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

Who We Are: CAMBA is a community of staff, volunteers, clients, donors, neighbors and partners who work together to build an inclusive New York City, where all children and adults have access to the resources and supports they need to thrive. We take a comprehensive approach by offering more than 160 integrated programs in: Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. We reach more than 65,000 individuals and families each year at our 90 locations, including 10,000 youth. CAMBA serves a diverse cross section of New Yorkers from new mothers in Brownsville to job seekers in the Rockaways. More than half of our clients are immigrants and refugees from around the globe. Over 85% of our families are in living in poverty, reflecting the challenges faced by nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers today.

CAMBA Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) is the legal services arm of CAMBA, Inc. CLS provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers in the areas of consumer law, foreclosure prevention, immigration, housing law, and domestic violence assistance. In addition to providing direct representation and providing legal advice and counsel to thousands of clients, CAMBA attorneys also engage in legislative advocacy, impact litigation in both state and federal court, provide community education and offer expert training on a wide range of issues, services that allow members of our community improve their lives.

Position: Benefits Paralegal

Reports To: Supervisor

Location: 20 Snyder Brooklyn, NY 11226

What does the Benefits Paralegal, Housing Unit, Do:

• 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.

Education, Licenses and/or Certifications Required:

Associate’s degree (A.A.) and two years applicable experience or bachelor’s degree (B. A. or B.S.) and/or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience working with Housing matters preferred.

• Bi-lingual preferred (Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, Arabic, Russian, Urdu).

CAMBA’S Specific Competencies:

Organization:

• Manages multiple projects.

• Determines project urgency in a practical way; uses goals to guide actions.

• Creates detailed action plans.

• Organizes and schedules people and tasks effectively.

Confidentiality:

• Remains sensitive to Human Resource issues and maintains confidentiality, neutrality and objectivity as appropriate.

Compensation: $63,860 - $96,551 annually
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.

Status: Full-time (35 hours per week)
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.

CAMBA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace. People of color, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are encouraged to apply. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, socio-economic status, marital or veteran status, pregnancy status or sexual orientation.