Housing Specialist; Baxter

Position: Housing Specialist (Baxter)
Intro/Program

Description:

The Baxter Safe Haven is a 74-bed Safe Haven which provides transitional housing to unsheltered single adults as part of Goddard’s continuum of homeless services and consistent with our philosophy of housing all New Yorkers. The Baxter offers medical, behavioral health and wellness services, entitlement assistance, substance use counseling and groups through our Harm Reduction Specialists, and assistance with securing permanent housing.

Purpose of Position:
The Housing Specialist will serve as part of an interdisciplinary team working to secure stable, permanent housing for clients of the Baxter Safe Haven.

Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pmSalary Range: $45,233.87-$50,259.86

Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account.

Roles, Responsibilities and Essential Duties Client-Facing Work (~40%)Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to promote wellness and help clients obtain stable, permanent housing

Conduct housing eligibility assessments for all clients

Meet with clients to establish goals, monitor and assess progress

Complete housing application packages (2010E’s, voucher applications, and Housing Connect)
Prepare and coach clients to complete housing interviews

Develop and facilitate client workshops and individual sessions on skills and information necessary to acquire and maintain independent permanent housing

Work with clients to break down barriers they have to meet their goals

Respond quickly and appropriately in crisis situations

Administrative Duties (~40%)Track placements and conduct follow up on clients placed into permanent housing

Develop and maintain appropriate records and documentation of services to clients

Participate in weekly staff meetings, case conferences, training programs and supervision meetings

Maintain an active listing of housing opportunities

Negotiate with landlords and other service providers to ensure stable housing

Field Work (~20%)Accompany clients to housing related appointments such as apartment viewings, housing interviews, and apartment inspections as needed

Connect with outside housing providers/resources (landlords, brokers, DHS, HPD, HASA, and other housing providers)
Other duties as required to ensure the overall operation of the program

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

Required:

High School Diploma or GED required

Preferred:

Bachelor’s Degree Proficiency in Spanish and English Experience showcasing knowledge of completing housing applications

Experience working with homeless adults

Experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness, substance use, and co-occurring disorders

Prior experience in safe haven, outreach, or supportive housing

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Ability to maintain a calm, professional, and welcoming demeanor when working with a challenging population

Understanding harm reduction model, motivational interviewing, trauma informed care, and other best practices

Strong team player who collaborates effectively across departments to support overall program operations

Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust across diverse populations

Strong organizational and systems-oriented approach, with keen attention to detail and accuracy

Ability to multitask and prioritize competing deadlines without sacrificing accuracy

Computer

Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should be:

Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel Comfortable with frequent computer useAble to respond to email communication quickly in a fast-paced…