Housing Advocate for emergency shelter & supportive housing

My Place Home For The Homeless

Housing Advocate for emergency shelter & supportive housing

Buffalo, NY
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Benefits:

    Flexible schedule

    Opportunity for advancement

    Our Shelter is seeking a Housing Advocate specialist to work at our emergency shelter program and support permanent housing programs. Hours are dayshift only.

    Housing Advocate Duties and Responsibilities will include providing the following;

    Assessing client needs, and developing strategies to help the client

    Providing support and resources for clients; good working relationship with support networks, government resources, and community resources

    Researching and referring client resources such as health and childcare

    Assigning social workers to respond to crisis situations that affect vulnerable or mentally unstable adults

    Evaluating and studying programs, services, and resources for quality and client needs

    Determining the correct course of action when helping clients, whether it be with a social worker, psychologist, or medical doctor

    Creating programs and services to benefit clients and community

    Listening and providing help and advice for impacted adults

    Caring for the well-being of clients and helping a wide range of clients, including people with serious illnesses, addictions, disabilities or who have been neglected

    Organizing and influencing community and policymakers to develop programs, policies, and services to assist in social work

    Advocating and raising awareness on behalf of clients and the needs of the community and local services

    Assisting clients by providing a family social worker, clinical social worker, school social worker, or healthcare social worker

    Participating weekly meetings with case management staff to review progress notes

    Prepare for audits by local and state governing authorities

    Assisting emergency shelter staff in de-escalation and crisis intervention

    Participating and recommending training, and program incentives for team and shelter staff

    Having monthly meeting with program leaders to review current and future state of organization's case management program

    Other duties not specifically outlined

    This position reports directly to the Housing Advocate Senior

    Housing Advocate Requirements and Qualifications

    Possesses superb written and spoken communication skills

    Excellent interpersonal skills with colleagues, community leaders, policymakers and others

    Excellent time management skills; organized and able to prioritize

    Motivated to take on additional community involvement projects and solve problems

    Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with multiple cases

    Able to organize and manage large amounts of files, schedules, dates, and information

    Self-directed and able to work without supervision

    Comfortable with building personal relationships and dedicated to helping others

    Empathetic and supportive with mentorship and leadership skills

    Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, healthcare or medical and related fields; Master's degree in social work preferred; supervised practicum or internship preferred

    Licensed or certified by state board according to regulatory is a plus

    Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)

    Able to work nights and weekends ( when required)

    Able to travel to meet with clients or partners in care (locally primarily but possible to attend trainings or seminars outside city limits)

    Salary is subject to level of education and or experience.