Housing Specialist - Housing Supports

Posted Monday, October 20, 2025 at 4:00 AM

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Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work;

employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

The primary role of the Housing Support Specialist is to ensure that the Operations Directors, Senior Supervisors and Supervisors are properly trained within the OPWDD residential division on all operating systems, so that they can ensure the needs of the men and women supported in their respective programs are met. This includes providing support to the Operations Directors, Senior Supervisors and Supervisors, beyond training, that are outlined below to ensure the highest quality of care is provided to those we support.

These needs include, but are not limited to, ensuring their rights are both promoted and respected, supporting their health and safety and working with them to identify and realize their personal outcomes. The Housing Support Specialist is responsible for the overall management training within the residential facilitates, completing reviews and observations to ensure efficient and effective utilization of all resources and consistency with the policies and procedures of FREE.

• Side by side training and guidance for all management personnel.
• Developing and facilitating ongoing Management and OD training. This includes regulatory, agency practices and leadership training in partnership with HR.
• Validate policies and procedures are being followed by all levels of management by conducting on‑site reviews as required by Housing Support Director.
• Review requisite documentation, including service documentation, medical, financial etc., for all residences within scope, for accuracy, thoroughness and timely filing in a manner in accordance with New York State, Federal and Agency policy.
• Completion of quarterly reviews of all systems, with enhanced focus on health and safety areas and other critical documentation. Provide a full report to the team to ensure any issues identified are rectified timely.
• Completion of announced and unannounced observations during all shifts.
• Assist in the completion of overnight spot checks (twice a year as requested).
• Manage the public drive, folders, keeping training tools up to date.
• Assist housing with reports to improve quality and create efficiencies (i.e. overtime, schedules, bank balances etc.).
• Participate and lead (if requested) Project Management Meetings and program support as requested by Housing Support Director.
• Support teams with survey preparation and provide on‑site support during DQI/OFPC surveys as needed.
• Assist with external plans of corrective actions (POCA) and help teams with validation systems.
• Assist with developing and training on quarterly external survey trends for housing.
• Ensure follow through on all recommendations and plans of action (in specific vulnerable or high‑needs) programs resulting from external surveys in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency Policies, as requested.
• Participate in committee meetings as requested.
• Ensure that the rights, health, safety and personal outcomes of the people living in the residence are supported at all times.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Always communicate in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Comply fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their…