Resource Specialist

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, reduces 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 (DHS) is recruiting for one (1) Community Coordinator to function as a Resource Specialist who will:

• Cultivate relationships across diverse communities to provide new opportunities for clients and community based homeless population 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 superintendent, neighbors, other city agencies, institutional settings, private entities, and any other collateral sources of information to obtain relevant information in connection with determining the applicant’s viability for housing within the community.
• Canvas community and engage with community based homeless population to provide DHS shelter referrals and educate 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 the single adult applicants. Follow-up with applicant’s past housing resources to determine whether applicant can return to the community. Make an initial recommendation on applicants’ alternatives to shelter based on a total assessment of the individual’s situation.
• Oversee field work, including interviews and meetings with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendent, and neighbors.
• Perform all the other necessary screenings of applicants who have housing options or other resources available in the community. Provide an initial assessment of applicant’s psychiatric and substance abuse history and work with a Behavior Health Specialist as needed.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

• Excellent writing.
• Communication.
• Computer skills.
• Proficiency with CARES.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of…