Housing Specialist, Magnolia House Women’s Shelter

CAMBA•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

CAMBA is a community organization that offers over 180 integrated programs in various sectors including Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. CAMBA operates multiple shelters, including Magnolia House in Brooklyn, which serves single women, many of whom have mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. The Housing Specialist role at Magnolia House is crucial in assisting these clients to transition into permanent housing.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (e. g., B.A., B.S.W.) and/or equivalent experience.
May be required to become First Aid/CPR certified.
May be required to become certified in overdose prevention.
Bi-lingual preferred.
TB test required

Nice To Haves

Bi-lingual

Responsibilities

Formulate a plan and prepare clients for permanent housing placement.
Engage individuals requiring social service assistance.
Interview and evaluate clients, formulate Independent Living Plans and goals.
Locate and refer clients to appropriate community resources.
Maintain professional relationships with clients and client confidentiality.
Practice Universal Precautions/Standard Protocol & Procedures.
Comply with Federal, State, City and CAMBA security and privacy policies.
Serve as a liaison with outside organizations regarding education, healthcare, housing, social services, legal issues, etc.
Assist clients in attaining their Housing related goals by identifying and referring clients to appropriate services.
Conduct housing search efforts for each housing ready client (e.g., referrals to housing providers, contact landlords, search for apartment listings).
Develop curriculum to address clients’ Housing and Independent Living related needs.
Develop and facilitate a series of Housing Workshops.
Develop materials for a Bulletin Board with relevant Housing information.
Provide individualized counseling on housing related topics.
Organize and schedule presentations by supportive housing programs, local real estate experts and/or landlords.
Provide housing related support, training and coordination with other social services staff.
Establish linkages with community-based organizations and local landlords.
Review all approved housing packages to determine appropriateness of housing providers.
Escort clients to appointments (e.g., housing interviews, apartment move-ins, housing fairs).
Ensure quality housing placements through web-site checks (DOB, HPD) and verify landlord/utility payments and apartment condition.
Follow-up with clients after move-out to ensure stability.
Conduct initial intake and assessment of clients’ needs and periodic re-assessments.
Create and maintain client electronic and paper files.
Prepare initial psychosocial evaluation and update according to regulations.
Obtain and maintain relevant documentation and release forms from clients.
Conduct periodic revisions of independent living plans with clients.
Assist clients in attaining their goals by identifying community resources and referring them to appropriate services.
Work with clients to overcome barriers to goal attainment.
Assist clients in advocating for themselves to gain housing stability.
Recommend and implement strategies to encourage client participation in the transition to permanent housing.
Monitor clients' progress toward their goals via regularly scheduled face-to-face contacts/sessions.
Document all client encounters via progress notes using DHS CARES Database and print notes for client’s paper file.
Ensure CARES Database is updated to reflect client requests for services.
Follow-up with clients and referral organizations regarding client contact and progress.
Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
May act as client liaison/client advocate with outside organizations.
May schedule appointments for clients with referral organizations.
May assist clients in completing applications for benefits and entitlements and may process applications on clients' behalf.
May prepare marketing materials for the program.
Tasks may be modified, expanded and/or assigned over a period of time.