Case Manager - Project Home

University Settlement partners with 40,000+ New Yorkers in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn every year to build on our collective strengths as we achieve healthy, stable, and remarkable lives. For nearly 140 years, we’ve fought poverty and systemic inequality by building highly effective social services in collaboration with our neighbors. Established in 1886 as the first Settlement House in the United States, we bring the values of that movement into the 21st century by meeting New Yorkers where they live, listening deeply to all perspectives, and creating space for responsive cooperation.

Joining with our neighbors to make stable foundations where people of all ages can grow and pursue their dreams, we build community strength. We infuse a commitment to civic engagement, equality, and communal action into each of our programs, which include early childhood education, youth development, healthy aging, mental health and wellness, English classes for adult immigrants, community centers, and the arts.

Project Home is a blended program that combines the following services: homelessness prevention for families and individuals at-risk of eviction; support for general short-term housing and social services; and leadership development and advocacy group; We are part of University Settlement, a community-based, multi-service agency that has served the Lower East Side and Chinatown communities since 1886.

The Case Manager provides direct services to families and individuals facing housing instability and/or are dealing with a wide range of housing issues including eviction, lack of repairs, lease issues, lack of tenants’ rights information, maintenance of housing subsides, and assistance with emergency housing issues to name a few . Direct services include tenants’ rights counseling, landlord /tenant mediation, advocacy in court or hearings and to secure/maintain benefits and entitlements, and crisis intervention.

Responsibilities:

• Perform outreach, intake, and on-going assessment to understand tenants’ needs and plan next steps to address housing needs.
• Mediate with landlords to achieve repairs, prevent evictions, and solve other housing problems; accompany tenants to Housing Court and advocate for fair outcomes and achieve safe housing conditions
• Assist with programmatic outreach and community education around housing issues
• Provide crisis intervention and counseling, rotating 24-hour emergency cell phone coverage
• Document all services provided to clients in writing; keep client files up to date; and provide regular statistical reporting on outcomes
• Coordinate with Project Home and other University Settlement staff for quality control and integration of services
• Assist in designing documents or forms for record-keeping and outreach purposes; assist in program planning, evaluation and administration
• Assist in outreach and implementation of special projects related to community leadership development, agency advocacy, housing organizing activities, and/or local/state campaigns to address social justice issues at a more macro-level
• Conduct outreach to participants, community organizations and housing linkages
• Perform other tasks consistent with this job description as assigned by the Director

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required (Social Work or related major preferred, but not required)
• Bi-lingual in English/Chinese required; or English/Spanish required
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Organization and follow-through
• Knowledge of housing and social welfare systems in New York City a plus
• Ability to work within a culturally diverse community and as part of a team
• Tenacious advocacy skills and a commitment to “case to cause” direct services perspective

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm or 10:00am - 6:00pm, Occasional nights and weekends, 35 hours per week, Hybrid Schedule

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to our organization. We are an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Spanish or Chinese bilingual