Consumer Advocate at Henry Street Settlement

Job Overview:

• Schedule: Sunday through Wednesday 9:00am – 5:00pm, and Thursday 1:00pm – 9:00pm
• Location: About 50% working at Third Street Women’s Residence, about 50% work in the field traveling throughout NYC
• Pay: $50,000 annualized salary + benefits

Organizational Overview:

Henry Street Settlement opens doors of opportunity to enrich lives and expand human progress for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, arts, and health care programs. Building on its 125+year legacy of innovation and effective programming, Henry Street offers more than 50 programs and is one of New York City’s largest social service agencies.

Program Overview:

The Third Street Women’s Residence is a critical part of this network, providing transitional shelter and supportive services to 79 homeless women with mental illness concerns who are in need of permanent housing. The staff provides an array of social and housing placement services, working with the residents to enhance and develop life management skills, as well as to manage their mental health conditions. When needed, residents are referred to community-based organizations. 

Job Summary:

The Consumer Advocate (CA) will promote benefit training as a critical component of finding and maintaining housing stability. Working as a member of the interdisciplinary team the CA will facilitate programming to educate residents about available benefits, provide entitlement, education and resources to support obtaining permanent housing and housing permanence.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors required; Master of Social Work (MSW) preferred
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with indigent and homeless population
• Strong Case Management, organizational, problem-solving skills, and Housing Specialist skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of computers such as Microsoft office, outlook, etc.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Must be able to travel throughout the five boroughs to service population in the field. Ability to be flexible with arrival and departures times due to travel time.

Responsibilities:

• Formulate service plans and goals and assist residents to access and maintain permanent housing
• Work intensively with clients by escorting them on apartment searches
• Work with all Case Managers/ Housing Specialist to assist clients with reaching and maintaining independence goals
• Prepare clients for independent housing and conduct apartment search activities
• Ensure placement into appropriate housing
• Establish and develop new linkages with real estate brokers and landlords; maintain an active roster of real estate brokers and landlords
• Assist individuals seeking apartments in the public and private sector
• Accompany residents to appointments including public assistance, apartment viewing, interviews, lease signing, and furniture shopping when necessary
• Provide aftercare follow-up services for clients once they move into permanent housing, including home visits and phone follow up for up to one year
• Link clients to social services in new communities to enhance acclimation and stability
• Prepare all required reports and documents required by funders
• Perform all other tasks deemed necessary in the direction of the Assistant Program Director to aid in the shelter’s achieving its programmatic goals
• Coordinate responsibilities with Social Service Team to assist residents with housing, documentation, medical, obtaining benefits, identification etc.
• Ensure rules and regulations are communicated to the residents
• Submitting weekly calendar and monthly reports
• Assist case managers/housing specialists with collecting, compiling data, and documentation
• Participating in weekly case conferences
• Other related duties as assigned by supervisor

Essential Physical Job Functions:

• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds
• Ability to climb stairs (up to six flights)
• Travel throughout the 5 boroughs