Housing Specialist, Office of Mental Health (OHM) Supported Housing Program

Who We Are: CAMBA is a community of staff, volunteers, clients, donors, neighbors and partners who work together to build an inclusive New York City, where all children and adults have access to the resources and supports they need to thrive.  We take a comprehensive approach by offering more than 160 integrated programs in:  Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. We reach more than 65,000 individuals and families each year at our 90 locations, including 10,000 youth.  CAMBA serves a diverse cross section of New Yorkers from new mothers in Brownsville to job seekers in the Rockaways. More than half of our clients are immigrants and refugees from around the globe. Over 85% of our families are in living in poverty, reflecting the challenges faced by nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers today.

CAMBA’s Office of Mental Health (OHM) Supported Housing Program:  CAMBA’s OMH Supported Housing Program provides a total of 87 units of scattered site housing to individuals.  The first program provides 70 units of housing to chronically homeless single adults who are eligible for SSI or SSD, and suffer from Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) or are diagnosed as Mentally Ill and Chemically Addicted (MICA).  The second program provides 10 units of housing for SPMI individuals who reside in OMH psychiatric centers, Article 28 inpatient hospitals, residential treatment programs and adult homes.  The third program provides 7 units of housing to individuals who are SPMI and have been residents of either OMH Psychiatric Centers or OMH operated residential programs for one year or longer.  All apartments are located in Brooklyn. Program clients receive case management services and limited assistance with their utility costs.  Clients contribute 30% of their income for rent.

Position: Housing Specialist

Reports To: Program Manager  

Location: 19 Winthrop Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225

What The (Insert Position Title Here) Does:

• Order and track furniture for clients.
• Obtain leases and other required documentation in order to process leases.
• Submit leases for review to Program Manager/ Program Director in a timely manner.
• Ensure that apartment units are ready prior to occupancy.
• Coordinate with utilities companies to activate utilities.
• Act as liaison between Case Managers, maintenance workers, and the Fiscal Department to address various issues i.e. housing plans, maintenance work/repairs, fiscal issues.
• Collect and track all client programmatic fee/rent payments.
• Keep track of expiration dates of leases.
• Process work orders as needed and review all signed work orders to ensure work has been done.
• Review all utility bills and submit to Fiscal Department.
• Pick up all of CAMBA’s checks to pay CAMBA’s portion of clients’ utility bills, hand-deliver checks to appropriate utilities, receive receipts and submit receipts to Fiscal Department.
• Investigate clients’ complaints of unpaid utility bills.
• Conduct regular inspections of client rooms/apartments in congregate site and/or community-based apartments with assistance from other program staff (i.e., security personnel).
• Escort clients to necessary appointments to ensure rent payments, active benefits and entitlement, and apartment viewings.
• Maintain accurate records (i.e. furniture, maintenance supplies, food, office stock) on premises and/or in community-based apartments,
• Request Emergency Assistance to assist clients in paying clients’ portion of utility bills, if needed.
• Respond immediately to emergencies and inform supervisor.
• Participate in administrative and staff meetings as requested.
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports to CAMBA management and/or to funders.
• May case conference with Case Manager and client, if necessary.
• May prepare and facilitate groups with clients on appropriate subjects.

Minimum Education/Experience Required:

• High school diploma or G.E.D. and two years of applicable experience; or, Associates degree (A. A.) and one year of applicable experience and/or equivalent experience.

Other Requirements:

• Obtain “Criminal History Checks” (CHC) fingerprinting through the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (Justice System).
• Ability to maintain fingerprint clearance throughout the duration of employment.
• Knowledge about, understanding of, and ability to work closely with, persons with mental illness and substance abuse.
• Knowledge about, understanding of, and experience working with, housing systems, facilities management, and maintenance needs.

Compensation: -$48,000 annually
When salary ranges are listed, the range would represent the low and high end for the applicable position & program. The salary offered would be based on various factors unique to each program and candidate. This includes but is not limited to experience, education, budget and/or program size, internal equity, skills and other factors that may be required for the position and organization.

 Status: -Full-time (35 hours per week)
Benefits: CAMBA offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid time off (vacation, personal, and sick time), and paid holidays.

CAMBA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace. People of color, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are encouraged to apply. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, marital or veteran status, pregnancy status or sexual orientation.

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