Founded in 1990, Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved counseling agency based in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, whose mission is to empower low- and moderate-income Brooklyn residents to secure quality housing and build financial assets. NHN is committed to providing the highest quality of service in order to educate and counsel working New Yorkers so they can help themselves; organize people so they can act collectively and help one another; network with other community organizations; and serve as an advocate for an conduit for resources to the communities it serves. NHN achieves this mission through a combination of homeownership and tenant services, as well as organizing and advocacy around local and citywide campaigns that align with a vision of safe, affordable housing in the Brooklyn communities NHN serves.

The Tenant Advocate and Intake Specialist will work collaboratively with staff to provide high quality, direct advocacy and case management, assisting individual households with a variety of issues including repairs, benefits, eviction and landlord harassment. The Tenant Advocate and Intake Specialist will also be the primary point of intake for tenants in need at Neighbors Helping Neighbor’s busy, bi-libngual, Sunset Park office. Working with administrative staff at Fifth Avenue Committee, the Tenant Advocate and Intake Specialist will also perform office management duties at NHN’s office in Sunset Park. In addition the Tenant Advocate and Intake Specialist will perform help with government contract reporting and, as needed, assist with tenants’ rights workshops, and leadership development for residents of the community.

This position reports to the Tenant Organizing and Advocacy Program Coordinator at NHN.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Tenant Counseling and Advocacy:

• Run weekly intake days (Mondays) for tenants in need who drop in at the NHN office; perform intakes for tenants who drop in on non-intake days;
• Provide housing counseling and case management services to tenants facing eviction and/or living in distressed housing conditions;
• Make referrals to FAC’s Community Services unit, as needed as well as to a variety of outside partner social services agencies, legal service providers and government agencies; follow up with these entities as needed;
• Assist tenants with applying for various benefit programs (SCRIE, DRIE, FEPS, one shot deals, etc.) and/or filing complaints with various city and state agencies (DHCR, HPD, DOB, etc.)
• Assist tenants with navigating housing court cases; accompany tenants to housing court as needed;
• Help with outreach efforts, including door knocking, to inform tenants of FAC and NHN’s services and campaigns;
• Provide support to educate community residents about their rights as tenants, and assess eligibility for public benefits, and other resources;
• Assist with tenant rights workshops at local schools, senior centers, and community organizations.

Intake and Administrative:

• Perform reception duties as needed at NHN’s Sunset Park office;
• Retrieve and return messages left on NHN’s general voicemail and communications directed to NHN’s general e-mail address;
• Perform government contract reporting and vouchering;
• Participate in regular staff meetings and professional development activities;
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate participant records, enter information in database in a timely manner, and compile outcomes and deliverables on services for funder reports and special events;
• Assist in grant reporting for private and government funders as needed;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish required;
• Prior knowledge of NYC tenant rights, tenant organizing, eviction prevention, and/or public benefits required;
• Some exposure to NYC affordable rental housing issues and South Brooklyn displacement pressures preferred;
• Experience working in a community-based, not for profit setting preferred;
• Comfortable working with low-income, immigrant residents, many undocumented;
• Ability to learn quickly and utilize creative problem solving skills;
• Ability to assist individuals in crisis;
• Detail-oriented, able to establish priorities and balance a complex load of tenant advocacy cases;
• Excellent communication skills in speaking and writing; and computer literacy;
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, dignity and social justice;
• Sense of humor, humility and respect;
• Commitment to NHN and FAC missions.

Compensation:

$20 per hour/21 hours per week

To apply:

Please email cover letter and resume by March 15, 2016 to:

Dave Powell, Director

Organizing & Advocacy Unit

jobs@fifthave.org

Please indicate “Tenant Advocate and Intake Specialist” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

Fifth Avenue Committee is an equal opportunity employer (EEO).

People of color, community residents, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.