Social Worker, PAH-Brooklyn

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC has provided free legal services for low‑income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood‑based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy.

Build Up Justice NYC has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

The PAH-Brooklyn Social Worker who will be responsible for referral services and limited counseling to clients in support of or related to their legal issues. They will advocate on behalf of clients to obtain services and entitlements. The Social Worker will develop, conduct, and participate in community outreach, education, and training which may occur during evenings and weekends. They will strategize and support staff attorneys and other advocates on how to best interact with and support clients with medical, mental health and other special needs and prepare necessary reports, proposals, and other documents relating to the work.

• Provide social services needs assessments and oversee client services planning and implementing, and case management functions;
• Advocate on behalf of clients to secure appropriate and timely benefits, entitlements, and services from social and governmental agencies;
• Develop referral resources and provide clients with referrals appropriate to their service needs as related to the legal case, and maintaining liaisons with referral resources, service providers, community agencies, private and public institutions;
• Assist clients in identifying service needs, which may include but not be limited to medical, mental health or additional specific social service concerns and preparing clients for engaging in services;
• Develop service plans for and prepare clients to more effectively advocate on their own behalf;
• Provide supportive counseling, crisis intervention, education and emergency safety planning to clients and designated collateral parties as needed;
• Confer and consult with attorneys and their clients on social work advocacy relevant to legal matters;
• Accompany vulnerable clients to various venues relating to legal case or supporting referrals, e.g. court, appointments with administrative agencies and / or community-based organizations;
• Develop, conduct, and participate in outreach, education, and training with community groups and agencies which may occur during evening and weekends;
• Prepare necessary reports, proposals, and other documents relating to work;
• Prepare letters, complete forms, and request documents to secure services for BUJNYC clients.;
• Attend meetings and perform administrative tasks, such as timekeeping and case notes; and
• As an emerging team leader, provide feedback, mentorship and present to staff on best practices.

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s degree in social work, Counseling or related field preferred;
• New York State Certification in social work or licensed social worker preferred;
• Preferred minimum 3 years’ working with clients who have emergency housing issues, loss of employment, physical impairment / disability, mental illness, experiencing intimate partner…