Strong Futures Housing Specialist

BACKGROUND

Forestdale is a NYC child welfare agency working to prevent child abuse/neglect through parenting, prevention, and foster care services, focusing on low-income and immigrant communities in NYC. Forestdale operates out of three offices to better serve the families of Brooklyn and Queens. We help thousands of families work through complex trauma, parents raise the next amazing generation of children, and youth successfully launch into adulthood. Forestdale’s mission is “to ensure that children and families have the fundamental assets they need to thrive and live independently.”

Job Summary

The Housing Specialist is responsible for identifying and implementing strategies to effectively assist youth in locating permanent housing. The Housing Specialist works with staff to meet youth, complete NYCHA and Supportive applications and accompanying them to view and accept housing choices.

Essential Functions 

•    Provides housing advocacy for youth on both a case specific and general basis

•    Attends conferences and meetings with youth to assist them in accessing housing

•    Assists in identifying problems that prevent youth from accessing housing and working with providers to develop alternatives

•    Accompany youth to ACS to complete housing applications

•    Access and explore housing services for youth

•    Attend ACS/HRA sponsored housing programs

•    Ensures that all required forms and documentation are complete

•    Responsible for ensuring compliance with all agency policies, procedures and governmental regulations including but not limited to HIPAA

•    Other duties as required by the supervisor

Minimum Requirements 

•    Bachelor’s Degree

•    Self-motivated, organized, compassionate and creative

•    Have a working knowledge of the child welfare and family court systems. 

•    Bilingual (Spanish) preferred  

•    An understanding and respect for community needs and cultures

•    Willing and capable of working with multicultural families

•    Ability to develop working relationships with children and adults using good interpersonal skills

•    A clean driving record

•    Ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends

•    Ability to travel in and around the metropolitan New York City region

Benefits:  Join the Forestdale Team and Enjoy Excellent Benefits:

Four weeks’ vacation

Medical/dental/vision/life/disability insurance

401(k), 7% employer contribution 2% match

Tax-deferred health care/dependent care/commuter plans

Flexible Schedule

Opportunities for educational scholarships 

Salary Range:    

Bachelors - $26.37/hr - $28.57/hr

Bachelors (Bilingual)- $27.47/hr - $29.67/hr

Masters - $28.02/hr - $31.59/hr

Masters (Bilingual) - $29.12/hr - $32.69/hr

Masters (Bilingual & License) - $35.43/hr

Location: 67-35 112th St, Forest Hills, NY 11375

Additional Information

Forestdale Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Forestdale Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.