Careers

Make a Rewarding Career Move

The Coalition for the Homeless offers rewarding career opportunities for counselors, teachers, social workers, case managers and organizers. Coalition programs offer a variety of entry-level and professional positions for those who wish to join our dedicated and talented corps of human services workers and advocates.

We are currently in a hybrid work environment that requires employees to be onsite 80% of the time (4 days).

Positions Available:

Crisis Program Assistant

Department: Programs
Reports to: Crisis Intervention Program Directors/Senior Director of Crisis Services

About the Role: The Crisis Program Assistant supports service delivery to programs of the Coalition by receiving and directing clients, staffing the fourth floor waiting area, and providing triage and administrative support to the Crisis Intervention program. The Crisis Program Assistant plays a key role on the Crisis program team by screening clients, collecting required paperwork, sharing client information with advocates and ensuring client safety. The Crisis Program Assistant also assists with providing mail to clients who work.  The Crisis Program Assistant performs job duties consistent with the mission and goals of the Coalition for the Homeless and relevant funding agreements.

Responsibilities Include:

The Crisis Program Assistant shall:

  • Perform administrative and clerical functions for the Crisis Intervention Program, among other programs, including but not limited to, greeting clients and visitors and directing them to appropriate programs and staff; 
  • Perform triage of client needs and pass along information to advocates in the Crisis Intervention Program;
  • Enter clients into the ETO database, maintain files, copies of resources, a supply of metrocards and other client resources for the Crisis Intervention Program;
  • Together with the Crisis Intervention Program staff, maintain working client mail and distribute to clients; 
  • Develop and maintain working knowledge of social services systems/agencies to facilitate communication with advocates about client needs;
  • Develop and maintain a good working relationship with clients, peers, and agency contacts, among others;
  • Alert Program Director(s) and/or Director of Crisis Services regarding client emergencies and other immediate needs and assist in efforts to promptly deliver proper services;
  • Obtain daily support and supervision from the Program Director(s) as well as obtain regular bi-weekly supervision with the Senior Director of Crisis Services to review client issues/concerns and service needs, among other matters;
  • Participate in staff and other meetings, such as in-service training and staff development and orientation activities;
  • Work in conjunction with other Crisis Services Programs to exchange information relevant to crisis services, and collaborate with other Coalition departments as necessary;
  • Assist in monitoring and maintaining a professional, respectful, and courteous environment in the client waiting area and ensure that all clients are treated with dignity and respect;
  • Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Program Directors and/or Senior Director of Crisis Services

Requirements: High school diploma or GED required; AA/AS or higher preferred. Two years of human service-related office administration and clerical experience required. Good organizational and communication skills required.  Experience with housing, human services programs, and homeless services strongly desired.  Proficiency in Spanish and/or French desirable.

Salary: $50,000-$52,000

APPLY NOW

People of color and formerly homeless individuals are encouraged to apply.

The Coalition for the Homeless is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Case Manager, ENACT Team

Department: Advocacy
Reports to: ENACT Team Supervisor

About the Role: Expediting New Arrivals’ Community Transition (“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.

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.

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.

Responsibilities Include:

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.

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.

Salary: $60,000-$65,000

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.

APPLY NOW

People of color and formerly homeless individuals are encouraged to apply.

The Coalition for the Homeless is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Lead Organizer

Department: Advocacy
Reports to: Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns

About the Role: The Lead Organizer will build and support a base of leaders living in New York City shelters. A key member of the Advocacy Department of the Coalition for the Homeless, the Lead Organizer will be responsible for the Coalition’s organizing efforts inside New York City shelters. This includes base-building, outreach, and leadership development to promote participation in planning and policymaking that affects the lives of homeless people. The Lead Organizer will work closely with other staff to support the Coalition’s policy priorities, including our campaign to build more housing affordable for homeless and extremely low-income households.

NOTE: This position is currently funded for three years. Continued employment beyond three years is contingent upon funding.

