Housing Coordinator

Project Renewal is a leading non-profit organization with the mission of building supportive communities where people achieve dignity and independence, renewing their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Our comprehensive and integrated 24/7 programs are designed to offer the holistic care our clients need. With a staff of 950+ and an annual budget of $140 million, Project Renewal is one of the larger social service nonprofits in New York City.

Title: Housing Coordinator

Program:     Atlas House Men’s Shelter

Salary Range: $46,000 - $50,000

Program Description:

Atlas House Men’s Shelter is a 110 bed 24/7 general population emergency shelter for homeless men in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn.  Our comprehensive services include case management, individual and group counseling, recreational activities, and housing placement assistance. Additionally, on-site medical and psychiatric services are offered in addition to referrals to a wide variety of resources and services that our clients may need. 

Position Overview:

Under the direction of the Program Director, with some latitude for independent action and decision making, the Housing Coordinator is responsible for identifying housing options for the clients, especially the long term stayers, and assisting the clients in preparing and submitting applications, so permanent housing can be obtained, the lengths of stay in the shelter can be reduced, and the clients can obtain independence and return to their communities; performs related work.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties of the Housing Coordinator include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Utilizing vacancy rosters provided by the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) and other housing providers, identifies vacancies throughout the five boroughs and selects possible housing options to which clients can apply for placement.
• Reviews housing  application package for each client to ensure documents are complete and the psychological evaluation in order to submit the application to the housing provider, and performs appropriate follow-up on submitted application.   
• Reviews the daily shift summary to become aware of new clients to be scheduled and to know if any clients have missed curfew and possibly a scheduled appointment for housing placement. Performs appropriate follow-up in either situation.
• Conducts weekly individualized and group meetings for clients, focusing on housing placement issues and guiding them through the housing application process.
• Visits housing providers’ facilities to develop and maintain a positive working relationship with them and to get as much information as possible for the clients applying for placement.
• Prepares clients for housing interviews, conducting mock interviews sessions, accompanies them on tours of facilities, and in general coordinates and facilitates the referral process.  
• Escorts clients going for housing placement interviews via mass transit/ public transportation.
• Reviews and updates the tracking system for submitted applications, interviews, and selections or denials.  Performs follow-up to any denial of housing applications submitted to providers.
• Conducts weekly on-site housing workshops.
• Maintains and participates in the monthly Plan for Permanency (PFP) case management conferences.
• Performs other duties as assigned by then Director of Social Services and/or Program Director.

Physical Activities:

Assisting clients with moving into their units. While performing the duties of this position, the Housing Coordinator must be able to walk between five floors of the facility. In addition, the Housing Coordinator must stand, bend to use the files and be able to sit at the computer workstation for extended periods to review the client data and update the information in the case management systems.  Further, the Housing Coordinator must be able to lift or move material and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience working with homeless adults with substance and illicit drug abuse issues with objectives toward securing permanent housing for them.
• Knowledge of low-income housing in New York City as well as special needs housing, including the NY/NY Supportive Housing and Section 8 housing. Knowledge of CAPS Supportive Housing  Application System.
• Excellent oral, written, and listening skills.
• The ability to work independently and initiate corrective actions to help clients seeking permanent housing.
• The ability to interface with clients as well as all levels of staff.   
• Knowledge of case management software as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word and EXCEL

Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer.  Its long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, gender (see separately issued Gender Discrimination policy for more detail), physical or mental disability, age (18 and over), military status, arrest record, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.