Earned Paralegal, Unit, CAMBA Legal Services

Benefits Paralegal

CAMBA is a community of staff, volunteers, clients, donors, neighbors and partners who work together to build an inclusive New York City, where all children and adults have access to the resources and supports they need to thrive. We take a comprehensive approach by offering more than 160 integrated programs in:
Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. We reach more than 65,000 individuals and families each year at our 90 locations, including 10,000 youth. CAMBA serves a diverse cross section of New Yorkers from new mothers in Brownsville to job seekers in the Rockaways. More than half of our clients are immigrants and refugees from around the globe.

Over 85% of our families are in living in poverty, reflecting the challenges faced by nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers today.

CAMBA Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) is the legal services arm of CAMBA, Inc. CLS provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers in the areas of consumer law, foreclosure prevention, immigration, housing law, and domestic violence assistance. In addition to providing direct representation and providing legal advice and counsel to thousands of clients, CAMBA attorneys also engage in legislative advocacy, impact litigation in both state and federal court, provide community education and offer expert training on a wide range of issues, services that allow members of our community improve their lives.

What does the Benefits Paralegal, Housing Unit, Do:

• Assist clients in completing CAMBA intake applications, registrations and forms.
• Conduct intake and assessment of clients and clients' families' situations and needs.
• Conduct home visits in order to perform intake and follow-up services.
• Assist clients in completing benefits applications, fair hearings and other administrative proceedings.
• Maintain professional relationships with clients and client confidentiality.
• Practice Universal Precautions/Standard Protocol & Procedures.
• Comply with any and all Federal, State, City and CAMBA security and privacy polices intended to protect the security and privacy of individually identifiable health information.
• Serve as a liaison with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, housing, social services, legal issues, etc.
• Assist clients in attaining their Housing related goals by identifying and referring clients to appropriate services both within and outside CAMBA.
• Conduct housing search efforts for each housing ready client referred (i.e., referrals to housing providers, contact landlords, search for apartment listings, etc.).
• Assist clients in completing applications for benefits and entitlements (i.e., HCR Section
  8), and may process applications on clients' behalf.
• Develop curriculum to address clients' Housing needs including, permanent housing search process and options.
• Provide individualized counseling on housing related topics.
• Provide housing related support, training and coordination.
• Establish linkages with community-based organizations and local landlords.
• Escort clients to appointments (i.e., housing interviews, apartment move-ins, housing fairs, etc.)
• Follow-up with clients regarding HPD required for processing of recertifications.
• Conduct initial intake and assessment of clients' needs and periodic re-assessments.
• Create and maintain client electronic and paper files.
• Obtain and maintain relevant documentation and release forms from clients.
• Assist clients in attaining their goals by identifying community resources and by referring clients to appropriate services.
• Work with clients to break through barriers to their goal(s) attainment.
• Assist clients in advocating for themselves in order to gain housing stability.
• Recommend and implement strategies to persuade clients to participate fully in the process in order to transition into permanent housing.
• Monitor clients' progress toward their goals via regularly scheduled face-to-face contacts/sessions.
• Document all client encounters via progress notes.
• Follow-up with clients and with referral organizations regarding client contact and progress with referral organization.
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• Act as client liaison/client advocate with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, housing, legal issues, etc.
• Filing, copying, faxing, emailing to clients, funders and referring agencies.
• Submit documents etc to…