Responsibilities Include:

Working under the direction of the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns, the Campaign Coordinator will:

Membership Recruitment and Relationship Building:

  • Conduct base-building and achieve targeted recruitment goals through regular community outreach, particularly outreach at New York City shelters
  • Support leaders within shelters to recruit other residents
  • Help members address systemic issues in their shelters and engage them in shaping and advancing the Coalition’s legislative and budget campaigns
  • Maintain regular contact with current and potential leaders
  • Facilitate referrals to the Coalition’s various programs, including crisis services and shelter-monitoring, to help address issues faced by people living in shelter.

Support campaigns, meetings, and events:

  • Conduct regular phone-banking to engage and mobilize people to attend meetings, actions, and events and achieve targeted turnout goals
  • Work with leaders to help them mobilize other residents at their shelters for meetings, events, rallies, and voter engagement
  • Assist with preparing leaders to speak, lead chants, and serve in other roles at events and actions
  • Support the logistical and programmatic needs of membership & leadership meetings, including working with members to co-facilitate meetings
  • Work with other Advocacy  team staff to integrate organizing work with existing client groups
  • Work with the Advocacy team and members to develop campaign and coalition strategies.

Leadership Development:

  • Identify potential leaders at different shelter sites and increase their leadership and organizing skills
  • Conduct trainings & education to build the knowledge and skills of the membership base about policymaking that impacts their lives
  • Help prepare members in advance of lobby days and lobbying meetings.

Other Duties:

  • Liaise with other departments and programs of the Coalition to provide updates and communicate about issues raised by members
  • Obtain regular supervision with the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns
  • Participate in weekly staff and other meetings as directed, such as in-service training and staff development and orientation activities
  • Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns.

Requirements:

  • At least three years of professional community organizing experience on behalf of homeless and/or low-income people required
  • Experience working with homeless people is a plus
  • Demonstrated success in both leading high turnout direct actions or events and cultivating leaders
  • Must have a deep commitment to social justice and, in particular, identifying and addressing the systemic and bureaucratic obstacles encountered by unhoused individuals
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds and comfort speaking to new people
  • Basic familiarity with office software, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Google Workspace apps, and Zoom
  • Able to stay up-to-date with a large volume of emails
  • A desire to work as part of a team to develop strategy, plan, and reflect on what is working well and what needs to be improved to reach our shared goals
  • People who have experienced homelessness are strongly encouraged to apply
  • This is an on-site position requiring work in the office and in the field. At least three days per week, the work schedule will be 11:00am – 7:00pm to support organizing in shelters. You may choose to work these hours five days per week, or to work 9:00am to 5:00pm on the other two days. Occasional later evening and weekend work is also required.
  • 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 constantly by public transportation to multiple locations across New York City and move around in buildings that are not ADA-compliant.
    • Requires standing for long periods of time, long periods of computer and/or telephone work, and moving between standing and seated positions.
    • Requires the ability to communicate constantly with people, maintain a conversation or dialogue, 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.

Salary: $65,000-$70,000

APPLY NOW

People of color and formerly homeless individuals are encouraged to apply.

The Coalition for the Homeless is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Campaign Coordinator

Department: Advocacy
Reports to: Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns

About the Role: The Campaign Coordinator will primarily focus on building and executing the Coalition’s campaign to build more housing affordable for homeless and extremely low-income households. Working closely with the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns and the Lead Organizer, the Campaign Coordinator will be responsible for communicating with campaign members, developing campaign materials, organizing events and meetings, and conducting outreach to organizational partners.

NOTE: This position is currently funded for three years. Continued employment beyond three years is contingent upon funding.

