The Housing Specialist assists foster youth in securing permanent housing by managing applications and coordinating with agencies like NYCHA. They provide one-on-one coaching to develop housing goals and support the transition to independent adult living.
Requirements summary
Requires a Bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience in housing services, preferably working with at-risk youth. Candidates must have a valid driver's license and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
The Kaplan House (Manhattan), Cedar Knolls House (Bronx), SILP (Bronx) provides therapeutic and support services to adolescent’s ages 16-21 who are referred through the Administration for Children’s Services. Our residents have experienced significant trauma and often struggle with managing their emotional and behavioral needs. Both programs provide an array of services including medical, clinical, education/vocation, recreation, substance use and additional support services that emphasize family interaction and strengthening of community support networks, as well as increasing independent living skills. All treatment team members work to ensure that youth and families drive the focus of their treatment and are full-time partners in their own healing and recovery. Youth and families have direct input into their treatment as well as program performance and development. We utilize Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) in conjunction with evidence-based clinical interventions to support youth and family in their healing and recovery.
Position
OVERVIEW: The Housing Specialist is part of The Jewish Board’s “A Step Ahead” coaching program, sponsored by Fair Futures. Fair Futures is a coalition of child welfare agencies, non-profits, foundations, advocates and young adults working to ensure they fulfill their promise to New York City’s foster youth. The Housing Specialist is responsible for working with youths residing at the Jewish Board’s two Hard to Place Group Homes, Kaplan House and Cedar Knolls House. Specialists assist coaches and young people in conducting specific, specialized, and targeted tasks that will help them achieve permanent housing post discharge from foster care. Under the model, the housing specialist assists youths with securing appropriate housing based on the strengths and needs of each young person. The specialist also supports the work of the Youth Empowerment Coaches who work to provide intensive coaching to a caseload of youth with the goal of increasing graduation rates, building career development experiences, and supporting the youth transitioning into adulthood.
KEY
Essential
Functions:
Work with young people who are aging out to submit all forms of housing applications by age 18.
Check-in on young people’s application status and follow-up with NYCHA and supportive housing residences, as needed.
Help young people apply to permanent housing, when applicable, by helping them obtain Section 8 vouchers, apply to the NYC affordable housing lottery, etc.
Collaborate with the case planner and treatment team on all aspects pertaining to the young person securing housing and/or housing program, and actualizing the discharge process to housing.
Benefits
Dental Insurance
Disability Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Life Insurance
Paid Time Off
Vision Insurance
Medical Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Tuition Assistance
Pension
Sick Days
Continuing Education Opportunities
Paid Agency Holidays
Educational Loan Forgiveness
403(b) Retirement Benefits
Complete all required Fair Futures trainings in addition to required agency and regulatory bodies’ trainings. Supervisor/program may also add required trainings as necessary.
Work 1:1 with youth onsite/offsite to develop goals based on their interests and strengths and take measurable steps towards their housing goals
Collaborate with residential team members as well as outside service providers, parents/caregivers, etc. to develop youth-focused plans.
Re-engage disconnected youth and/or alumni that are struggling with housing or their housing goals.
Establish and develop relationships with housing programs for young adults, realtors, housing authority, and realty groups etc. to increase housing opportunities for young people.
Coordinate specifically with the Coaches assigned to each youth regarding educational standing and employment for the youth as it may affect housing requirements and options.
Support youth with transitioning to adult housing included but not limited to attending interviews/tours, moving in, obtaining furniture, and supporting them with maintaining housing through IL skills (budgeting, opening bank accounts, etc.)
Frequent fieldwork and willingness to travel within the boroughs by public transportation or in an agency vehicle as available.
Other duties as assigned
CORE
Competencies:
Relational
Skills:
Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens;
Compassionate, warm, empathetic;
A love for working with young people;
Strong ability to relate to young people, and provide support and encouragement
Consistent and reliable;
Values and promotes diversity;
A belief that change is possible;
Able to maintain healthy boundaries;
Able to remain calm during moments of tension and stress.
Successful
Specialists
Need:
Strong written and verbal communication skills;
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
Strong time-management skills;
Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway;
Open to learning how to use and interpret data to inform decision-making;
Ability to navigate complex housing issues, be resourceful, and work independently;
Ability to adapt quickly and thoughtfully to ever changing needs of the youth served;
Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive agency vehicles to transport youths to appointments;
Bilingual in
Spanish preferred
Team
Process:
Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners;
Attend all group supervisions and treatment team meetings
Education/Training
Required:
Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant experience working in housing services.
Experience working with at-risk or system-involved young people is strongly preferred.
Computer
SKILLS
Required:
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
Fluent in OCFS Connections database preferred
Ability to learn electronic health records, CAPS System, and other software as required.
WORK
Environment/Physical
EFFORT:
Must be willing to be trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)
Group Home Setting
Must be able walk up/down stairs
If you join us, you’ll have these great benefits: Generous paid time off in addition to paid agency holidays and 15 sick days Affordable and high-quality medical/dental/vision plans Tuition assistance and educational loan forgiveness Free continuing education opportunities 403(b) retirement benefits and a pension Flexible spending accounts for health and transportation 24/7 Accessible Employee Assistance Program Life and disability insurance Diversity, equity, and inclusion working groups that are available for you to join, including Confronting Structural Racism (COR), Coalition Against Anti-Semitism (CAAS), and the LGBTQ Steering Committee
Who We Are
The Jewish Board delivers innovative, high-quality, and compassionate mental health and social services to over 45,000 New Yorkers each year. We are unique in serving everyone from infants and their families to children, teens, and adults. We are proud to employ and serve people of all religions, races, cultural backgrounds, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. We are committed to building diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams to help support our mission, and we strongly encourage candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds to apply to work with us. More on Equal Opportunity: We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
