SUPERVISOR, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING at ASIAN AMERICANS FOR EQUALITY, INC

COMPENSATION: $60,000.00 annually

Language Proficiency: ENGLISH, CHINESE AND KOREAN

WHO WE ARE:

Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in New York City. Founded in 1974 in Manhattan’s Chinatown to advocate for equal rights, AAFE has transformed in the past four decades to become one of the city’s leading housing, social service and community development organizations. AAFE advances racial, social and economic justice for Asian Americans and other systematically disadvantaged communities, guided by our experiences as Asian Americans and our commitment to civil rights. AAFE is nationally recognized as an innovative affordable housing developer and property manager; we have created and preserved more than 1,000 affordable rental units in Manhattan and Queens and provided over $400 million in mortgage financing for first-time homebuyers.  AAFE also supports economic empowerment through two affiliates: a small business CDFI, Renaissance EDC (REDC), that provides financial and technical assistance to low-income, immigrant entrepreneurs; and a homeownership CDFI, Community Development Fund (CDF), that provides counseling and financial assistance to first-time and existing homeowners.  From neighborhood offices in Chinatown and the Lower East Side (Manhattan) and Flushing and Jackson Heights (Queens) we provide an array of multilingual counseling and educational programs in support of low-income tenants, seniors and immigrant youth.

POSITION SUMMARY:

AAFE is seeking a Manager, Housing Services & Retention for Magnolia Gardens, a 90-unit transitional housing facility for families with children in Flushing, Queens. This facility will prioritize Community District 7 ( Flushing) residents and is the first Asian language access transitional housing facility in NY.  AAFE strongly believes in our ability to facilitate access to transitional housing in a way that reduces barriers for AAPI families with children in need of additional support for achieving housing stability  and financial wellbeing.  The role of Manager, Housing Services & Retention will be to ensure that housing insecure and homeless families with children from CD7 ( Flushing) have both priority and  equitable access to Magnolia Gardens. This person will lead and support pre-opening activities and once opened, intensive navigation support to Flushing based families.

Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Managing Director of Community Services, this position will help Flushing based families access transitional housing (including Magnolia Gardens) through collaboration with other community-based organizations, faith based and public-school institutions as well as our development partners at Urban Resources Institute.  Responsibilities will include the following:

• Oversee and lead Flushing community-based Housing Services & Retention Collaborative. The collaborative will be composed of a locally based interdisciplinary group of providers and  community partners who will endeavor to use their collective expertise to facilitate access to culturally  competent services that support families with children who have historically been under-served, including  AAPI families with children. Members of this Collaborative will also work together to promote access to, and  retention of affordable permanent housing.  
• Conduct outreach and education to institutions in Flushing and CD7 that serve AAPI families with children, such as CBO’s, faith-based, childcare and public-school institutions, to make them aware of the project and the DHS intake process, and to establish client referral processes. 
• Coordinate the participation of Collaborative partners in making client referrals and providing client navigation and wrap-around stabilization and retention services. A second full-time position will be  responsible for providing client navigation support during the DHS intake and placement process, to ensure  AAPI families with children seeking shelter do not fall through the cracks. 
• Develop materials and tools for outreach and education workshops, presentations and to share in a train the trainer model with our community-based partners.
• Create and maintain an intake, reporting, and casework documentation system for this work.
• Supervise 1 F/T Transitional Housing Navigator will be to ensure that housing insecure and homeless families with children from CD7 ( Flushing) have both priority and  equitable access to Magnolia Gardens. The Transitional Housing Navigator will also support pre-opening activities and once opened, intensive navigation support to Flushing based families.
• Prepare and support the families throughout the entire transitional housing placement process.
• Coordinate with transitional shelter staff (URI) to meet goals and objectives in providing transitional housing for CD7 families.
• Liaison between referral CBO’s and URI and DHS to ensure families are placed in transitional housing.
• Coordinate housing stability advocacy, provides referrals, safety plans, and administer client assistance funds.
• Provide short- and long-term culturally/linguistically appropriate services to promote the health, safety, and overall well-being of participants.
• Take initiative in problem-solving and utilize resources, including team members and community resources, to assist in addressing challenges.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely records and reports, including leases, ensuring compliance with funding and contractual obligations.
• Interview and screen applicants, such as completing initial application and all necessary releases and documentation with the participant, review program expectations and services, check references, and coordinate ongoing appointments with participants.
• Conduct an assessment and help participants develop housing case plan to attain their goals.
• Assist survivors residing in the transitional shelter in securing permanent housing and provide follow up supportive services per housing plan for a minimum of three months.
• Meet with participants for follow up appointments in-person at a mutually agreed location, including home visits at the participant’s residence.
• Facilitate documents successfully to comply with client needs in addition to agency requirements.
• Problem-solve any issues out of compliance with agency mission or program requirements.
• Document accurate service notes, case notes, and complete all required forms per contractual guidelines.
• Represent the agency in a trauma-informed capacity.
• Educate participants on housing norms and rules, equip them with tenet roles and responsibilities.
• Work closely and provide service, referrals, and crisis intervention counseling.
• Act as a liaison between referring CBO’s and DHS/URI
• Assist with any on site facility needs such as events, donations, inspections, and ensuring cleanliness.
• Maintain compliance with all agency health and safety procedures.
• Transport participants as needed to DHS PATH.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or related field and a minimum of (3) years’ experience working in a related field.
• Valid New York driver’s license
• Bilingual in English/ Chinese or Bilingual in English/Korean is required
• Fluency in English, Chinese and Korean is preferred
• Positive, effective, and professional (oral and written) communications and interactions with a wide range of individuals, including in emotionally charged and stressful situations
• Proven ability to interact, problem-solve and mediate in a positive and constructive manner, including during emergency and stressful situations
• Ability to successfully prioritize and execute multiple tasks and/or projects, and ability to work independently and cooperatively as a team member
• Flexibility, such as regarding work setting, schedule, responsibilities, clients, and colleagues, and assistance with emergency situations as needed
• Experienced in tracking outcomes and program impact
• Innovative and creative thinking
• Supervisory Experience
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Unlimited supply of energy with an entrepreneurial spirit

COMPENSATION: $60,000.00 annually

Preferred:

Possesses a valid New York driver’s license, proof of insurance, and a clean driving record.

EXPECTATIONS & HOW WE WORK:

We believe that the people and the communities that we have the privilege to serve, deserve our very best every day.  We are a results-driven organization that focuses on inclusiveness, empowerment and impact. AAFE employees are accountable, collaborative and strong communicators with a core strength of community service and development.  We are strategic thinkers who are committed to racial equality and treating each other, and the communities we serve, with respect and dignity.  We have an aptitude for technology and a strong desire to continuously learn. This philosophy expands to the way we manage our work and the way we put our best foot forward.  All employees are expected to adhere to the following: 

• Ensure compliance with all grant/contract requirements
• Work as part of a team in supporting other AAFE program contracts and projects
• Provide quality customer service to both internal and external partners and co-workers.
• Support efforts that ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
• Understand and embrace the value in collaborating with people of different cultures, races, genders, ethnicities, beliefs, experiences and ideas.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Maintain a positive, helpful attitude.
• Enjoy your time at work!