The Housing Advocate helps homeless New Yorkers living with disabilities to navigate the complex supportive housing application process and to move into supportive housing.  Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, engaging and establishing trusting relationships with a caseload of individuals referred from Crisis Services programs or met during outreach visits; helping individuals with psychiatric and physical disabilities to obtain the medical treatment they need and which can be critical to be considered for certain housing options; completing supportive housing applications for clients; outreach to housing providers and development of strong professional relationships that facilitate placements; and supporting Keys clients throughout the placement process. The successful candidate will also be responsible for monitoring trends in services and individual client experiences in order to support larger advocacy strategies as they arise.

The Housing Advocate is a member of the Keys Program staff and reports directly to the Director of the Keys Program. The Housing Advocate performs job duties consistent with the mission and goals of the Coalition for the Homeless and relevant funding agreements. 

The Housing Advocate shall:

1. Provide direct services to individuals searching for permanent housing options. These services shall include, but are not limited to, engaging clients in the receipt of services, assessing relevant psychiatric and physical health concerns and connecting clients with appropriate treatment, completing housing applications and helping clients to identify housing that meets their needs; 

2. Conduct outreach to and maintain close working relationships with housing providers to facilitate individual placements; 

3. Support clients in the process of applying for permanent supportive housing;

4. Develop and maintain working knowledge of relevant social services systems/agencies, including shelter intake procedures, administrative rules and guidelines, housing programs and procedures, and benefits and entitlements programs, as well as methods of advocacy within each;

5. Provide referrals for immediate needs, including but not limited to shelter, food and clothing, benefits, health, mental health, substance use, and legal services;

6. Work with clients to access the medical care necessary to qualify for the housing they hope to access; 

7. Maintain accurate and proper record documentation, such as case management notes, and client documentation;

8. Ensure that all files and client database records are kept up to date;

9. Alert Program Director and/or Senior Director of Crisis Services regarding client emergencies and other immediate needs and assist in efforts to promptly deliver proper services;

10. Work in conjunction with Crisis Services staff to exchange relevant information and to collaborate with other Coalition departments and legal service providers as necessary;

11. Obtain regular (no less than weekly) supervision with the Director of the Keys Program to review client issues/concerns and service needs, among other matters;

12. Participate in weekly staff and other meetings, such as in-service training, staff development and orientation activities;

13. Provide the Director of the Keys Program and the Senior Director of Crisis Services with input and client information reporting relevant to funding requirements;

14. Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Program Director or the Senior Director of Crisis Services;

A bachelor’s degree and at least one year of strong advocacy experience preferred.  Prior experience, especially serving individuals with psychiatric disabilities, experiences of homelessness a plus. Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred. 

The successful candidate will be a strong, responsible advocate and case manager, and will demonstrate the ability to perform self-directed, independent work while also being an effective member of a team.

REPORTS TO: Program Director, Keys Program/ Senior Director of Crisis Services