Housing Specialist, Supervised Release Program

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

• Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
• Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
• Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Staten Island Justice Center (SIJC) seeks to re-engineer the experience of criminal court in Staten Island, New York, by providing judges and attorneys meaningful alternatives to bail, fines, and jail sentences. Operating out of Richmond County Criminal Court and community-based offices, SIJC is a team of social service providers, court-based resource coordinators, mental health practitioners, compliance specialists, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice. Supervised Release offers an alternative to jail by providing pretrial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses, and in so doing, uses an arrest as a window of opportunity to change the direction of a participant’s life, avoiding the harmful effects of incarceration. Program participants are monitored to ensure their appearance at court dates and mandatory programming, and receive referrals to services like job training, drug treatment, and mental health counseling.

SIJC seeks a Housing Specialist for the borough’s Supervised Release Program (SRP). Reporting to the Community Engagement Coordinator, the Housing Specialist will leverage a deep and comprehensive knowledge of housing opportunities and challenges in the NYC area to provide in-house assistance to participants experiencing housing instability. Responsibilities will include assisting participants in obtaining both short-term and permanent housing opportunities. The Housing Specialist will work closely with the Clinical Director to build and maintain relationships with and have knowledge of local housing providers to complete housing referrals and help ensure case management staff are knowledgeable about housing providers and opportunities by facilitating in-house information sessions.

• Work with participants and their case managers to understand participants’ housing needs, including any relevant factors such as family size, safety needs, mental health, conviction history, and other special circumstances that may impact housing opportunities and needs;
• Assist participants with the completion of housing applications including supportive housing, housing subsidies or vouchers, rental assistance, and other similar programs and opportunities;
• Assist participants in accessing emergency housing at shelter locations and drop-in centers;
• Assist participants in obtaining identification and vital documents needed to obtain housing;
• Work with the Clinical Director to develop and maintain relationships with and knowledge of local providers of housing to understand housing-specific services, eligibility, intake requirements, and opportunities and challenges towards the goal of optimizing participants’ access to housing;
• Provide referrals and warm handoffs to service providers that are outside the scope of the Housing Specialists’ work, such as legal services providers;
• Explore new and additional housing service providers to assess quality and accessibility of services offered;
• Develop and facilitate presentations on housing service providers to the direct practice teams to share information and guidance to optimize successful, quality referrals;
• Work collaboratively with the case management team to effectively maintain accurate and timely data entry and case documentation aligned with the program model, court reporting obligations, and best practices;
  • Consistently case conference with participants’ Case Managers;
  • Ensure that meetings with participants also fulfill the obligations of check-ins and are recorded in the program database;
• Responsible for consistent and effective cross-team communication and collaboration to proactively identify successes, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen programming, create opportunities for meaningful collaboration, maximize internal and external resources and expertise, and substantive and comprehensive services to participants;
• Collect and maintain secure storage of hard copy and electronic documents containing sensitive participant information;
• Participate in the Housing Justice Working Group, including monthly meetings, retreats, and other gatherings;
• Participate in designated trainings upon hire;
• Attend project events, community events, and meetings after hours, as needed;
• Please note that this role will not hold a standard SRP caseload;
• Additional relevant tasks, as necessary.

• A high school diploma or equivalent required;
• Two years experience helping people to access housing required;
• Comprehensive expertise related to housing opportunities and challenges in NYC required;
• Comprehensive knowledge of and/or experience with the criminal legal, child welfare, and/or mental health systems preferred;
• Must be detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills;
• Must be able to work effectively and independently and as part of a highly interdependent, multi-disciplinary team within a fast-paced and dynamic work environment;
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a variety of program stakeholders, including judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court staff, and site partner agencies; and
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) strongly preferred.

Position Type: Full-time in-person work required from Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm, working weekend and evenings as needed.

Position Location: Staten Island, New York.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $54,000 - $65,400 and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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