Senior Advocate - Homeless Services

OCO•Oswego, NY

About The Position

OCO's Crisis & Development Services assist people in gaining safety, self sufficiency and personal growth through prevention, intervention and skill building services. Homeless Services Advocates provide on-going case management to assist homeless individuals and families to achieve permanent housing and assist them with supportive services during their experience of homelessness and housing stabilization. Provides crisis intervention, advocacy, referral, coordination and other case management and supportive services related to housing stability.

Requirements

Must exercise a non-judgmental, client-centered approach in working with clients.
Must be able to motivate others and be a good leader and role model.
Must have knowledge of child development, crisis intervention and counseling techniques.
Must attend bi-weekly staff meetings; attends in-service training and case consultation sessions as required.
Must have valid New York State Driver's License with good driving record and have access to a reliable insured vehicle.
Must have the ability to follow oral and written directions.
Must be able to readily negotiate stairs, operate an Agency vehicle, and lift-up to 50 pounds.
Must possess familiarity of community resources.
Must be able to be flexible and cooperative with staff about work hours.
Must be organized, resourceful, flexible, have good assessment skills, and able to utilize good independent judgment in dealing with situations that arise.
Must have Associate's Degree in a Human Services area; and Must have 1 - 3 years’ directly related job and supervisory experience; or Any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.

Responsibilities

Provides direct supervision to Data Specialist and Housing Advocates.
Carries a client case load and assists clients with crisis intervention, supportive counseling, transportation, advocacy, hotline coverage and connection to community services.
Meets with clients regularly to discuss/assess progress towards personal goals.
Handles staff and client situations that arise and assesses when to refer unusual issues to the Program Coordinator.
Carries out all responsibilities according to regulations and policies and ensures staff accountability to policies and regulations.
Supervises staff who work with clients in the Crisis and Development HUD projects.
Assists with updates and maintains procedures and policies; ensures policies are implemented and communicated thoroughly.
Carries a case load of clients who are homeless and assists with finding housing and stabilizing housing.
Connects clients with providers, and will coordinate with community partners to ensure comprehensive services are provided and project data is tracked
Communicates daily with Homeless Services Leadership about client and/or staff problems/concerns, activities and interaction that occur.
Works cooperatively with direct Supervisor to ensure all program milestones are met.
Provides crisis intervention, supportive counseling and advocacy to clients while acting as a positive role model in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Responsible for the accuracy and QA of all client files/documentation for compliance, data base entry, and reporting.
Completes QA in database systems to comply with HUD and Agency requirements.
Makes corrections as needed.
Monitors and tracks spending for different HUD funding sources and assures funding is spent by the end of the funding year.
Facilitates staff meetings and ensures systems are in place to communicate actions from meetings to Supervisor.
Ensures client statistics are being tracked accurately and are forwarded to the coordinator for completion of monthly, quarterly and yearly reports every month.
Assists with completing reports.
Manages the maintenance, inventory control, and cleaning of the program vehicles.
Works cooperatively with direct Supervisor as well as Homeless Services Leadership Team on a daily basis.
Serves as a Homeless Services Representative on either internal and/or external committees or meetings.
Assumes other related duties as assigned.