Legal Assistance Housing Court Liaison

City of New York • New York, NY

16d

About The Position

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. The Office of Civil Justice (OCJ), an office created by the City Charter and established as a unit of the Department of Social Services’ Office of Legal Affairs, is part of the City’s unprecedented investment in free legal services for New Yorkers in need. The Office of Civil Justice, led by the Civil Justice Coordinator, consolidates the City’s various legal services programs at DSS and works to increase the availability of legal services citywide. To do this, the Office coordinates with legal services providers; the court systems; the advocacy community; elected officials City officials inside and outside of DSS; policy makers; tenants in need; and other key stakeholders. The Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) is recruiting four (4) Principal Administrative Associate II, to function as a Legal Assistance Housing Court Liaison in the Housing Courts throughout the five boroughs who will:

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty; or
• An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience described in "1" above; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and five years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience as described in "1" above;
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. However, all candidates must possess the one year of administrative or supervisory experience as described in "1" above. Education above the high school level may be substituted for the general clerical/administrative experience (but not for the one year of administrative or supervisory experience described in "1" above) at a rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 6 months of experience up to a maximum of 3½ years.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief liaison between the Housing Courts, HRA and the legal services providers, ensuring and coordinating the flow of services, and maintaining strong ongoing relationships with all entities.
• Conduct interviews with clients/tenants to determine eligibility for legal services in addition to reviewing identity documents and income support documentation provided by the client and reviewing critical benefit information from the various agency electronic systems.
• Provide information on the legal services offered at the Housing Court to clients/tenants and make referrals to the appropriate legal services provider; supervise and coordinate the day-to-day activities of support staff.
• Make referrals for rental assistance and respond to emergency cases by expediting referrals for legal services and rental assistance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees