CRIMINAL JUSTICE LIAISON

The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is the largest organization in the United States dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness. In partnership with other City Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it begins, reduce street homelessness, provides temporary shelter, and connects individuals and families to stable housing all with a focus on accountability, empathy, and equity.

DHS is committed to continuous improvement and employs innovative strategies to deliver high-quality services that support a swift transition from shelter to self-sufficiency. The agency manages hundreds of facilities and operates with a large team as well as a several billion-dollar budget to meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

The Division of Shelter Intake is responsible for the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the agency’s Single Adult, Adult Families and Families with Children’s intake and assessment sites, both directly run and contracted providers. This Division is responsible for ensuring that the City’s most vulnerable population can access shelter, per eligibility criteria, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is recruiting for eight (8) Community Coordinators to serve as Criminal Justice Liaisons, who will:

- Cultivate relationships across diverse communities to provide new opportunities for clients and community based homeless population regarding housing alternatives to shelter. Provide information about these opportunities to staff and support community partners as they provide these prospects for the homeless population.

- Conduct outreach, interviews, recruitment and screening for housing alternatives to shelter with primary tenants, landlords, building superintendent, neighbors, other city agencies, institutional settings, private entities, and any other collateral sources of information to obtain relevant information in connection with determining the applicant’s viability for housing within the community.

- Engage with community based homeless population to provide DHS shelter referrals and educate about housing options or other resources available in the community through mediation, referrals, meetings, and other methods.

- Gather all applicant information including housing history and income. Review and verify documents provided by the applicant. Perform screening interviews for the single adult applicants. Follow-up with applicants past housing resources to determine whether applicants can return to the community, including details of DOCCS coordination with clients to identify adequate housing prior to their release.

- Make an initial recommendation on applicants’ alternatives to shelter based on a total assessment of the individual’s situation, including documentation of attempts to house client by referring agency, and any other relevant release documentation.

- Oversee all other necessary screenings of applicants who have housing options or other resources available in the community. Provide an initial assessment of applicants’ psychiatric and service needs history.

- Confirm that shelter residents are provided with all mandated services in a safe, clean, secure environment and that the shelter is in regulatory compliance.

- Ensure compliance with agency standards, OTDA regulations and all local laws and codes that set basic sanitation, health, and environmental standards.

- Provide oversight and direction, as part of the continuum of care and security of clients by overseeing and responding to clients’ complaints and allegations regarding lost or stolen property, experiences or observations of abuse and discrimination by clients and staff.

- Be responsible for reporting and investigations into all incidents occurring on their tour.

- Ensure submission of accurate nightly / daily census reporting / CARES reporting to Vacancy Control Unit and Social Service; ensure adequate client supplies are stocked and available.

Hours/Schedule: Various Schedules.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.