The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is comprised of 2,000 employees and with an annual operating budget of over $1 billion is one of the largest organizations of its kind committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City. Collaborating with other public agencies and not-for-profit partners, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it occurs, reduces street homelessness, and assists New Yorkers to transition from shelter into appropriate permanent housing. DHS is responsible for management of over 200 facilities, which mainly are individual, and family shelters used as overnight residences for over 38,000 adults and children. DHS’s portfolio covers approximately 4M square feet.

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 one (1) Community Associate to function as an Intake Worker who will:


- Interact with the various communities DHS serves to keep residents informed of the programs and services DHS has to offer to the homeless population.

- Interview single Adults and Adult Families within the various communities and issue social service referrals. Attend onsite/offsite/ community meetings to share important issues affecting the homeless population and the unit’s daily operation. Able to offer insight for improvement.

- Maintain liaison with various community shelters to convey shelter placement information and facilitate transportation to various community shelters. Assist the Community Coordinator with handling onsite/offsite client inquiries with the highest level of confidentiality and sensitivity, during the application process.

- Records all information pertaining to client information and social service referrals utilizing the on-line CARES and Q-Flow. Accurately input codes to register applicants for temporary housing office; convey shelter placement information and facilitate transportation to various community shelters.

- Perform high level responsible clerical duties, as assigned by the Site Manager, such as prepare written monthly, quarterly, and annual administrative statistical and narrative indicator reports that would share information in re to shelter placements; collect, analyze and evaluate on-site and statistical data from various sources, and communicate the results to superior.

- Maintain liaison with various units to be able to process schedule and reports, and to coordinate and prepare case files and documents. Work closely with the Community Coordinator to coordinate the transfer of case records, forms, and referrals to receiving shelters. Unused documents discarded, according to agency policy. Maintain files for future reference.

Hours/Schedule: Thursday-Monday 12am-8am.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATE - 56057

Qualification Requirements
1. High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or
2. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

- The worker should be able to relate well with others, be flexible in responding to supervisor’s requests for priority tasks. - Have good communication skills, be attentive to details, take pride in his/her work, have an overall courteous and helpful telephone manner, ability to perform computer operations, be a team player and be self-motivated.

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 https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.