Senior Consumer Advocate, Transition

Breaking Ground•New York, NY

About The Position

Reporting to the Director, Housing Placement Services, the Senior Consumer Advocate, Transition manages Consumer Advocates, Transition and partners with Transition Coordinators, program-based staff, and community partners to provide support for clients throughout the stressful move-in process. The Senior Consumer Advocate, Transition ensures quality services, assessments, client engagement, and ensures all required data is entered into databases. The Senior Consumer Advocate, Transition also ensuring clients are acclimating to their new home and help them navigate community resources.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent required
Minimum 2 years of experience working with homeless adults and substance use issues required; 1 year of supervisory experience preferred
Lived experience with homelessness, unstable housing, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues, and willingness to appropriately use lived experience as a tool for building client rapport and developing service connection preferred
Knowledge of local benefit agencies (e.g., Public Assistance) and familiarity with substance abuse, mental health, immigration, and employment resources
Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams required; familiarity with AWARDS database preferred
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Responsibilities

Supervise Consumer Advocates, Transition
Draw on lived experience of homelessness, mental illness, substance use, and/or immigration issues to build rapport with clients and develop appropriate service connections
Provide a small group of clients post move-in support
Ensure clients are prepared for the housing process by conducting mock interviews
Escort clients to housing interviews and viewings
Conduct post interview follow-up with clients and provide clients with feedback
Provide clients with support on move-in day into permanent housing, ensuring client is safe, secure, and has the necessary items
Conduct health surveys before move-in and every 6 months, for 2 years and ensure staff are updating tracker
Provide clients with community resources (pre and post move-in), as needed
Maintain record keeping in compliance with agency standards and those of City, State, and Federal agencies
Document all client interactions in AWARDS database system and ensure Consumer Advocates, Transition have made accurate and timely updates for their clients
Intervene in crisis situations, when necessary
Attend clinical supervision and trainings
Perform other duties as assigned