Experience : 0 Description : Sheltering Arms strengthens the education, wellbeing, and development of high-need children, adults, and families across the New York metro area. We serve nearly 20,000 people a year from the South Bronx to Far Rockaway. Through compassion, innovation, and partnership, we respond to our communitys greatest needs and enable individuals to reach the greatest heights of their potential. Joining our team is an opportunity to collaborate with hundreds of dedicated colleagues who represent diverse backgrounds and talents as we work together to make a measurable impact for our neighbors in need. Every role at Sheltering Arms brings with it new opportunities for advancement and development so that team members can achieve their professional goals while helping others reach for theirs. We are looking for a Housing Specialist who would ensure that all youth leaving foster care with a goal of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA) are discharged to safe and stable housing. (Safe and stable housing may include private housing, NYCHA, supportive housing, etc.) As part of the PYA team, this position will support PYA work by facilitating and participating in workshops, team meetings, events, and other tasks geared toward supporting youth as they prepare to leave foster care. Essential Functions: + Act as the agencys expert in negotiating and advocating for housing services for foster care youth. + Stay up-to-date with all NYC, NYS or Federal housing initiatives, including NYCHA, Section 8, and ACS Housing Subsidies. + Attend ACS Housing Specialist meetings and other meetings on housing, and disseminate information from these meetings to the foster care program. + Develop a How-To package for all youth on obtaining housing including eligibility requirements for housing programs, signing of leases, security deposits, rights as a tenant, useful websites with links to available rentals and finding roommates, and a list of other housing resources. + Formulate housing plan for all youth age 17 and above who have a goal of APPLA. + Help youth complete all housing applications, including accompanying them for appointments and preparing them for interviews. + Maintain a database of open housing applications and track progress. + Provide on-going training to agency staff on housing issues for foster youth. + Attend PYA staff meetings. + Meet regularly with PYA Coordinator. + Complete progress notes in CONNECTIONS in accordance with agency standards for timely submission of documentation. + Help facilitate monthly PYA workshops for the youth + Attend relevant agency-based and external training + Other related tasks that may be assigned Qualifications: + Bachelors degree required; human service related degree preferred. + Must have experience working with youth in foster care. + Must have experience working in CONNECTIONS. + A minimum of one year of experience in housing services is preferred. + Good computer skills (Word and Excel). + Excellent written and verbal communication skills. + Must be organized and self-motivated; must be able to work independently and collaboratively. + Must have a strong sensitivity to cultural differences present among staff and clients within our organization. + Should possess a strong belief in peoples ability to grow and change; forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families. It is the policy of Sheltering Arms that the Agency wholly complies with the equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individuals perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hir County : Bronx URL : https://nlx.jobsyn.org/7a079d2c198545c79f7eec883dad3a0b159