Location: New York,NY, USA
YOU MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST TITLE FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR OR PERMANENT IN THE ABOS TITLE.
THIS IS A PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT, WHEN A TEST BECOMES AVAILABLE IN THE ASSOCIATE BENEFITS OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST (ABOS) TITLE, YOU MUST TAKE AND PASS THE EXAM TO REMAIN IN THE ABOS TITLE.
The Homelessness Prevention Administration (HPA) was established in 2014 and has since played an essential role in the City's overall eviction and homelessness prevention efforts to combat housing instability to help New Yorkers stay housed. HPA Office of Prevention and Housing Assistance (PHA) is primarily responsible for administration of the CityFHEPS rental subsidy program, the contracted in-community Homebase eviction prevention program and for new developments and an expanding continuum of homelessness prevention programing and contracts. PHA is currently comprised of the following units -The Rental Assistance Programs (RAP), the HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (HOME TBRA), and the Office of Prevention and Community Support (PCS) and its expanding unit for Contracts (Homebase, Phase I,2,3-Cluster/Master Lease, City Council Discretionary Awards and Special Housing Assistance Resource (SHARE).
The PHA-RAP is recruiting for four (4) Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist I's to function as RAP Unit Supervisors, who will:
* Supervise Job Opportunities Specialists who verify eligibility for tenant or landlord for Rental
Assistance Unit Subsidy Programs.
* Responsible for issuance of check requests for brokers and landlord payments for Rental
Assistance Subsidy Programs.
* Approve lease signings with tenant and landlords for their new residency which involves providing
keys and signed leases. Troubleshoot issues made by tenants, landlord, lawyer, advocate, legal aid
via a review conference to achieve resolutions.
* Ensure that Rental Assistance Unit Subsidy Program payments to landlords and brokers go out
in a timely manner and oversees the annual renewal of Rental Assistance Program subsidies.
* Review the data entries of tenant information for federal funds into federal databases; utilizes
other databases such as but not limited to Housing Assistance Payment Systems (HAPS), Rental
Assistance Program (RAP), HRA One Viewer, WMS, NYCWAY, Finance.net, IQ System, SAVE.
* Recommend new subsidy certificates for tenants who wish to submit a transfer request via email
for reasons such as issues with landlord, inhabitable apartments, etc.
* Address requests for information and services from Rental Assistance Program landlords,
tenants, and community advocates.
Hours:
9 am to 5 pm
Work Location:
3 vacancies at 4WTC, 150 Greenwich Street, NY, NY
1 vacancy at 109E 16th Street
Minimum Qualifications
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.
55a Program
This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at
Residency Requirement
New York City Residency is not required for this position
Additional Information
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.