Reports To: Director of Programs
Department: Clinical/Program
Job Type: Salary Exempt — Full-time
Salary Range: 50K – 55k, plus competitive benefits

Objective of Role: The Staff Programs – Housing and Benefits is responsible for assisting GOSO participants in securing housing, including navigating homeless and shelters, finding housing resources, utilizing vouchers, filling out any necessary paperwork, and accompanying participants on housing interviews and appointments. This position is also tasked with assisting participants in signing up for public assistance programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP benefits, cash assistance, and others. GOSO Career Managers/Social Workers will refer their participants to the Housing and Benefits Coordinator for support around the above functions, and all three will meet regularly to track progress and successful outcomes.

Responsibilities:

  • Gather necessary collateral information for housing applications, including proof of homelessness, proof of foster care involvement, and/or medical/mental health records.
  • Contact placement agencies to follow up on open vacancies and the status of participants’ application packages.
  • Connect participants to affordable housing apartments including NYC Housing Connect, Breaking Ground, and other resources.
  • Make professional connections with NYC Homeless Shelters, Department of Homeless Services, and Human Resources Administration.
  • Assist participants in finding apartments that will accept various NYC vouchers, as well as those on the open market.
  • Provide participants with eviction assistance and knowledge of housing rights.
  • Attend housing court with participants when necessary to advocate for participants.
  • Assist participants in applying online for benefits such as SNAP, Public Assistance, and Medicaid through ACCESS HRA.
  • Connect participants to NYC Childcare Vouchers.
  • Collaborate with Career Managers/Social Workers as well as other members of the staff to ensure successful outcomes.
  • Complete all necessary paperwork and data entry to track goals, progress, and outcomes.
  • Other duties as required.

Essential Skills:

  • Ability to work on an interdisciplinary team.
  • Passion and empathy.
  • Flexible and able to change course or strategy as necessary.
  • Excellent written and oral communication.
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.), Google products, and willingness to learn our database system(s).
  • Professional attitude and appearance; friendly demeanor and excellent customer service.
  • Ability to multi-task with strong organizational skills.
  • Willingness to build skills and grow professionally.
  • Capable of working independently as well as exercise initiative, discretion, and good judgment.

Core Competencies:

  • Excellent work ethic
  • Commitment to working in a mission driven organization
  • Demonstrated personal ethics and values
  • Cross-team collaboration and cooperation
  • Team-player who works well with a diverse group of people

Qualifications:

  • High School Diploma or Equivalency with 7 years of relevant professional or lived experience with homeless services, prevention, and benefits coordination.
  • Associate’s Degree with 5 years of relevant professional or lived experience with homeless service, prevention, and benefits coordination.
  • Bachelor’s Degree with 3 years of relevant professional or lived experience with homeless service, prevention, and benefits coordination.
  • Master’s Degree in Social Work or Mental Health Counseling with 1 to 2 years of relevant professional or lived experience with homeless service, prevention, and benefits coordination. LMSW/LMHC a plus!
  • Working knowledge of the New York City Department of Homeless Services, Human Resources Administration, housing rights, and affordable housing.
  • Experience with ACCESS HRA, 2010E forms, and housing vouchers.
  • Strong commitment to the GOSO mission and the success of our participants.

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Salary commensurate with experience. GOSO offers a competitive salary and benefits package

 
Please send a resume with cover letter to: jobs@gosonyc.org

GOSO is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About GOSO: Getting Out and Staying Out has a vision of a world where neither a person’s race nor their prior contact with the legal system determines their future. To work toward that vision, we partner with young people impacted by arrest or incarceration on a journey of education, employment, and emotional well-being. For many of our participants, that journey begins while they are detained or incarcerated, on Rikers Island or in youth detention centers. We work with all interested individuals, regardless of the charges that they face, engaging them in future planning through programing focused on education, employment, and emotional well-being while helping to meet their immediate needs, whether physical (warm clothing, commissary supplies), psychological (correspondence and communication to help maintain links to the outside world), or legal (coordinating with public defense attorneys on courtroom advocacy). Among the major programs that are under the GOSO umbrella are Stand Against Violence East Harlem (SAVE), GOSOWorks, and multiple education programs (including Pathways-to-Graduation, a high school equivalency program). GOSO served its participants and the Harlem community throughout the Pandemic and, in fact, expanded its budget in the past few years. We are currently building our external relations functions, including development, in order to position GOSO for continued growth and expanded impact on those at the heart of our mission.