The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is the largest organization in the United States dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness. In partnership with other City agencies and nonprofit organizations, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it begins, reduce street homelessness, provide temporary shelter, and connect individuals and families to stable housing all with a focus on accountability, empathy, and equity.

DHS is committed to continuous improvement and employs innovative strategies to deliver high-quality services that support a swift transition from shelter to self-sufficiency. The agency manages hundreds of facilities and operates with a large team as well as a several billion-dollar budget to meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

Department of Homeless Services leads a 24/7/365 Street Homelessness Solutions - Joint Command Center (JCC) that conducts interagency rapid outreach deployment from a central location using precision mapping, client information, and rapid response to incoming notifications. The JCC’s functions include street and subway level canvasses and engagements with homeless individuals. This initiative partners existing homeless response and prevention programs with a series of new initiatives that have been designed to better identify, engage, and transition homeless New Yorkers to appropriate services and, ultimately, permanent housing.

The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is recruiting for two (2) Community Associate to function as a Field Associates who will:

- Perform daily canvass observations at locations above ground and within the subway system; information gathering, and assessments within assigned locations.

- Perform low level engagements with homeless clients on the street and subway level

- Perform special community-based observations, data collections and community assessment assignments on an as need basis.

- Assist with transporting clients, inventorying, securing and transporting clients belongs.

- Participate in inter-agency engagements with clients engaged at location within the subway system and above ground.

- Log observations of apparent homeless individuals using handheld devices.

- Summarize daily findings and complete reports.

- Respond to incoming inquiries and/or complaints in real-time.

- Coordinate efforts within the units Service Desk

- Liaise with key contact entities and other city agencies including Amtrak, MTA, BRC, City Department of Transportation, Department of Buildings, Parks Dept., DSNY and State


Hours/Schedule: (1) Tuesday-Saturday 8AMx4PM// (1) Tuesday-Saturday 4PMx12AM

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATE - 56057

Qualification Requirements
1. High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or
2. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.