Job Description

Project Renewal is a leading non-profit organization with the mission of building supportive communities where people achieve dignity and independence, renewing their lives with health, homes, and jobs. Our comprehensive and integrated 24/7 programs are designed to offer the holistic care our clients need. With a staff of 950+ and an annual budget of $140 million, Project Renewal is one of the larger social service nonprofits in New York City.

Title: Housing Coordinator

Program: Canopy House Women’s shelter

Salary Range: $51,045-$55,045

Program Description

Canopy House provides 171 emergency shelter beds for homeless women diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Our comprehensive services include case management, individual and group counseling, recreational activities, occupational therapy, mental health services and housing placement assistance. Canopy House is a unique facility in that it is co-located with a supportive housing program that occupies the top 15 floors of the building and offers a street facing Article 28 clinic on the first floor dedicated to providing primary and behavioral health care services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties of the Housing Coordinator include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Acts as primary liaison with DHS for scheduling interviews and other housing related items
• Visit housing providers to develop and maintain positive working relationships
• Prepare clients for housing interviews, accompany them on tours to facilities, and will generally coordinate the housing referral process
• Maintains an updated resource manual on available housing
• Create and maintain a system to track housing applications and their status
• Consults with case management staff regarding housing options for individual clients and adherence to their Individual Living Plans, identifying short and long-term objectives to be achieved
• Input all client information and updates in a timely fashion into the CARES system.
• Work collaboratively with the clients and other staff to identify and obtain financial entitlements, housing and other concrete services
• Counsel clients through individualized and group sessions on issues such as achieving housing goals, finding permanent or alternative housing and employment opportunities.
• Organize and educate clients through sessions.
• Maintains accurate and up to date written client documentation as required and in accord with city and state oversight agency guidelines
• Provides escort services to clients as needed
• Performs other duties assigned by the Director of Social Services

Physical Activities:

While performing the duties of this position, the Housing Coordinator (HC) must walk between all floors of the facility, climbing up and down staircases to meet with clients in the event the elevator is out of order. The HC must stand talking to clients and staff, sit for extended periods of time at the computer, and reach or squat to retrieve file records.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, psychology, education, sociology, occupational or physical therapy, or other related human services fields with a minimum of two (2) years of experience
• An associate’s degree in the aforementioned fields with three (3) years of experience
• A High School Diploma or GED equivalent with four (4) years of experience
• Bilingual or multilingual a plus

Preferred Skills

• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate staff to accomplish stated program goals and objectives while developing their individual and group skills.
• Team Building: Ability to work cooperatively with peers and other staff in order to serve the needs of the clients as effectively and efficiently as possible.
• Organizational: An ability to work independently and to adjust one’s schedule to accommodate the needs of the clients.
• Communication: Excellent oral, writing, and listening skills.
• Interpersonal: An ability to interface with clients as well as all levels of staff.
• Computer: Knowledge of Case Management software (CARES). Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Language: Bilingual or multilingual a plus.

Project Renewal is an equal opportunity employer. Its long-standing policy has been to embrace the equality of opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, gender (see separately issued Gender Discrimination policy for more detail), physical or mental disability, age (18 and over), military status, arrest record, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, unemployment status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.