Entitlement Specialist

Position: Housing & Entitlement Specialist
PURPOSE:

The Jewish Board's Community Behavioral Health treatment programs provide compassionate, high quality, evidence-based services to individuals and families in the communities we serve. Our staff uses a culturally competent, person-centered approach to help individuals and their families develop skills and resources to improve overall functioning, to instill hope, and to strengthen resiliency. Our programs collaborate closely with community partners to address health disparities in our neighborhoods while also celebrating the strengths and resilience of our communities.

Our children's community residences are single site residences that provide a group living for eight children and/or adolescents. The program provides a supervised, traumatic, informed therapeutic environment which seeks to develop the resident's skills and capacity to live in the community and attend school/work as appropriately.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Housing and Entitlement Specialist plays a key role in helping young adults in the Children's Community Residences secure permanent housing and access critical entitlements. This position provides focused, individualized support to help youth complete the targeted tasks necessary for a successful transition to stable housing, public benefits, and other essential resources upon discharge from the residences.

KEY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Complete HRA and housing applications for all youth upon reaching age 18.
• Assist youth in obtaining vital documents, as needed.
• Assist youth in obtaining stable housing.
• Guide youth through the housing application process, help secure housing placements, and provide support to promote housing stability.
• Assist youth with applying for and obtaining public benefits, including healthcare, financial assistance, and legal documentation such as driver's licenses and Family Court orders.
• Accompany youth to housing and entitlement appointments, as needed.
• Monitor housing and entitlement status and provide follow-up support, as needed.
• Collaborate with youth, treatment teams, and program staff on housing access, entitlement acquisition, and discharge planning.
• Work one-on-one with youth on-site and in the community to develop strength-based goals and take measurable steps toward housing readiness.
• Develop relationships with young adult housing programs and housing authorities to expand housing opportunities for youth.
• Conduct frequent fieldwork and travel within the boroughs using public transportation or an agency vehicle, as available.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrated ability to work from a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and youth development framework.
• Demonstrated compassionate, warm, and empathetic engagement with youth.
• Commitment to supporting and advocating for young people.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build rapport and provide consistent support and encouragement.
• Demonstrated reliability, professionalism, respect for diversity, and belief in the capacity for change.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and remain calm in high-pressure situations.
• Strong organizational, advocacy, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of housing resources, public benefits, and entitlement systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team, build partnerships with external providers, navigate complex systems, and work independently.
• Flexibility and adaptability in responding to the evolving needs of the youth served.

EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, or a related field required.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED / LANGUAGE PREFERENCE:

• Experience in housing services, entitlement programs, or case management preferred.
• Spanish bilingual proficiency preferred.
• Valid driver's license and ability to transport youth in agency vehicles required.

COMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, required.
• Ability to learn and use electronic health records, CAPS, and other required software systems.

VISUAL AND MANUAL DEXTERITY:

• Ability to read printed and electronic documents and perform substantial data entry across multiple computer systems.

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to safely navigate stairs.
• Ability to travel between program locations, including CR and SILP sites.
• Ability to accompany youth on public transportation.
• Ability to attend meetings outside the program, as needed.

If you join us, you'll have these great benefits:

• Generous paid time off in addition to paid agency holidays and 15 sick days
• Affordable and high-quality medical/dental/vision plans
• Tuition assistance and educational loan forgiveness
• Free continuing education opportunities
• 403(b) retirement benefits and a pension
• Flexible spending accounts for health and transportation
• 27/7 Accessible Employee Assistance Program
• Life and disability insurance

Who we are:

The Jewish Board delivers innovative, high-quality, and…