Overview:  The Housing Advocate provides trauma-informed, housing-first, and harm reduction services to tenants of the Damien Center’s Madison Apartments, a site-based, permanent supportive housing program for 22 formerly homeless persons with HIV and other chronic illnesses and scattered site housing units rented by tenants with HUD support.

Qualifications:

  1. Bachelor’s degree required in psychology, social work, counseling or closely related field from a fully accredited college or university.
  2. Employment history will include a minimum of 2 years related work in a health or human service agency preferable with an HIV organization and/or a housing-first and chronic homelessness provider. Experience with HUD-funded Permanent Supportive Housing programs.
  3. 2 years’ experience working with people with HIV/AIDS and/or other chronic illness.
  4. Professional interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills and ability to interact with a wide range of personalities. An understanding of the social constructs that impact those struggling with homelessness and economic instability.
  5. Able to work in and grow our agency culture, in a diverse and multicultural setting, providing trauma-informed and harm reduction services to persons of diverse backgrounds including age, race, ethnicity, gender identify, disability, economic status, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation.
  6. Time management and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
  7. Availability to work a flexible schedule with some evenings and weekends.
  8. Proficiency in MS Word/Excel/Outlook and E-mail. Familiarity with client services databases such as HMIS and AIRS a plus.
  9. Will have valid, unrestricted driver’s license and independent means of transportation.

Responsibilities:

  1. Provide intensive case management to tenants participating in the Damien Center’s permanent supportive housing program for chronically homeless in alignment with the Housing First model.
  2. Ensure each person becomes and remains stably, permanently housed.
  3. Provide tenants with ongoing information, support, and referrals
  4. Track case management activities, progress notes, and client outcomes in an online database (Homelessness Management Information System- HMIS) as well as in AIRS (AIDS Institute Reporting System). Ensure proper maintenance of tenant paper charts.
  5. Work collaboratively with volunteers, Peer Housing Advocate, Maintenance and other program staff to ensure stable housing success.
  6. Assist in identifying and enrolling new participants when vacancies occur
  7. Ensure compliance with Article 27F HIV Confidentiality Law and HIPPA confidentiality for all interactions.
  8. Serve on the ACCH (Albany County Coalition on Homelessness) Systems and Coordinated Entry Committees and foster inter-agency collaborative solutions to help tenants attain long-term housing stability.
  9. Provide time-sensitive activity reports, and collect data to support the measurement of program outcomes
  10. Assist with front-desk operations, answering phones, and crisis calls as needed
  11. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with medical providers, mental health and chemical dependency providers, and other social service providers. Facilitate referrals for such services and assist with applications when necessary.
  12. Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of eligibility and benefit provisions for public and private financial assistance, health care, and other supportive services. Assist clients to enroll in appropriate programs.
  13. Model and maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times with all tenants.
  14. Fully support and grow the Damien Center Pharmacy Program and ensure all agency programs support members in reducing barriers to help each person achieve HIV Viral Load Suppression.
  15. Support and participate in a culture of philanthropy by recognizing that fundraising efforts—including donor relations and organizational agency communication— include all staff and is essential to carry out the work and mission of the organization. Assist in securing member mission stories and participating in fundraising efforts as requested by the Housing Program Manager.

Reports to: Housing Program Manager

Status: Full Time (40) Hourly.  Salary commensurate with experience.  Benefits include health, dental, life insurance, flexible spending account, and retirement.

The Albany Damien Center’s mission is to enhance the lives of people affected by HIV/AIDS in an affirming environment and to reduce new infections in the communities we serve. Our vision is a community where people with HIV/AIDS achieve their desired potential and are respected as coworkers, neighbors, and friends, while striving for an HIV free generation.

The Albany Damien Center is committed to building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from minority candidates, women, persons living with HIV/AIDS, and persons from our LGBTQ community.

To Apply: Please send 1) cover letter 2) resume 3) salary requirements and 4) list of three professional references by e‐mail to Karen Gamble, Human Resources Associate at
KarenG@albanydamiencenter.org  Applications will be accepted via e‐mail and are encouraged to have all attachments. Continuous recruitment until position filled.