Earned Benefits Paralegal, Housing Unit, CAMBA Legal Services at CAMBA in Brooklyn, NY

Responsibilities

• Assist clients in completing CAMBA intake applications, registrations and forms.
• Conduct intake and assessment of clients and clients' families' situations and needs.
• Conduct home visits in order to perform intake and follow-up services.
• Assist clients in completing benefits applications, fair hearings and other administrative proceedings.
• Maintain professional relationships with clients and client confidentiality.
• Practice Universal Precautions/Standard Protocol & Procedures.
• Comply with any and all Federal, State, City and CAMBA security and privacy polices intended to protect the security and privacy of individually identifiable health information.
• Serve as a liaison with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, housing, social services, legal issues, etc.
• Assist clients in attaining their Housing related goals by identifying and referring clients to appropriate services both within and outside CAMBA.
• Conduct housing search efforts for each housing ready client referred (i.e., referrals to housing providers, contact landlords, search for apartment listings, etc.).
• Assist clients in completing applications for benefits and entitlements (i.e., HCR Section 8), and may process applications on clients' behalf.
• Develop curriculum to address clients’ Housing needs including, permanent housing search process and options.
• Provide individualized counseling on housing related topics.
• Provide housing related support, training and coordination.
• Establish linkages with community-based organizations and local landlords.
• Escort clients to appointments (i.e., housing interviews, apartment move-ins, housing fairs, etc.)
• Follow-up with clients regarding HPD required for processing of recertifications.
• Conduct initial intake and assessment of clients’ needs and periodic re-assessments.
• Create and maintain client electronic and paper files.
• Obtain and maintain relevant documentation and release forms from clients.
• Assist clients in attaining their goals by identifying community resources and by referring clients to appropriate services.
• Work with clients to break through barriers to their goal(s) attainment.
• Assist clients in advocating for themselves in order to gain housing stability.
• Recommend and implement strategies to persuade clients to participate fully in the process in order to transition into permanent housing.
• Monitor clients' progress toward their goals via regularly scheduled face-to-face contacts/sessions.
• Document all client encounters via progress notes.
• Follow-up with clients and with referral organizations regarding client contact and progress with referral organization.
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• Act as client liaison/client advocate with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare, housing, legal issues, etc.
• Filing, copying, faxing, emailing to clients, funders and referring agencies.
• Submit documents etc to funders database and portal.
• Complete client case in CAMBA TSS database.
• Schedule appointments for client with referral organizations.
• Prepare marketing materials for the program.
• Meeting, emailing and in person communications with funder
• Submit weekly reports.
• Tasks may be modified, expanded and/or assigned over a period of time.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive document/client files including up to date case note documentation.
• Follow up with clients and other organizations regarding client progress toward legal goals/program outcomes.
• Act as client liaison/advocate to coordinate with internal and external programs and agencies to make referrals and to ensure integrated services delivery.
• Develop and report program performance to funders.
• With appropriate level of approval, negotiate with servicers on behalf of the clients.
• Maintain client data in several databases and/or other designed
• Prepare marketing and outreach materials for the program.
• Conduct outreach to the community in order to inform the community of the benefit services and to recruit clients.
• Conduct presentations, workshops, and training for community-based organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Assist clients in completing SCRIE and DRIE applications.
• Pickup checks from agencies and/or charities and deliver to the office, court, or office of opposing counsel.
• Reach out and market the program to the community in order to recruit clients.
• Communication with HRA regarding client Public Assistance benefits (e.g., request benefits, issuance printouts, check application status, etc.).
• Assist in referral and client communication throughout duration of intake and/or case.
• Interpret for clients and staff as needed; translate documents, forms, etc.
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual report.
• provide group presentations to advise potential clients of their legal rights and responsibilities.
• Process applications for charitable housing and other grants and conduct follow-up.
• Notarize legal documents as needed, provided the paralegal is a licensed notary.
• Handle NYCHA and HRA hearings.
• Assist with HPD and HCR administrative proceedings.
• Handle public assistance hearings for CAMBA clients, subject to supervisor’s discretion and provided the paralegal has received adequate training for such tasks.
• May assist existing CAMBA clients with FHEPS applications, and/or other types of rental arrears/ subsidy applications.
• Perform other related tasks as reasonably assigned, including in limited circumstances assisting with the tasks and responsibilities of administrative paralegals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree (A.A.) and two years applicable experience or bachelor’s degree (B. A. or B.S.) and/or equivalent experience.
• Prior experience working with Housing matters preferred.
• Bi-lingual preferred (Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, Arabic, Russian, Urdu).

Skills

Required

• Organization
• Confidentiality
• Professionalism
• Communication
• Advocacy
• Interpersonal skills
• Intake and assessment
• Case management
• Benefits applications
• Housing search
• Legal document preparation
• Data entry

Benefits

• Benefits: CAMBA offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid time off (vacation, personal, and sick time), and paid holidays.
• When salary ranges are listed, the range would represent the low and high end for the applicable position & program. The salary offered would be based on various factors unique to each program and candidate. This includes but is not limited to experience, education, budget and/or program size, internal equity, skills and other factors that may be required for the position and organization.