Program:       The Villa         
Salary:          $38,000 - $40,000   

Program Description:

The Villa is a congregate building located in The Bronx that opened in 2015. The building provides supportive housing to 47 individuals who are active substance users and 9 individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. The public benefits advocate will be part of a multi-disciplinary team that works collaboratively with clients to overcome barriers to recovery and independence. As part of this effort, the advocate works with participants to access benefits that include public assistance, food stamps, public health insurance, and disability benefits.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties of Public Benefits Advocate include but are not limited to the following activities:

Extensive research and the ability to synthesize large bodies of information.
Successful applicants will demonstrate the ability to independently seek out, understand, and apply complex information, including laws and policy documents.
The ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing with diverse audiences.
Excellent time management skills, accountability to deadlines, and the ability to see both short- and long-term projects through to completion.
Genuine interest in working with formerly homeless individuals and/or individuals who have experienced addiction, trauma, and physical or mental illness.
The ability to engage others with warmth, respect, and lack of assumption or judgment.
Maturity, sound judgment, and the ability to seek and accept supervision
Participation in weekly team meetings