Intake & Outreach Specialist

ORGANIZATION: The FHJC is a non-profit civil rights organization that serves New York City and the seven suburban New York counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester. Our mission is to: 1) challenge and eliminate housing discrimination, promote policies that foster open, accessible, and inclusive communities; and 3) strengthen the enforcement of local, state, and federal fair housing laws. Since its founding in 2005, the FHJC investigations have led to legal challenges that have opened more than 81,000 units of housing to previously excluded individuals, recovered over $55 million in damages and penalties for victims of housing discrimination, and changed the ways many housing providers and government agencies do business. Our extensive service area, broad range of investigations, excellent policy advocacy, and strong litigation program make the FHJC one of the most effective and highly regarded fair housing organizations in the country.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Intake & Outreach Specialist serves as the main point of contact for individuals seeking assistance with potential fair housing complaints. This role involves managing the intake process by responding to inquiries, assessing complaints, and coordinating appropriate referrals, either internally or externally. In addition to direct client services, the Specialist builds and sustains partnerships with service providers and agencies to strengthen referral pathways. The Intake & Outreach Specialist also represents the organization at outreach events across our service area to educate others about their fair housing rights.

The salary range for the role is $65,000 to $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience. This is a full-time position that includes a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, paid time off, transportation benefit, cell phone reimbursement, building gym membership, and an employer-matched retirement plan. This position requires work primarily from FHJC’s office.

REPORTS TO: Director of Intake & Outreach

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Intake

• Serve as the primary point of contact for individuals seeking assistance, responding to all intake calls and inquiries related to potential housing discrimination[GU1]
• Provide counseling and information to individuals about their fair housing rights and available options under local, state, and federal law.
• Conduct detailed intake interviews to gather accurate, complete, and factual information concerning alleged violations.
• Maintain consistent, professional follow-up with complainants until the matter is resolved or closed.
• Communicate the results of investigations to complainants and offer guidance on potential next steps
• Document all communications, case updates, and referral actions
• Build and maintain a resource referral network by cultivating relationships with groups such as legal service providers, tenant advocacy groups, disability rights organizations, and social service agencies[GU2] [IS3]
• Identify trends in intakes and recommend improvements to intake process, referral protocols, and supporting materials.

Outreach & Community Engagement

• Represent the FHJC at public events to educate the public about their fair housing rights in each of the service areas of the FHJC
• Attend outreach events throughout the organization’s service area, which are, on occasion, conducted outside of regular business hours.
• Support event coordination, including setup and distribution of materials[GU4] [IS5]
• Maintain knowledge of current fair housing topics and community needs to ensure content and messaging remain relevant and accessible
• Identify potential outreach opportunities and convey those to the Director of Intake & Outreach[GU6]

Adele Friedman Housing Accessibility Fund (AFHAF)

• Conduct screenings to assess eligibility for the AFHAF program, which provides financial assistance to low- and moderate-income renters with disabilities for accessibility modifications to their housing
• Prepare and submit completed applications with required documentation to the [GU7] Legal Department for review
• Clearly communicate program requirements and expectations to applicants or their representatives
• Participate in site inspections post-modification, in coordination with the Legal department, to verify satisfactory completion of work
• Identify and report any trends in the application process to suggest potential improvements

Other Duties

• Regularly meet with the Intake & Outreach Specialists, Director of Investigations, and Legal Director to provide information needed to structure investigations in response to complaints received.
• Provide sworn statements and testimony in depositions, trials, and other legal proceedings.
• Support other intake and outreach initiatives as directed by the Director of Intake & Outreach and the Executive Director

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, social services, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• 1-3 years of experience in client services, case management, civil rights advocacy, or a related field
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and maintain accurate records
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Commitment to fair housing and social justice

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in a language other than English, particularly in languages commonly spoken within the organization’s service area
• Familiarity with fair housing laws or civil rights enforcement
• Experience conducting community outreach or facilitating workshops and presentations
• Knowledge of housing-related programs, legal services, or social service resources in New York City and the surrounding counties