Housing Specialist

Help USA • New York, NY

23h

About The Position

As a Housing Specialist with HELP USA’s Haven program in Manhattan, New York, you will help clients find housing and achieve self-sufficiency. You will build and manage relationships with clients, real estate brokers, landlords, service providers, and colleagues. You will help clients identify programs for which they qualify, guide their housing searches, refer them to appropriate resources, and advocate for them with landlords and brokers. You will also coach clients on apartment searches, landlord interviews, housing forms, utility activation, and other steps involved in securing housing.

The role includes conducting housing intakes and assessments, supporting clients in their search for permanent or supportive housing, assisting with applications and referrals, and helping clients move into housing. You will stay informed about housing subsidy programs, build housing resources through outreach to brokers and landlords, participate in interdisciplinary case conferences, maintain timely and organized case-management documentation, and develop housing workshops and forums with outside providers.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent, or equivalent experience and skills.
• Outstanding customer service and conflict management skills, with willingness to coordinate and cooperate as part of a multidisciplinary client service team.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to take initiative, be dependable and resourceful, and pay close attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently in a time-sensitive manner.
• High ethical standards and personal integrity to ensure compliance with HELP USA policies and the requirements of regulatory agencies and funders.
• Commitment to HELP USA’s mission to help people in need of housing and end homelessness.
• Computer literacy with Microsoft applications.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in housing placement services is strongly preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish/English skills.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Conduct housing intake and assessment interviews for new residents, complete the housing portion of independent living plans, and make reassessments and revisions as needed.
• Meet regularly with clients to guide their search for permanent and/or supportive housing, assess their needs and barriers, identify eligible programs, make referrals, assist with applications, and ensure timely submission.
• Accompany clients to apartment viewings and assist with moves into supportive and/or permanent housing, including advocating with landlords, attending lease signings, ensuring utilities are activated, and assisting with move-outs.
• Stay up to date on changes, additions, and cancellations to housing subsidy programs and regularly attend trainings provided by DHS and other agencies.
• Network and reach out to brokers and landlords to identify and develop new housing resources.
• Participate in regular interdisciplinary team case conferences to keep the social services team informed about each client’s status and requirements.
• Record housing-related documentation in the case management system in a timely, organized, and complete manner.
• Develop and present housing workshops and arrange forums with outside providers on securing permanent housing and becoming and remaining self-sufficient.
• Coach clients on conducting apartment searches, interviewing with landlords, completing housing forms, and activating utilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED