Join Our Team
AWARD-WINNING NONPROFIT
UNITY of Greater New Orleans, which leads community campaigns to end homelessness, is hiring people who are dedicated to social justice. We are looking for dedicated team-members who have varied experiences: social workers (including clinical), lived homeless experience, and landlord relations.
For all positions, send an email to admin@unitygno.org listing the position title(s) you are applying for in the subject line. Please include a resume and cover letter explaining your interest in the position, your qualifications, and commitment to social justice.
Positions Available
(Starting dates May 1, 2023 until filled)
- Street Outreach Worker
- Street Outreach Clinical Social Worker
- Landlord Partnership Manager
- HousingLink Specialist
- Assessment and Problem Solving Specialist
- Family Assessment and Problem Solving Specialist
- Housing Navigator
- Contracts Manager
- Finance Assistant
- Administrative and Communications Assistant
- Temporary positions are full-time and include employer paid health insurance.
Street Outreach Worker will work with the Welcome Home Street Outreach team to conduct homeless outreach via van and foot patrol to identify, engage and assist persons who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The outreach worker will conduct outreach to encampments or other unsheltered locations. After locating people in need of housing, the workers will engage and assist to address urgent needs and navigate program participants to housing solutions appropriate to their level of need. Position requires an active demonstration of respect, concern and attention to client needs; ability to work where participants are living in outdoor locations; knowledge and competence in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing and Housing First. Staff are expected to have basic computer literacy for email communication, HMIS database entry, and ability to write communications as needed to assist clients. Temporary full-time position through January 2024.
Street Outreach Clinical Social Worker will provide clinical support to the street outreach team and directly assist people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The clinician must be licensed to provide diagnosis and treatment and be willing to conduct night outreach with members of the Welcome Home Street Outreach team. Utilize a harm reduction model when working with clients with chemical dependency or substance use disorders. Provide clinical assessments for clients, including those referred by other members of the street outreach team. Assessments will assist to connect clients to appropriate care, including Medicaid-funded behavioral health services and/or Permanent Supportive Housing programs.
Landlord Partnership Manager will lead a community effort to identify at least 400 units of rental housing to house people who are currently experiencing homelessness. The Landlord Partnership Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to engage landlords and property managers in the provision of housing for homeless individuals and families. The primary focus of this position will be to recruit landlords, property managers and property developers to make units available for people who are experiencing homelessness, lower barriers to housing, and negotiate lease agreements. Manager will maintain the Padmission database of available housing units for use by housing navigators at homeless programs operated by organizations funded through the Continuum of Care (CoC). The Manager will supervise HousingLink team members who will assist the implementation of the program. Manager will provide assistance to match clients with appropriate housing options and provide ongoing support to both tenants and landlords with a goal to assist homeless individuals to obtain housing in less than 30 days.
HousingLink Specialist will recruit landlords, peroperty managers and developers to make units available for people who are experiencing homelessness, lower barriers to housing, and negotiate lease agreements. The specialist will assist with updates to the Padmission database of available housing units for use by housing navigators at homeless programs. The Specialist will provide assistance to match clients with appropriate housing options, conduct pre-inspections of units, conduct rent reasonableness surveys, and provide ongoing support to case managers, housing navigators, tenants and landlords with a goal to assist homeless individuals to obtain housing in less than 30 days. Temporary full-time position through January 2024.
Assessment and Problem Solving Specialist will help the CoC establish a robust Housing Problem Solving Program that will be implemented at multiple locations in the CoC. The Specialist will provide direct services by engage constructively with people who are seeking emergency shelter by conducting “Housing Problem Solving” conversations to help participants to identify strengths and community resources to stabilize housing outside of the homeless response system as much as possible. Must be able to work effectively with people who have experienced vulnerability, trauma, incarceration, substance use, compromised mental wellness or other conditions that have impacted housing stability. Self-starter who is interested in learning more about successful diversion methods and other interventions and innovations to end homelessness. Mediation experience is helpful. Temporary full-time position through January 2024.
Family Assessment and Problem Solving Specialist will engage constructively with families who are seeking emergency shelter by conducting “Housing Problem Solving” conversations to help families identify strengths and community resources to stabilize housing outside of the homeless response system as much as possible. The Specialist’s primary role is to answer the CoC Family Housing Crisis Line, conduct triage assessments, and referrals to shelter if no other alternatives can be identified. The position has a key role to help the CoC achieve our goal to make the homeless experience brief, rare, and non-recurring for families. Mediation experience is helpful.
Housing Navigator will assist people who are experiencing homelessness to obtain and maintain stable housing in apartments available in the private market. Must be willing to meet program participants “where they are” in emergency shelters or unsheltered locations and conduct housing search with participants in private vehicle. In addition to working with program participants, successful candidates will develop and maintain relationships with landlords, connect participants with behavioral health services, and enroll participants in mainstream services. Must be able to calculate rents, complete annual re-certifications, and housing inspections. Temporary full-time position through January 2024.
Contracts Manager will be part of a team that coordinates the work of partner agencies to improve the homeless system and ensure compliance with HUD and other funding sources. Responsibilities include reviewing documentation, analyzing program performance, project budgeting and analysis, and providing technical assistance to homeless service programs. Experience serving homeless, low-income, or special needs populations preferred. Required: Demonstrated commitment to social justice, excellent communication skills, ability to use Excel.
Finance Assistant to provide assistance to the Finance Director and the management team. Responsibilities include account payables, recording receivables, bank reconciliation, processing donations, compilation of reimbursement requests for funders. Assist with general office operations. Requires accuracy and attention to detail, comfortable with MS Excel and Outlook, good with math, ability to work with diverse people, familiarity with accounting systems a plus.
Administrative and Communications Assistant to assist with communications campaigns and other administrative assistance for UNITY staff at the administrative office.
*Temporary positions include employer paid health insurance.
UNITY does not request any criminal background checks until after interviews are conducted. No job application submitted prior to an interview inquires into an applicant’s criminal history. If any position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are looking for other ways to get involved with our work, please contact us at (504) 483-9300 for volunteer opportunities. Volunteers have assisted with the warehouse donations that provide move-in kits for people obtaining houisng, assisting with the annual Point-In-Time count, and other activities.