PURPOSE: The Jewish Board’s Youth and Family Division supports domestic violence survivors and their family members. Using a non-judgmental, trauma-informed approach, staff guide the residents to create and meet personalized recovery goals, to stabilize their families, to develop independent living skills, and to plan effectively to be able to live in a healthy and secure manner. Our work is guided by principles that emphasize the critical importance of safe and stable housing, utilize a culturally competent and anti-oppressive lens, and respect the dignity and legitimacy of everyone’s journey.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Housing/Entitlement Specialist is responsible for the oversight and provision of public benefits, entitlements, and housing services to residents in shelter. This role ensures that survivors and their families have access to safe, stable housing and the resources necessary for independent living and recovery.

KEY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assess shelter residents to determine income support and housing needs.
• Develop and maintain housing resources and contacts to assist families in locating permanent and/or supportive housing.
• Meet with clients at minimum 2x per month and document sessions timely
• Assist residents in preparing applications for public benefits and housing services, including Section 8 vouchers, NYC affordable housing lottery, Medicaid, and other entitlements.
• Ensure entitlements and benefits are in place and maintained for residents.
• Prepare and communicate information to clients regarding benefit programs, procedures, and changes, address interruptions in benefits with preemptive action.
• Facilitate housing workshops and provide education on independent living skills.
• Submit housing documents to HRA and function as liaison with HRA and other agencies.
• Collaborate with case planners, treatment teams, and external service providers to develop and execute care plans.
• Update and ensure SORTS is accurate and DPE’s are entered timely
• Make referrals to appropriate community resources and advocate for clients.
• Participate in intake, assessment, case conferences, discharge, and follow-up conferences.
• Complete regular and timely documentation of all resident interactions, including progress and informational notes, ensuring compliance with billing requirements.
• Prepare statistics and reports on housing and income support services in shelter programs.
• Participate in regular staff meetings, training, and planning of special events.
• Attend and complete assigned fire safety trainings
• Other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent resident engagement and relational skills; ability to work from a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Compassion, patience, and respect for vulnerable individuals.
• Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate complex housing and benefits systems.
• Adaptability and solution-focused approach.

EDUCATION/TRAINING REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree; minimum of 2–3 years’ experience in shelter or public benefits.
• Knowledge of New York City public benefits and housing programs.
• Experience working in shelter, residential, or housing services settings.
• Willingness to work with families affected by domestic violence, mental illness, and substance use.

COMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Familiarity with Windows environment and Microsoft Office.
• Ability and willingness to learn new systems and application software.
• Experience with electronic health records and databases (e.g., OCFS Connections, CAPS) preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL EFFORT:

• Willingness to attend offsite meetings and trainings.
• Ability to walk up/downstairs in shelter and community buildings.
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs

If you join us, you’ll have these great benefits:

• Generous time off in addition to paid agency holidays and 15 sick days
• Affordable and high-quality medical/dental/vision plans 
• Tuition assistance and educational loan forgiveness
• Free continuing education opportunities 
• 403(b) retirement benefits and a pension
• Flexible spending accounts for health and transportation 
• 24/7 Accessible Employee Assistance Program  
• Life and disability insurance 
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion working groups that are available for you to join, including Confronting Structural Racism (COR), Coalition Against Anti-Semitism (CAAS), and the LGBTQ Steering Committee

Who we are:

The Jewish Board delivers innovative, high-quality, and compassionate mental health and social services to over 45,000 New Yorkers each year. We are unique in serving everyone from infants and their families to children, teens, and adults. We are proud to employ and serve people of all religions, races, cultural backgrounds, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. We are committed to building diverse, equitable, and inclusive teams to help support our mission, and we strongly encourage candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds to apply to work with us.

More on Equal Opportunity: 

We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.