Housing Specialist

Our Mission:

Since 1967, Odyssey House has gone beyond helping individuals beat drugs and alcohol. We help rebuild lives. There’s more to recovery than just getting clean. We help individuals get healthy again, too, with medical and dental care, fitness programs, support for your mental health and more. Individuals can stay with their children while in treatment, while learning new life skills, so they can stay together and repair other broken relationships in their lives. We provide educational and work skill trainings, outpatient services and available housing assistance, so individuals can step back into real life with a real future.

If that sounds different than other treatment programs, you’re right. Because Odyssey is where recovery gets real.

In addition to competitive salaries, Odyssey House offers: 

• A 35-hour work week (as opposed to a 40-hour work week)
• Vacation Plan and Holiday Schedule
• Life Insurance
• Medical Insurance (Two Plans)
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Additional Insurance Coverages (hospitalization, accidental, critical illness coverage)
• Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account
• 403(b) Plan
• Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA) EAP benefit
• Ability Assist Counseling Services (through The Hartford)
• Commuter Benefits
• Educational Assistance Programs
• Special shopping discounts through ADP Marketplace and PlumBenefits
• RUFit?! Fitness Program
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Assistance 
• Optum Financial Service through ConnectYourCare
• Benefit Advocacy Center through Gallagher

 Salary Range: $45,000.00-55,000.00

MAJOR FUNCTIONS:

The Housing Specialist will assess the client's eligibility for housing assistance, and complete necessary documentation for transitional housing. The Housing Specialist will assist clients in the development of skills necessary for a successful and sustainable transition into community living.  

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Within seven days of admission, in collaboration with the resident, draft an Independent Living Plan (ILP).
• Develop and facilitate Independent Living Skills workshops to build skills and increase knowledge related to activities of daily living, ability to access community-based resources, spending habits and money management.
• Assist residents in navigating the subsidized housing identification and application process.  This includes completing 2010e applications on all residents seeking subsidized housing. 
• Assist residents in filling out all necessary paperwork, accompanying residents to interviews, following up with supportive housing agencies and ensuring that all housing units applied for are safe and affordable.
• Identify, conduct outreach and establish cooperative service agreements with concrete resources that directly provide housing and/or access to housing suitable for older adults in recovery.
• Link program completers to psychosocial/healthcare support services (e.g. SUD recovery supports, aftercare, mental health, primary care, social adult day services, senior centers, etc.) 
• Prepare and train Odyssey House staff on housing related issues including the completion of 2010e applications.   
• Prepare all required housing related reports and document all services.
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings and case conferences.
• Attend all required in-service training seminars.
• Participate in quality improvement activities. 
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:  EDUCATION/TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree with two years of related experience in housing placement services for low income, geriatric and/or homeless populations.
2. Knowledge of city, state, and federal guidelines for public and private low-income housing.  
3. Ability to research and network with other agencies/community-based services to meet a variety of client needs.  
4. Proficiency with computer operation (Microsoft Word, Excel, AWARDS, and Outlook programs). 
5. Excellent written and verbal communications skills. 
6. Must be able to work a flexible schedule.  
7. This position requires regular travel throughout the five (5) boroughs.

Odyssey House is an equal opportunity employer maintaining a non-discriminatory policy on hiring of its personnel. Odyssey House, and its operational divisions, will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizen status in all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, training, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.