Overview
The Coalition for the Homeless (the “Coalition”) is the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct services organization helping unhoused individuals and families and those at risk of experiencing homelessness. The Coalition believes that affordable housing, sufficient food, and the chance to work for a living wage are fundamental rights in a civilized society. Since its inception in 1981, the Coalition has engaged in litigation, advocacy, public education, and direct services to ensure that these goals are realized.
Along with its aggressive and innovative large-scale advocacy on behalf of homeless individuals and families and its 11 programs serving over 3500 at-risk people every year, the Coalition is the plaintiff in the historic Callahan v. Carey case which established the legal Right to Shelter. In addition, the Coalition is the court-appointed independent monitor of NYC’s primary shelter system for single adults, and the NYC-appointed independent monitor of the primary shelter system for homeless families. On March 15, 2024, the Coalition and NYC entered into a settlement agreement in the Callahan case (“Settlement”) that, among other things, extends the Coalition’s monitoring role to sites serving single adult asylum seekers and other new arrivals who entered the country on or after March 15, 2022 (“New Arrivals”).
Given this expanded role, the Coalition created the ENACT team to monitor NYC’s compliance with the Settlement and to provide case management support for New Arrivals. At this time, the Coalition is seeking TWO passionate, experienced individuals to join the Advocacy Department immediately as ENACT Case Managers.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The ENACT Case Managers provide holistic case management, support and advocacy to assist New Arrivals who are homeless with issues relating to longer-term stability, including their immigration status and ability to remain in shelter. The ENACT Case Managers support the work of the ENACT Monitors through the provision of direct services to New Arrivals who are referred by the Monitoring Team and other CBO’s that are working with the Coalition, and will communicate directly with the Coalition’s legal counsel and/or NYC staff to immediately resolve problems that arise. The ENACT Case Managers will provide support onsite at the Coalition offices, as well as in the field at New York City Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (“HERRC”) and other community-based settings. As members of the ENACT team, they will also help organize, support, and mobilize New Arrivals for advocacy campaigns and events. Services offered will be consistent with the mission and goals of the Coalition.
To support the Coalition’s goal of providing culturally responsive services, the Coalition aims to have the ENACT Case Managers reflect the experiences of the New Arrival population, including the ability to provide services in the New Arrivals’ preferred languages.
NOTE: It is uncertain how long the temporary framework set forth in the Settlement for New Arrivals will be in effect. Nonetheless, the Coalition is planning to retain the ENACT team until at least September 30, 2027 and will modify job responsibilities as necessary should the temporary framework set forth in the Settlement end earlier.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:
Working under the direction of the ENACT Team Supervisor (“Supervisor”) or designee, the ENACT Case Mangers will:
Case Management & Advocacy
- Conduct regular outreach visits to HERRC shelters, Drop-in Centers, the Reticketing Center and CBOs to meet New Arrivals and staff or reconnect with current ENACT clients;
- Accompany ENACT clients to appointments as necessary;
- Advocate for individual needs of New Arrivals to the extent possible both at the Coalition office and in the field;
- Develop and maintain working knowledge of relevant social services systems and agencies to ensure New Arrivals access to appropriate services that support their legal, health care, public benefits and housing needs;
- Alert ENACT Supervisor regarding client emergencies and other immediate needs and assist in efforts to promptly deliver proper services;
- Work in conjunction with Crisis Services and other Coalition programs to facilitate client services as necessary;
- Document individual and systemic problems relating to New Arrivals for follow-up with the applicable NYC agency as directed; and
- Ensure all case management activities are accurately and timely entered into Coalition databases and other electronic tracking systems as directed.
Community Engagement
- Identity and establish relationships with CBOs to act as referral sources for New Arrivals that have needs that can not be met by the Coalition;
- Support the development of Know Your Rights materials and workshops for New Arrivals and CBOs;
- Organize New Arrivals for the purpose of NYC and State-level advocacy on a range of public policy issues that impact unhoused New Arrivals and unhoused individuals; and
- Together with other Advocacy Department staff, help develop and implement the Coalition’s organizing campaigns and public education work.
Other Duties
- Collect information from external partners, clients, ENACT team, and other internal departments for grant reports and other agency reports;
- Assist with the preparation of grant reports and other agency reports;
- Work with Advocacy Department staff and the Coalition’s legal counsel to provide litigation support, which may include identifying and liaising with potential plaintiffs to enforce the Settlement or to otherwise defend and expand the rights of homeless individuals and families;
- Conduct outreach to New Arrivals who have received a notice advising of any denial of shelter or reasonable accommodations, and connect them with the Coalition’s legal counsel for possible representation or assistance in appealing such determination;
- Liaise with other departments and programs of the Coalition to provide resource materials and increase awareness about the work of the ENACT Team and Advocacy Department and to include other staff in Advocacy campaigns and events;
- Support the ENACT Monitoring Team with inspections as needed;
- Obtain regular (no less than weekly) supervision with the ENACT Supervisor, or Deputy Director of Advocacy in their absence, to review case management plans, client issues/concerns and service needs, among other matters;
- Participate in weekly staff and other meetings, such as in-service training and staff development and orientation activities;
- Assist in the training and orientation of fellow members of the department, including, but not limited to, accompanying department staff on field visits and ensuring they understand the rights of New Arrivals; and
- Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the ENACT Supervisor or the Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION.
During the probationary period, the ENACT Case Managers will be required to work in the Coalition’s office five days a week (which in office time includes any visits to New Arrival sites). Once the probationary period is over, the ENACT Case Managers will be able to work on a hybrid schedule each week consisting of at least four days in the office (or in the field) and one day remote.
Requirements
- GED/high school diploma and/or 2-4 years of experience providing case management in a social service setting required.
- College degree in social work, human services, or health discipline strongly preferred.
- Prior direct client services and case management experience, especially with homeless and/or low-income immigrant populations, strongly preferred.
- Understanding of immigration filings and the NYC New Arrival system, policies and stakeholders preferred.
- Strong written and oral communication skills required.
- Solid critical thinking and problem-solving skills required.
- Exceptional ability to prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints required
- Strong organizational and time management skills required
- Flexibility and willingness to occasionally work outside of traditional business hours is required.
- Desire to work as part of a team required.
- Proficiency in English and at least one of the primary languages of the New Arrivals (which include Spanish, French, Wolof, and Pulaar) strongly preferred.
Physical Demands
- This job primarily operates in both an office environment and in shelters, and occasionally in public and outdoor spaces at all times of the year
- Must be able to travel by public transportation to multiple locations across New York City and move around buildings that are not ADA-compliant
- Requires some standing for extended periods of time; often walking and climbing stairs; extended periods of computer and/or telephone work, and moving between standing and seated positions
- Requires the ability to communicate constantly with people and exchange accurate information in these situations
- Must be able to operate a computer, smart phone, and copy machine
- Occasionally requires lifting and carrying items up to 10 lbs.