Housing Specialist

COMMUNITY HOUSING INNOVATIONS INC•New York, NY

49d•$24 - $50,004•Onsite

About The Position

Community Housing Innovations (CHI) is a not-for-profit housing and human services organization that aims to support social and economic independence. Our vision is to end generational poverty and foster upward mobility by ensuring that all families and individuals live in quality housing, have a home of their own, and a job to support them. We believe quality, affordable housing is the foundation for prosperity, personal fulfillment, and success. CHI employs a hard-working, compassionate team dedicated to giving back to the community. This role is responsible for ensuring program participants receive the necessary services to locate, acquire, maintain, and retain permanent housing. This includes providing landlord outreach and advocacy, housing leads, and application assistance. The specialist will be knowledgeable about and accurately complete applications for housing subsidy programs.

Requirements

High School Diploma required
1-2 years’ experience in a related field assisting people with homelessness and obtaining permanent housing.
Must have working knowledge and insight into NYC housing resources including experience helping people find affordable housing and working with different NYC and NY State agencies and programs the facilitate permanent housing goals.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency in English required
Basic competency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook and the internet
Ability to formulate simple financial budgets
Ability to make home visits (walk distances, climb several flights of stairs, etc.)
Ability to prioritize, make appropriate decisions and judgment calls
Ability to relate to the underserved, homeless and disabled populations.
Ability to work independently or as part of a team, be highly organized, assume responsibility, work well under pressure, meet deadlines, multitask, be flexible, and maintain a high level of attention to details.

Nice To Haves

bachelor’s degree in human services or related field preferred
bi-lingual (Spanish) is a plus

Responsibilities

Adheres to and enforces program regulations, policies, and procedures.
Ensures that all clients are receiving quality services that are in compliance with the program.
Assists clients in locating housing within their specified budgets.
Provides information, referrals, direct service, and advocacy services for local housing pool.
Develops and maintains a resource network for referrals as related to the housing; realtors, landlords, housing complexes and local Section 8 offices.
Is familiar with NYC and NYS housing subsidy programs, supportive housing options, SROs and affordable housing.
Collaborates with DHS, property owners, and other service providers, and shelter Case Manager to assist families in fulfilling ILP and program requirements.
Mediates between clients and property owners or representatives.
Responsible for collecting and reviewing Housing Logs and informing case managers of any concerns related to documents.
Completes Housing Packets and Shelter Supplement Program paperwork.
Submits all internal and external reports in a timely and correct manner as required by funding agencies and/or CHI (housing logs, unit inspection sheets, progress notes, as required by CHI and DHS.
Completes progress notes, referral, and updates client’s CARES case.
Maintains charts, files, and housing paperwork in an orderly fashion.
Always maintains clinical appropriateness.