RESOURCE SPECIALIST

About the role

The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is the largest organization in the United States dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness. In partnership with other City agencies and nonprofit organizations, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it begins, reduce street homelessness, provide temporary shelter, and connect individuals and families to stable housing all with a focus on accountability, empathy, and equity.

DHS is committed to continuous improvement and employs innovative strategies to deliver high-quality services that support a swift transition from shelter to self-sufficiency. The agency manages hundreds of facilities and operates with a large team as well as a several billion-dollar budget to meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

The Division of Shelter Intake is responsible for the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the agency’s Single Adult, Adult Families and Families with Children’s intake and assessment sites, both directly run and contracted providers. This Division is responsible for ensuring that the City’s most vulnerable population can access shelter, per eligibility criteria, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The Department of Homeless Services is recruiting one (1) Community Coordinator to function as Resource Specialist at The Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC) who will:

• Cultivate relationships across diverse communities to provide new opportunities for clients and community-based homeless populations regarding housing alternatives to shelter. Provide information about these opportunities to staff and support community partners as they provide these opportunities to the homeless population.
• Conduct outreach, interviews, recruitment, and screening for housing alternatives to shelter with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendents, neighbors, other city agencies, institutional settings, private entities, and other collateral sources of information to obtain relevant information in connection with determining the applicant’s viability for housing within the community.
• Canvas the community and engage with the community-based homeless population to provide DHS shelter referrals and educate individuals about housing options or other resources available in the community through mediation, referrals, meetings, and other methods.
• Gather all applicant information, including housing history and income. Review and verify documents provided by the applicant. Perform screening interviews for single adult applicants. Follow up with applicants’ past housing resources to determine whether applicants can return to the community. Make an initial recommendation on applicants’ alternatives to shelter based on a total assessment of the individual’s situation.
• Perform fieldwork, including interviews and meetings with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendents, and neighbors.
• Complete all other necessary screenings of applicants who have housing options or other resources available in the community. Provide an initial assessment of applicants’ psychiatric and substance abuse histories and work with a Behavioral Health Specialist as needed.

Work Location: 39 Auburn Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Qualifications & Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.