Homelessness Response Coordinator

Introduction

The City of New Haven is seeking a dedicated, innovative, and community-focused professional to serve as its Homelessness Response Coordinator. This impactful role will lead and support the City's efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness through strategic planning, policy development, program coordination, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration with a broad network of public, private, and nonprofit partners.

As the City's central coordinator for homelessness response initiatives, you will help develop long-term solutions that improve housing stability and quality of life for some of New Haven's most vulnerable residents. Working closely with City departments, state agencies, service providers, advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders, you will play a key role in shaping programs, securing funding opportunities, analyzing trends, and advancing policies that strengthen the City's homelessness response system.

This position offers a unique opportunity for a motivated professional who is passionate about public service, social impact, and collaborative problem-solving to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Learn more about the Office of Housing & Homelessness Services HERE!

Primary Functions

This is a professional and strategic position responsible for planning, coordinating, and advancing the City’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness. The incumbent develops and implements policies, programs, and initiatives addressing the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, while fostering collaboration among City departments, governmental agencies, and community stakeholders.

Work involves research, data analysis, program development, and resource coordination to support effective service delivery and long-term solutions. The position also provides staff support to advisory bodies and contributes to legislative and funding initiatives.

Typical Duties And Responsibilities

• Develops and implements short- and long-term plans, strategies, and initiatives to prevent and reduce homelessness in the City of New Haven.
• Conducts research and analysis to identify trends, causes, and impacts of homelessness and uses data to inform policy and program development.
• Develops and recommends policies, programs, and service delivery strategies to address the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
• Designs, coordinates, and oversees the implementation of programs and initiatives in collaboration with City departments, State agencies, service providers, and community stakeholders.
• Compiles, analyzes, and maintains data related to the homeless population to support planning, reporting, and performance evaluation.
• Researches funding opportunities and prepares, submits, and manages grant applications from Federal, State, and local sources to support homelessness initiatives.
• Coordinates and aligns homelessness-related programs and services across City and State agencies to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with City staff, community organizations, service providers, and other stakeholders addressing housing, health, employment, and quality-of-life issues.
• Plans for and coordinates responses to emergency needs affecting individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Prepares reports, policy proposals, and legislative recommendations related to homelessness and housing issues.
• Monitors, evaluates, and improves programs and initiatives to ensure effectiveness, accountability, and progress toward reducing and ending homelessness in the City of New Haven.
• Provides staff support to the New Haven Homeless Advisory Commission, including meeting coordination, research, and reporting.
• Represents the City in meetings, public forums, and interagency collaborations related to homelessness.
• Performs any other related work as required.

Education, Qualifications & Experience

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with major course work in social work, public administration or other relevant area, and 1 to 3 years of experience in planning, social services, housing development, public administration, or a related area. Experience working with vulnerable or underserved populations is highly desirable. Experience related to homelessness, housing instability, or continuum of care systems is preferred but not required. In lieu of college degree, an additional 4 years of related work experience may be substituted.

Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social service program development and administration.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws, programs, and resources related to human services and the ability to apply them to issues related to homelessness.
• Knowledge of governmental structures and interagency coordination as they relate to social services and housing systems.
• Knowledge of community based service delivery systems and resources serving diverse and underserved populations.
• Knowledge of research methods, data collection, and analysis techniques applicable to social services and community needs assessment.
• Ability to apply knowledge of social services program development and administration to the complex issues related to homelessness.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with grant funding processes, including identification, application, and compliance requirements.
• Skill in program planning, implementation, and evaluation using data-driven and results-based accountability approaches.
• Ability to evaluate, monitor and analyze information and results; and to organize and prepare reports on relevant issues.
• Ability to present material publicly, to organize and work with public and private groups, funders and agencies, and to represent the City in an official capacity.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of audiences, with the ability to prepare clear, concise reports, policy documents, and presentations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office for creating documents, spreadsheets, and reports.
• Competency in using email clients (e.g., Outlook, Gmail) and calendar applications for scheduling and managing correspondence.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, convene and manage coalition and meetings of diverse groups of stakeholders and variety of activities through results-based accountability.
• . Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department heads, other City officials, consultants, the general public, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to represent the City in a professional and effective manner in public forums and interagency settings.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and project needs.
• Ability to identify and apply new methods, technologies, and best practices to improve work processes and outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively in a diverse community, recognizing and respecting cultural differences, and fostering an inclusive environment.
• Ability to work occasional evening or weekend hours for meetings, presentations, emergencies, and related assignments.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid Connecticut driver’s license.

SALARY, BARGAINING UNIT & TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

This is a "General Fund," tested position.

This position is included in a collective bargaining agreement with Local 3144, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Bargaining agreements available to review HERE.

General Funded hires into this class shall not be covered by Social Security but rather the City pension, contributing 10% of salary.

The City of New Haven does not sponsor employment visas. All applicants must have current authorization to work in the U.S. without employer-sponsored visa support.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of: (1) a pre-employment background check, (2) a pre-employment physical examination, including pre-employment drug screening accordance with the City’s Drug Free Workplace Policy*, and (3) a 90-day probationary period. Instructions and information on this pre-employment process are included in Conditional Offer of Employment.

Pursuant to the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, The City of New Haven has a adopted a Drug Free Workplace Policy. The City of New Haven requires a pre-employment drug test, which includes screening for marijuana.

Selection Plan

Applications will be reviewed by the Department of Human Resources. Applicants must demonstrate within their submission that they meet the minimum requirements as listed within the job description; failure to do so may result in disqualification. Applicants meeting minimum requirements may be invited to participate in a Civil Service exam process at a later date.

It is critical that you complete the application thoroughly, as the information you provide will be used to ascertain if you are eligible to move forward in the selection process. Your application and resume should indicate that you meet the minimum requirements as listed. This information may be used to determine the eligibility list. As such, this job announcement should be considered the exam announcement, and submissions may be evaluated prior to the posted closing date.

Information regarding the employment and selection process can be found HERE.

Please note that the only method of communication with applicants for this position will be by email. You must provide a valid, working email address and you will need to monitor your email, including spam/junk folders, for correspondence from the New Haven Human Resources Department.

We reserve the right to extend an application deadline or close a job posting early to ensure we can attract and identify the best candidate(s) for a position.

Conclusion

To Apply For This Opportunity

• Complete your User Registration. You are encouraged to save your Applicant Profile for future use.
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