Housing Retention Specialist, Tenant Success Services

460 Main St, New York, NY 10044, USA

Req #2643

Monday, July 1, 2024

ABOUT US: - We believe that everyone deserves a home!

Breaking Ground operates nearly 4,000 units of housing across New York City, along with housing in upstate New York and Connecticut. Supportive housing - affordable housing paired with services designed to help people maintain their homes for the long-term - is widely recognized as a proven and cost-effective solution to chronic homelessness.

But we didn't stop at providing housing. Breaking Ground's programs and services help people experiencing street homelessness - especially those who have been on the streets the longest - to come indoors. Through our Street to Home outreach program and transitional housing resources, we help people get, and stay, on the path to a permanent home.

Tenant Success Service s is Breaking Ground’s newest model of permanent housing service which includes projects that are a part of NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Our Space Initiative as well as private partnerships with developers. Utilizing a Critical Time Intervention (CTI) approach, the program provides "light touch" housing retention services to formerly homeless households during the first year of tenancy, a ssisting with their transition out of the shelter system and into permanent housing.

Reporting to the Clinical Coordinator , Tenant Success Services t he Housing Retention Specialist implement s “light touch” supportive services and through their interventions promote s and foster s long term housing stability , prevent s eviction , and return to shelter. The Housing Retention Specialist carries a caseload of up to 20 households, including formerly homeless families and individuals with special needs or who are at risk of eviction as a result of rent arrears or other lease violations. The Housing Retention Specialist conduct s home visits on a weekly basis, upon move-in , and during the first 1-3 months. As households settle into their new homes, levels of services will be adjusted accordingly, and ongoing, so that services are right-sized for each household. Efforts are largely preventative in nature focusing on maintaining benefits/subsidies and avoiding rent arrears, referral to community-based services, community integration. The Housing Retention Specialist is the liaison between on-site social services and property management staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES A ND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Conduct regular home visits in tenant s’ apartments

• E scort tenants to appointments as needed

• Conduct initial and ongoing assessments to assess observed and self-identified needs , and create mutually agreed upon service plans

• Provide assistance obtaining and maintaining entitlements and benefits including advocacy and guidance with subsidy recertification, Public Assistance, SSI/SSDI, voucher renewal, and SCRIE/DRIE applications and renewal

• Promote financial literacy through group programming, workshops, and individual sessions . Topics include assistance with creating and managing a household budget, referral s to financial repair services, etc.

• Connect tenants to short-term rental assistanc e by referring households in need to the local Homebase provider and other rental assistanc e programs

• Provide education and guidance around lease responsibility including expectations around being a good neighbor, rent obligations, use of the unit, safety, etc.

• Collabora te with building management during regular meetings to address any concerning issues raised by building management or other tenants

• Provide r eferral s to community based primary care and behavioral health services

• Support education and job training including workshops, individual counseling, referral to educational resources including GED support, and referral to vocational preparation resources including resume assistance and job training/placement programs

• Provide DV/IPV support including crisis intervention, safety planning, and connection to community resources for ongoing services and support

• Assist with tracking s chool attenda nce and school interventions

• Maintain record keeping in compliance with agency standards as well as those of City and State agencies

• Perform other duties as assigned

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field re quired , MSW preferred

• Minimum 3 years of experience working with formerly homeless individuals and families

• Housing-based case management experience strongly preferred

• Demonstrated understanding of behavioral health, and is familiar with best practices in mental health and substance use recovery which are rooted in harm reduction

• Ability to positively engage with residents who present with special needs

• Strong collaborative skills; a bility to work successfully with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

• Excellent interpersonal skills, creativity, and problem-solving ability

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled

Other details

• Pay Type Hourly

• Min Hiring Rate $25.85

• Max Hiring Rate $25.85

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• 460 Main St, New York, NY 10044, USA