Willow Tree Shelter - Entitlement Specialist

Project Renewal•New York, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Willow Tree Residence is a 130-unit congregate care supportive housing program located in East Midtown Manhattan. The facility is unique in that it is co-located with a women’s shelter that occupies the first 6 floors of a 21-story building and offers a street facing Article 28 clinic on the first floor dedicated to providing primary and behavioral health care services. Willow Tree provides 79 permanent, supportive housing units for chronically homeless single adults with a serious mental illness [SMI], a substance use disorder [SUD], or those who may have a co-occurring SMI and SUD. Candidates are referred through the Department of Homeless services [DHS]; however, the facility is funded by DOHMH. The remaining 51 units are “fair market” and reserved for low-income tenants, referred from the local community.

Requirements

Low Income House Tax Credit certification
A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; or Associate degree and one year of relevant experience such as working with special needs populations; or High School Diploma or GED and two years of relevant experience such as working with special needs populations
Experience with rental subsidy programs and LIHTC requirements
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Adobe
Knowledge of case management and property management databases, including MDS

Nice To Haves

Ability to work cooperatively with peers and other staff to serve the needs of the clients as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Excellent oral, writing, and listening skills are a must.
The ability to work well within a highly pressurized, deadline environment, while meeting the short-term and long-term mandates of the program.
An ability to interface with clients as well as all levels of staff.
Knowledge of case management software as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Bilingual or multilingual a plus.

Responsibilities

Coordinating with government agencies and other third-parties regarding contractual and regulatory compliance during lease-up period
Reviewing housing applications and making initial eligibility determinations for applicants referred the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and other government agencies for lease-up of new facilities and for vacancies as they occur
Making eligibility determinations, processing applications, and developing and maintaining waiting lists for low-income housing
Assisting tenants and prospective tenants with entitlements, income certifications and HPD subsidy applications, as well as with certifications and re-certifications
Coordinating intake and move-in processes, including scheduling intake interviews and move-ins; preparing initial lease and move-in documents; coordinating room readiness with maintenance staff; and conducting orientation for new tenants
Providing tenants and clients with information and direction in acquiring and maintaining entitlements with city, state and federal entitlement programs
Providing up to date information about city, state and federal entitlement programs to the Director, building management, clinical and counseling staff, and property management staff
Entering, maintaining, and updating rent account data in the agency’s property management software
Tracking, processing, and analyzing rent and rent subsidy payments
Acting as Liaison to agency’s Fiscal Office, as well as with local representatives of city, state and federal entitlements programs, including Social Security, Medicaid and HUD.
Serving as Liaison to City Housing Placement Specialists
Tracking vacancies, processing data, generating monthly rent statements, and preparing and submitting reports
Investigating and resolving tenant issues and disputes
Facilitate and coordinate tenant satisfaction assessments, including development of surveys and other tools
Coordinating and assisting with lease renewals, compliance requirements, and grant maintenance tasks.
Serving as primary property management contact for tenants and staff at one or more facilities
Other duties as assigned by Director or supervisory staff