Case Manager - Project Home

University Settlement partners with 40,000 New Yorkers on the Lower East Side and in Brooklyn every year to build on their strengths as they achieve healthy, stable, and remarkable lives. For 135 years, we’ve collaborated with our communities to pioneer highly effective programs that fight poverty and systemic inequality. 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 to their perspectives, recognizing their excellence, understanding them as complete individuals, and creating space for them to organize. Joining together with our neighbors to advocate for justice and equality, we help build community strength.    

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 a 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 English/Chinese required; Cantonese preferred  
• 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 

Location:

100% in person with 50% of time in lower Manhattan office and 50% of time in Brooklyn office. 

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.