities
Ensure placement into appropriate housing
Establish and develop new linkages with real estate brokers and landlords; maintain an active roster of real estate brokers and landlords
Assist individuals seeking apartments in the public and private sector
Accompany residents to appointments including public assistance, apartment viewing, interviews, lease signing, and furniture shopping when necessary
Provide aftercare follow-up services for clients once they move into permanent housing, including home visits and phone follow up for up to one year
Link clients to social services in new communities to enhance acclimation and stability
Prepare all required reports and documents required by funders
Perform all other tasks deemed necessary in the direction of the Assistant Program Director to aid in the shelter’s achieving its programmatic goals
Coordinate responsibilities with Social Service Team to assist residents with housing, documentation, medical, obtaining benefits, identification etc.
Ensure rules and regulations are communicated to the residents
Submitting weekly calendar and monthly reports
Assist case managers/housing specialists with collecting, compiling data, and documentation
Participating in weekly case conferences
Other related duties as assigned by supervisor