Job Description
Job Title: Housing Advocate and Outreach Facilitator
Department: Housing
Position reports to: Deputy Chief Director and Housing Coordinator
Introductory Time: Three months
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Scope of the Position: The Housing Advocate is responsible for completing assigned housing program tasks in compliance with ODWDD funding requirements and Sinergia’s policy and procedures. He/She is responsible for case management in the form of housing advocacy to individuals in need of support who are OPWDD eligible. The housing advocate is also responsible for providing advocacy services for people who are not OPWDD eligible who live in the catchment area of 196th Street to 126th, river to river in Manhattan.
The advocacy services include, but are not limited to eviction prevention, home finding assistance, providing landlord-tenant mediation, request and follow up on repairs, assist with housing related applications and re-certifications, etc.
The advocate is responsible to conducting a minimum of 8 housing related trainings a year with a minimum of 200 participants a year.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The advocate is responsible to conducting a minimum of 8 housing related trainings a year with a minimum of 200 participants a year.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Knowledge of housing programs such as community and social service resources. Knowledge of eviction prevention, and landlord tenant disputes. Extensive knowledge of public assistance entitlements and housing subsidy programs. Excellent communication and writing skills. Computer literate and bilingual in Spanish.
Major Job Duties and Responsibilities:
• Respond to intakes within 72 hours
• Provide information and referral on all housing issues and concerns.
• Provide ongoing casework services to individuals and families who are at risk of becoming homeless.
• Accompany families for housing entitlements and landlord/tenant court issues.
• Escort tenants to housing court dates and adjournments.
• Conduct and organize Sinergia Inc. housing workshops in accordance with DHCR requirements.
• Assist families in obtaining or remaining in permanent housing by guiding families in the use of community resources.
• Be willing to work flexible hours
• Conduct home visits when necessary
• Advocate for repairs and entitlements
• Serve as liaison to outside government agencies such as HRA, HUD, HPD, NYCHA.
• Maintain all required paperwork, case records and data.
• Assist in completing all applicable housing application for families such as DRIE, SCRIE, and NYC Low Income Housing.
• Provide comprehensive case management on all housing issues.
• Obtain all necessary paperwork in compliance with OPWDD requirements.
• Comply with monthly in house meetings.
• Attend all necessary and related trainings pertaining to the efficient and thorough delivery of housing related services.
• Responsible for the development of program reports on a timely matter.
• Read, understand and translate court stipulation documents.
• Maintain thorough communication via phone text or email with supervisor when conducting outside fieldwork.
• Maintain and update calendar to reflect outside field work.
• Attend monthly housing department meetings with other staff as informed.
• Other related duties as assigned.
• Respond to intakes within 72 hours
• Provide information and referral on all housing issues and concerns.
• Provide ongoing casework services to individuals and families who are at risk of becoming homeless.
• Accompany families for housing entitlements and landlord/tenant court issues.
• Escort tenants to housing court dates and adjournments.
• Conduct and organize Sinergia Inc. housing workshops in accordance with DHCR requirements.
• Assist families in obtaining or remaining in permanent housing by guiding families in the use of community resources.
• Be willing to work flexible hours
• Conduct home visits when necessary
• Advocate for repairs and entitlements
• Serve as liaison to outside government agencies such as HRA, HUD, HPD, NYCHA.
• Maintain all required paperwork, case records and data.
• Assist in completing all applicable housing application for families such as DRIE, SCRIE, and NYC Low Income Housing.
• Provide comprehensive case management on all housing issues.
• Obtain all necessary paperwork in compliance with OPWDD requirements.
• Comply with monthly in house meetings.
• Attend all necessary and related trainings pertaining to the efficient and thorough delivery of housing related services.
• Responsible for the development of program reports on a timely matter.
• Read, understand and translate court stipulation documents.
• Maintain thorough communication via phone text or email with supervisor when conducting outside fieldwork.
• Maintain and update calendar to reflect outside field work.
• Attend monthly housing department meetings with other staff as informed.
• Other related duties as assigned.
Effective March 5, 2018 additional outreach responsibilities:
- Provide oversight and collect information for outreach activities and events for programmatic departments needing outreach support.
- Strategize and notify supervisors and coordinators of outreach opportunities.
- Review and recommend outreach efforts to maintain our brand presence within the community with Deputy Director.
- Occasionally (max-once a month) attend a meeting with partner organizations or committee’s that are outreach related.
Skills:
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of OPWDD audit, review process and its requirements.
• Great interpersonal skills in order to interact effectively with coworkers, employees, families and outside contacts.
• Demonstrate sound judgement and the capacity to respond to unusual situations.
• Must be able to maintain the strictest confidentiality
• Familiarity with housing entitlement systems and procedures.
• Strong case management skills.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of OPWDD audit, review process and its requirements.
• Great interpersonal skills in order to interact effectively with coworkers, employees, families and outside contacts.
• Demonstrate sound judgement and the capacity to respond to unusual situations.
• Must be able to maintain the strictest confidentiality
• Familiarity with housing entitlement systems and procedures.
• Strong case management skills.
• Excellent computer skills.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT:
Serves as a role model for all Agency staff in promoting the Agency Mission, Vision, Values, and Guiding Principles:
Serves as a role model for all Agency staff in promoting the Agency Mission, Vision, Values, and Guiding Principles:
• Fosters Agency and program wide cooperation and teamwork through use of positive/constructive communication techniques.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality in regards to all people served and personnel records.
Corporate HIPPA Compliance:
Employees must comply with agency regulations policies and procedures. Any employee who witnesses or learns about a violation or possible violation of agency or governing body rules and regulations or policies and procedures is required to immediately report this to his/her supervisor or the agency’s corporate compliance officer.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality in regards to all people served and personnel records.
Corporate HIPPA Compliance:
Employees must comply with agency regulations policies and procedures. Any employee who witnesses or learns about a violation or possible violation of agency or governing body rules and regulations or policies and procedures is required to immediately report this to his/her supervisor or the agency’s corporate compliance officer.
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:
• Associate’s Degree in related field Bachelor preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer and typing skills.
• Previous advocacy experiences.
• Associate’s Degree in related field Bachelor preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer and typing skills.
• Previous advocacy experiences.
Attn: Lenny Moise, Director of Human Resources Email address: lmoise@sinergiany.org
Telephone: 212-643-2840 Ex 337 Cell: 646-477-7510 Fax: 212-999-4982
Telephone: 212-643-2840 Ex 337 Cell: 646-477-7510 Fax: 212-999-4982
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