Responsibilities Include:

Working under the direction of the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns, the Campaign Coordinator will:

  • Support regular campaign activities, including meeting logistics and preparation, developing agendas, making conference call arrangements, and sending calendar and meeting reminders
  • Assist with drafting, editing, and preparing advocacy documents including fact sheets, event graphics and fliers, letters, and email alerts
  • Monitor and track city and state legislation
  • Conduct outreach and deliver presentations on campaigns to a variety of audiences and partners
  • Track individual and organizational campaign supporters and participation in campaign activities
  • Participate in and help facilitate coalition meetings with partner organizations and directly-impacted members
  • Organize direct actions, lobby days, and other events, including drafting runs of show, working with the Manager of Digital Media on social media toolkits, creating talking points, ordering materials and props, and assigning roles
  • Assist with preparing member leaders to speak, lead chants, and serve in other roles at events and actions
  • Create materials and an outreach plan to engage homeless voters and educate them about their rights
  • Work with other advocacy team staff to integrate organizing work with existing client groups
  • Liaise with other departments and programs of the Coalition to provide updates and communicate about events
  • Obtain regular supervision with the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns
  • Participate in weekly staff and other meetings as directed, such as in-service training and staff development and orientation activities
  • Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns.

Requirements:

  • At least three years of professional policy, advocacy, or communications experience working on behalf of homeless and/or low-income people required
  • A solid understanding of New York City and State legislative process
  • Highly organized and detail oriented, good problem-solving skills and a professional attitude with excellent judgment
  • Must have a deep commitment to social justice and, in particular, identifying and addressing the systemic and bureaucratic obstacles encountered by unhoused individuals
  • Advanced experience with office software, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Google Workspace apps, and Zoom
  • Experience using Canva or other graphic design software
  • Able to stay up-to-date with a large volume of emails
  • A desire to work as part of a team to develop strategy, plan, and reflect on what is working well and what needs to be improved to reach our shared goals
  • This is an on-site position requiring work in the office and at sites throughout the City on weekdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Occasional evening and weekend work is also required.
  • Physical Demands:
    • This job primarily operates in an office environment with occasional events in public and outdoor spaces at all times of the year
    • Requires long periods of computer work
    • 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 15 lbs.

Salary: $65,000-$70,000

APPLY NOW

People of color and formerly homeless individuals are encouraged to apply.

The Coalition for the Homeless is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Supervisor, Shelter Rights Monitoring Team

Department: Advocacy
Reports to: Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy

About the Role: The Supervisor of the Shelter Rights Monitoring Team (“Supervisor”) will be a dedicated advocate for unhoused individuals and families in New York. A key member of the Advocacy Department of the Coalition for the Homeless (“Coalition”), the Supervisor will play a critical role in ensuring the City’s compliance with Callahan v. Carey, which established the legal Right to Shelter in New York, and applicable state and local laws and policies governing shelters operated by, or under contract with, the City’s Department of Homeless Services (“DHS”).

This role will entail managing a small team of Coalition staff members focusing on monitoring, and conducting outreach at, DHS shelters (“Shelter Specialists”). The Supervisor will also visit shelters throughout the City as part of formally scheduled daytime joint inspections with DHS as well as unscheduled visits, in order to document violations and other problems. Together with the Shelter Specialists, the Supervisor will engage with shelter residents for the purpose of providing referrals to Coalition programs and, as appropriate, communicating directly with the Coalition’s legal counsel and/or City staff to immediately resolve residents’ problems. In collaboration with other Advocacy Department staff (including the ENACT Supervisor who oversees the Coalition’s work with unhoused asylum seekers and other new arrivals) and the Coalition’s legal counsel, the Supervisor will establish priorities and goals for monitoring and related advocacy. The Supervisor will also help organize, support, and mobilize shelter residents for various campaigns and events.

Responsibilities Include:

Working under the direction of the Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy, the Supervisor will:

