Employment

About Barrier Free Living

Barrier Free Living (BFL) is dedicated to helping New Yorkers with disabilities live independently in the community.  Through its various programs, BFL provides a broad range of residential and non-residential services to disabled survivors of domestic violence.  Services include case management; housing placements; independent living skills training; occupational therapy; short- and long-term individual counseling; advocacy within the medical, mental health, child welfare, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems; and referrals to outside services.

About Freedom House

Freedom House - a crisis shelter for victims of domestic violence - provides a safe and confidential place that is accessible for those with or without disabilities. Freedom House offers comprehensive services to families and single individuals in recovery from their experiences of trauma. Services include (but are not limited to) individual and group counseling, case management, assistance with housing and government benefits, on-site child care, occupational therapy, medical consulting, and psychiatric services. This state-of-the-art facility is the first completely accessible domestic violence shelter for individuals with disabilities in the country.

Role Summary

The Case Manager reports directly to the Director of Case Management and is an integral part of the Freedom House team, coordinating with Social Work, Child Care, Front Desk and Maintenance staff to provide a safe and welcoming environment for residents of Freedom House.  The Case Manager will work closely with residents and their families, empowering them to transition into safer, more stable living situations.  The Case Manager does this primarily by educating residents about benefits and housing entitlements and by assisting them with all stages of the application process. 

Start Date: Immediate

Benefits Package: 100% Employer paid Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Matched Retirement Plan, Paid vacation, Sick days, Personal days, Paid National Holidays, and more.

Hourly Rate: $25.90 

Status: Full Time/Non-Exempt 

Hours per week: 35

Schedule: 9am-5pm M-F, with one late shift (11am-7:00pm) per week 

Work Environment: Case Manager will work three days a week onsite, remaining days remote.  Arrangements are subject to change as the COVID-19 situation evolves.   

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of 15-20 cases

• Coordinate services with clinical team

• Conduct housing and benefit intake assessments of new residents

• Educate residents about the housing and entitlement application process

• Assist residents with preparation of benefits and housing applications

• Meet with residents regularly and accompany them to public assistance and housing interviews as needed

• Facilitating informational workshops for residents

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case notes

• Advocate on behalf of residents with government agencies (such as HRA), landlords, brokers, and management companies on behalf of residents

• Attend required agency trainings related to domestic violence, disabilities, benefits, etc.

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in the Human Services field

• Minimum 2 years experience in Human Services case management

• Experience navigating public benefits systems

• Effective oral and written communication skills

• High level of organization and ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks

• Good computer skills

• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries with sensitive information

• Ability to work with people with disabilities and with Domestic Violence survivors

• Bilingual Spanish and/or ASL strongly desired

Equal Opportunity Employer:  BFL provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants, with employment-based solely upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, pregnancy, or citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic disposition or carrier status or any other protected characteristic as established by law.  BFL honors reasonable accommodation per request. Applicants who are contacted by BFL will have the opportunity to submit accommodation requests.