RAP TEAM LEADER

Job Description

The Homelessness Prevention Administration (HPA) works to keep New Yorkers in their homes. HPA works with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) and many other organizations and City agencies to assist families and individuals in need in obtaining and maintaining stable, affordable housing.

This new organizational area is an integral part of the mayors initiative in preventing and addressing homelessness and housing stability in the City of New York; the Human Resources Administration is pooling it resources to lead in the Citys effort. The Rental Assistance Program (RAP) is a Homelessness Prevention Administration (HPA) program that operates the Agencys CityFHEPS program. The goal of this program is to facilitate, coordinate and expedite the rapid transition of homeless families from temporary accommodations into permanent housing, as well as prevent a return to homelessness by providing comprehensive aftercare services. In addition, the Unit manages the ongoing payment and administration of rental assistance subsidy programs.

HPA / Rental Assistance Program (RAP) is recruiting for one (1) Associate Job Specialist 02 to function as a as a RAP Team Leader, who will :

• Approve eligibility for tenant or landlord for Rental Assistance Unit Subsidy Programs as well as approves check requests for brokers and landlord payments for Rental Assistance Subsidy Programs.
• Troubleshoot issues made by tenants, landlord, lawyer, advocate, legal aid via a review conference to achieve resolutions. Addresses request for information and services from Rental Assistance Program landlords, tenants, and community advocates via mail, e-mail, phone call or in person.
• Ensure that Rental Assistance Unit Subsidy Program payments to landlords and brokers are executed timely and ensures the annual renewal of Rental Assistance Program subsidies. Approves modification made by the tenants for their CityFHEPS Rental Assistance Supplement Amount.
• Review and approve the data entries of tenant information for federal funds into federal databases; utilizes other databases such as Housing Assistance Payment Systems (HAPS), Rental Assistance Program (RAP), HRA One Viewer, WMS, Finance.net, IQ System and SAVE.
• Recommend new subsidy certificates for tenants who wish to submit a transfer request via email for reasons such as issues with landlord, inhabitable apartments, etc.
• Address requests for information and services from Rental Assistance Program landlords, tenants, and community advocates.
• Supervise JOS workers who interview applicants and assess eligibility for immediate rent / public assistance; works with applicants to remove. Prepare daily and weekly statistical reports on work performed as well as monthly audits. Assist with case consultation on individual cases and guidance on difficult cases in the case planning process as necessary.
• Supervise staff that correspond with homebound / homeless clients; supervise a team of JOS who provide quick service for those clients; take appropriate action on reported
• Provide information, documentation and maintain contact with other teams to ensure awareness of all activity that affects the case management plan.
• Supervise staff who interview and determine housing needs of tenants at risk of homelessness or currently homeless reporting to RAP. Assist in the development of anti-eviction / housing plan of intervention for referred participants.

Qualifications

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and three years of full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social / human services or a related setting, providing either

a. client services; or

b. employment planning or counseling services which involve job development, skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic opportunity programming; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college plus eighteen months of full-time satisfactory experience working as a Job Opportunity Specialist / Benefits Opportunity Specialist; or

3. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus, eighteen months of full-time satisfactory experience as described in one (1) above; or

4. College credit from an accredited college may be substituted for this experience on the basis of 60 semester credits for 9 months of the work experience described above. However, all candidates must have 18 months of full-time satisfactory experience working as a Job Opportunity Specialist / Benefits Opportunity Specialist or performing social / human services work as described in one (1) above.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.