  • Programmatic Work
    • Conduct monitoring of shelters during daytime, evening, nighttime, and weekend hours as needed, to assess and document: (a) problem conditions; (b) compliance or lack thereof with the legal right to shelter, other court orders, and applicable State and City regulations and agency procedures (collectively, “Shelter Legal Obligations”); and (c) the needs of residents
    • Work with DHS to develop the schedule of regular joint inspections of DHS shelters
    • Schedule and maintain shared department calendar to reflect inspections to be performed by Shelter Specialists
    • Identify the need for, and schedule, unannounced inspections
    • Review data collected by Shelter Specialists for trends and other compliance issues
    • Work with Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy to identify and update data collection tools and fields to increase effectiveness of monitoring work and ability to advance goals of Advocacy Department
  • Management Duties
    • Assist in the training and orientation of Shelter Specialists and fellow members of the Advocacy Department, including but not limited to accompanying staff on field visits and ensuring they understand the rights of shelter residents
    • Review and revise Shelter Specialists’ reports to DHS for clarity, grammar, spelling, and accuracy of citations to applicable Shelter Legal Obligations
    • Supervise the day-to-day activities of the Shelter Specialists, including visits to shelters
    • Facilitate regular meetings with the Shelter Specialist team which may, in coordination with the ENACT Supervisor, occur jointly with members of the ENACT team
    • Meet with each Shelter Specialist separately for regular supervision
    • Complete various administrative tasks for each Shelter Specialist, including probationary and annual reviews, reviewing and approving timeslips, and approving time off requests
  • Advocacy & Policy Development
    • Advocate for individual needs of shelter residents as necessary and possible during field visits
    • Provide shelter residents with information and referrals, as appropriate
    • Document individual and systemic problems relating to shelter residents for follow-up with DHS as directed
    • Communicate with DHS regarding compliance with Shelter Legal Obligations and track communications to ensure the agency responds and, when appropriate, corrects issues identified by Coalition staff
    • Work with Advocacy Department staff and Coalition’s legal counsel to provide litigation support, which may include identifying and liaising with potential plaintiffs for affirmative cases or to otherwise defend and expand the rights of homeless individuals and families
    • Identify issues for systemic advocacy based on data collected and other information learned from Shelter Specialists, other Coalition staff, or partner agencies
    • Collaborate with Director of Research and Policy Development to highlight issues in State of the Homeless or any other Coalition reports
  • Community Engagement
    • Assist the Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Campaigns with (a) the development and implementation of the Coalition’s campaigns; (b) organizing shelter residents and formerly-homeless individuals and families for the purpose of City and State-level advocacy on a range of public policy issues that impact homeless and low-income individuals; and (c) engaging shelter residents to inform Coalition’s policy agenda.
    • Together with other Advocacy Department staff, help organize, support, and guide the Client Advisory Group (“CAG”), a key tool for organizing homeless and formerly-homeless individuals and families
    • Attend and actively participate in CAG meetings
    • Engage in public education activities identified by the Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy
  • Other Duties
    • Liaise with other departments and programs of the Coalition to provide resource materials and increase awareness about the work of Shelter Specialists and to include other staff in Advocacy Department campaigns and events
    • Obtain regular supervision with the Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy to review team operations, policy, and other issues/concerns
    • Participate in weekly staff and other meetings as directed, such as meetings with DHS, in-service trainings, and staff development and orientation activities
    • Perform all other duties as may be assigned by the Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy

Requirements:

  • BA/BS required, with a strong preference for coursework in social work, human services, legal studies, or a health discipline
  • At least three years of relevant advocacy, case management, and/or organizing experience on behalf of homeless and/or low-income people required, with at least one year of experience supervising staff or volunteers desirable
  • Experience working with unhoused communities is a plus
  • Must have a deep commitment to social justice and, in particular, identifying and addressing the systemic and bureaucratic obstacles encountered by unhoused individuals
  • Excellent oral advocacy, writing, editing, computer (particularly Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Zoom), and analytical skills as well as a desire to work as part of a team required
  • Ability to work some evenings, nights, and weekends required
  • 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, 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

PLEASE NOTETHIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION. 

During the probationary period, the Supervisor will be required to work in the Coalition’s office five days a week (which in office time includes any visits to shelter facilities). Once the probationary period is over, the Supervisor will be able to work on a hybrid schedule each week consisting of at least four days in the office (or in the field monitoring shelter facilities) and one day remote.

Salary: $75,000- $82,000

APPLY NOW

People of color and formerly homeless individuals are encouraged to apply.

The Coalition for the Homeless is an Equal Opportunity Employer.