Food Security and Community Engagement Coordinator

Organizational Overview:

Nazareth Housing is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting housing stability and economic mobility among vulnerable families and individuals in New York City. Since 1983, we have empowered clients to build pathways out of poverty and prevent homelessness through services such as emergency family shelter, supportive housing, homelessness prevention, and immediate needs assistance.

Position Summary: The Food Security and Community Engagement Coordinator plays a pivotal role in Nazareth Housing’s Housing Stability Support Program (HSSP). This role integrates three essential components of the program:

• Louise’s Pantry (food pantry)
• The Social Care Network
• Seasonal VITA Free Tax Site

You will oversee and coordinate Louise’s Pantry, support tax season operations by screening taxpayers, and serve as the primary contact for the Social Care Network, assessing the Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) of Medicaid members and connecting them to appropriate resources.

Key Responsibilities:

Louise’s Pantry

• Manage daily operations, including ordering food, tracking inventory, monitoring nutrition, and managing vendor invoices.
• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers to ensure the delivery of effective and respectful services.
• Serve as on-site lead during pantry operations.
• Assist clients with appointments, ensuring proper registration and intake documentation in accordance with program and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with New York City and New York State food safety and licensing requirements.
• Monitor pantry budget spending in line with program allocations to ensure effective utilization.
• Maintain client data in Plentiful and Foothold/Awards systems; generate monthly reports and use data to drive operational decisions.
• Collaborate with internal staff to connect clients with additional services (e.g., SNAP, housing, domestic violence support).
• Conduct outreach in the Lower East Side to build relationships with community partners and other pantry providers.

Tax Season Support (VITA - Seasonal)

• Greet and provide a welcoming environment for taxpayers.
• Screen clients, verify IDs and documents (e.g., SSN cards, W-2s, 1099s), and complete intake forms.
• Assess taxpayer needs and determine eligibility for VITA services.
• Refer cases outside VITA scope to professional tax preparers.
• Assist with administrative tasks: making copies, scheduling appointments, and outreach.
• Complete VITA training and earn relevant certifications (VSC, Basic/Advanced certification as required).

Social Care Network Screener

• Administer standardized screening tools to identify social needs.
• Refer individuals to services such as housing, food, transportation, and health support.
• Assist clients in navigating complex social services and understanding eligibility.
• Document all client interactions and referrals in electronic health records.
• Collaborate with care teams (e.g., care managers) for comprehensive support.
• Train internal staff on screening procedures.
• Provide regular data and activity reports.
• Participate in cross-program case conferencing.
• Represent the SCN at external meetings and events.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in human services, food security, community engagement, or outreach.
• Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with clients, volunteers, and staff.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Experience with Plentiful preferred; proficiency in Foothold/Awards, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Drive required.
• Deep understanding of the challenges faced by low-income families.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Commitment to Nazareth Housing’s mission of supporting vulnerable and underserved New Yorkers.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field required.

Benefits: Generous benefits include:

• 2 weeks paid vacation, 3 personal days and 10 days sick leave
• Health insurance commences upon employment
• 401k plan
• Flexible savings account
• Employee wellness initiatives