RESOURCE SPECIALIST

City of New York • New York, NY

1d • $62,868 - $72,298 • Onsite

About The Position

The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is recruiting one Community Coordinator to function as a Resource Specialist at the Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC). The role supports DHS’s efforts to prevent and address homelessness by connecting applicants and community-based homeless populations with housing alternatives to shelter and other community resources. The Division of Shelter Intake oversees day-to-day operations at intake and assessment sites serving single adults, adult families, and families with children. These sites help ensure access to shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The Resource Specialist cultivates relationships across diverse communities, conducts outreach and assessments, verifies applicant information, and makes initial recommendations about potential alternatives to shelter. The position also involves community fieldwork and collaboration with a Behavioral Health Specialist when needed.

Work location: 333 Bowery, New York, NY 10003.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community-centered activities related to the duties; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community-centered activities related to the duties; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to either of the stated pathways, with at least one year of qualifying community-work or community-centered-activities experience.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate relationships across diverse communities to identify housing alternatives to shelter, share opportunities with staff, and support community partners in offering those opportunities.
• Conduct outreach, interviews, recruitment, and screening related to housing alternatives with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendents, neighbors, city agencies, institutional settings, private entities, and other information sources.
• Canvas the community and engage community-based homeless populations, provide DHS shelter referrals, and explain housing options and other available community resources through mediation, referrals, meetings, and other methods.
• Gather applicant information, including housing history and income, and review and verify documents provided by applicants.
• Conduct screening interviews for single adult applicants and follow up with past housing resources to determine whether applicants can return to the community.
• Make initial recommendations about alternatives to shelter based on an assessment of each applicant’s situation.
• Perform fieldwork, including interviews and meetings with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendents, and neighbors.
• Complete other necessary screenings for applicants with housing options or other community resources.
• Provide an initial assessment of applicants’ psychiatric and substance abuse histories and work with a Behavioral Health Specialist as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time