HOUSING COURT COORDINATOR

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE

The Homelessness Prevention Administration (HPA) works to keep New Yorkers in their homes. HPA works with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) and many other organizations and City agencies to assist families and individuals in need in obtaining and maintaining stable, affordable housing.

Under the direction of the Deputy Director, with latitude to exercise independent judgement and initiative, the Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist III will function as Legal Services Payment Coordinator / Housing Court Coordinator who will authorize and process payments for Legal Services and rent payments with the centrally based Rental Assistance Unit. The Housing Court Coordinator will supervise consultants in the payment process to Legal Services and the negotiation process with landlords, attorneys, and judges once the case has advanced to the housing court.

The Homelessness Prevention Administration (HPA) is recruiting for one (1) Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist III to function as a Housing Court Coordinator, who will:

- Coordinate the work of Homelessness Prevention Consultants who assist with the prevention of evictions caused by non-payment of rent; serve as first level of contact with the HomeBase providers

- Supervise staff engaged in the assessment and determination of rent arrears payments.

- Supervise and approve the processing of requests to authorize payment of clients’ rent arrears.

- Oversee the negotiation process with landlords and attorneys to reduce rent arrears and/or monthly rent as well as timeframes for payment.

- Prepare, distribute, and maintain a control system for subordinate staff work assignments.

- Monitor the progress of work assignments to ensure timely delivery of services to clients to prevent their eviction.

- Prepare reports on unit’s daily activities for submission to management; assist in the resolution of complex cases by conferring with judges, attorneys, and landlords.

- Serve as liaison with officials, advocates, and HRA component agencies (OLA, HASA, APS).

- Conduct staff meetings to keep staff informed of unit’s goal and changes in the program’s policies and procedures and perform other related tasks.

Hours/Shift: Hours: 9am-5pm

ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY - 56316

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and three years of
full-time satisfactory experience working directly in social/human services or a
related setting, providing either:
a) client services.
b) employment planning/counseling services which involves job development,
skills assessment, and employment placement or other economic
opportunity programming.
2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist; or
3. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; plus eighteen months of full time satisfactory experience as described in one (1) above.
4. College credit from an accredited college may be substituted for this experience
on the basis of 60 semester credits for 9 months of the work experience described
above. However, all candidates must have at least 18 months of full-time
satisfactory experience working as a Benefits Opportunity Specialist or performing
social/human services work as described in one (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.