Housing Specialist

Center for Alternative • New York, NY

11h • $56,650 • Hybrid

About The Position

The purpose of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is to deliver comprehensive and effective services to individuals (age 18 and up) who are diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) and whose needs have not been well met by more traditional service delivery approaches. These individuals also suffer from co-occurring substance use disorders and may have histories of criminal legal system involvement. ACT is an evidence-based practice that provides an integrated set of other evidence based treatment, rehabilitation, case management, and support services delivered by a mobile, multi-disciplinary mental health treatment team to support recipient recovery through a highly individualized approach that provides recipients with the tools to obtain and maintain housing, employment, relationships and relief from symptoms and medication side effects.

The Housing Specialist is a Bachelor’s level clinician who outreaches clients in the community to provide treatment and services with high fidelity to the ACT model. The Housing Specialist provides psychoeducation and support for clients’ housing needs, including but not limited to: submitting HRA2010e supportive housing applications, coordinating with shelter or current housing provider for clients’ housing needs, assessing and promoting clients’ housing readiness, exploring clients’ skills and needs in obtaining and maintaining independent living, advocating for clients to receive the appropriate level of housing as well as supports in their living environments. Specific titles do not limit the scope of clinical services that the staff member provides as ACT staff are both generalists and specialists, based on their areas of experience and interest.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, and/or co-occurring substance use disorders
• Experience with HRA2010e supportive housing application and familiarity with housing resources for ACT-eligible population
• A team player, highly organized and self-motivated
• Proficient in computers
• Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with individuals involved in the criminal legal system
• Fluency in Spanish

Responsibilities

• Provide at least 80 percent of treatment contacts in the community and complete expected minimum monthly treatment contacts, including leading groups when clinically indicated
• Attend and participate in daily team meetings to discuss clients’ clinical and case management issues and needs
• Complete documentations required by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) licensing guidelines, NYS Medicaid billing guidelines as well as per CASES ACT Policy and Procedures
• Collaborate with client’s support network and other service providers on treatment planning, service coordination, and case management support with the goal of helping clients obtain and maintain stable housing
• Provide support and assistance for clients’ housing needs, including but not limited to: identifying housing risks and needs for clients, submitting housing applications and referrals (HRA2010e), preparing clients for housing interviews, escorting and supporting clients in attending housing interviews
• Provide clinical services that are anti-racist, gender-responsive, culturally humble, traumainformed, recovery-oriented, client-centered, and evidence-based
• Complete required documentations and toxicology tests for clients with active Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) order
• Provide 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services on rotating basis
• Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days-off annually, plus an additional summer self-care day
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403b Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level