Case Manager, Housing Resource Center

Job Description

Job Description

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.

The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work : creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines / fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Red Hook Community Justice Center’s Housing Resource Center (HRC) enhances procedural justice in housing court and offers stabilizing resources to address rent, repair and lease issues with the mission of preserving safe, affordable public housing in Red Hook.

The Housing Resource Center seeks a Case Manager to work with tenant families to meet their desired goals related to housing, wellness and other social needs. Reporting to the Eviction Prevention Coordinator, the Case Manager will be an integral part of the Justice Center’s housing team providing direct services to tenant families who live in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and are at-risk for eviction or are experiencing housing instability. The Case Manager will research, meet with residents, and deliver programming to increase access to supportive housing, mental health and disability services, as well as address nuisance behaviors that may otherwise lead to a termination of tenancy. This social services position will collaborate with peer team members on tenant organizing, neighborhood mutual aid efforts and broader justice system reform initiatives.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to :

• Provide one-on-one case management sessions with tenant families to listen for needs, establish goals and help connect to available resources;
• Complete assessments, maintain detailed case notes, and track client work in the Justice Center’s case management system;
• Maintain a client caseload of tenant families who request on-going support;
• Maintain client confidentiality and promote a culture of care while working in a fast-paced community environment;
• Participate in case conferences with court staff, legal service agencies, NYCHA staff and tenant advocates to coordinate case planning and develop eviction prevention interventions;
• Develop and maintain a database of community resources and referral partners to address client housing and other needed services;
• Provide application assistance on public benefits including SNAP, Cash Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance from the Human Resource Administration (HRA) and liaise with agency staff;
• Search and provide application assistance for affordable housing opportunities, admission into supportive housing and resources for clients at risk of homelessness;
• Conduct home visits to assess health issues such as hoarding and elder care, as well as door-to-door outreach, responding to building issues such as gas outages, water leaks or common area problems;
• Collaborate with peer staff providing victim services, youth development, employment assistance, mental health services, peacemaking and restorative justice programming;
• Attend community meetings to promote resources and accept referrals;
• Assist with the day-to-day operation of the Housing Resource Center including greeting walk-ins, answering phone calls, updating posted resources, and mentoring interns and volunteers;
• Stay abreast of ever-changing application requirements for housing, public benefits and other programming from government, non-profit and community resources in New York City;
• Provide hands-on assistance at peer Housing Resource Center locations at the Harlem Community Justice Center and Queens Community Justice Center-The Rockaways; and,
• Additional relevant tasks, as necessary.

Qualifications : A Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 3-4 years of experience working in a social service setting .  Strong knowledge of the NYC housing landscape and barriers to housing stability, particularly in public housing. Knowledge of city agency- and community-based resources and service providers located in Brooklyn, NY. Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be comfortable working in diverse socioeconomic and cultural settings. Bi-lingual (Spanish-English or Chinese-English) preferred.

Position Type :   Full-time.

Position Location :   Brooklyn, NY with expected travel within the five boroughs.

Compensation :  The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $63,500 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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Salary : $52,000 - $63,500